SCHEDULING TIPS

GENERAL MAINTENANCE (Inspections, Sweepings, Gas Log Service)

• If, when you call, you do not get a live person, please leave a message or contact us via our website, we have personnel that monitor these message centers during normal business hours.  We will reach back out to you via phone, text, or email ASAP.
• We are currently scheduling 16–18 weeks out for regular maintenance services. Even in the face of extended wait times, please do not hesitate to book an appointment now — thereby securing placement also on our standby lists for potential sooner placement.
• Do not underestimate the value of standby placement.  We aggressively take advantage of schedule changes that allow moving appointments to sooner placement where possible.
  • NOTE:  Firm appointment date must be made to be placed on standby list.  
• While holiday gatherings are months away, currently we recommend calling by mid-July to be placed on our schedule in time for service to be completed by the holiday season.  This will allow ample time to take advantage of the
  standby option when schedule changes allow for moving to a sooner placement.  At this point in time, we still have openings before the holiday season begins, however, we expect by end of Summer to be booked through to the end of the year.

REPAIR PROJECTS, LARGE APPLIANCE INSTALLATIONS, and General Information

• Usually, most projects (large repairs, renovations and restorations) are completed within 4-14 weeks after the proposal is accepted – depending on the complexity of the project. These types of projects are normally scheduled to be done between March and September on any given year. This scheduling takes into consideration that we do not usually schedule large projects during the “bad weather months” in our geographic area (i.e. December, January and February) and the “busy winter season” (October-February) when most folks expect to get their chimney/fireplace systems serviced.
• As mentioned above — this is our normal plan of action. Due to higher than normal need for our services, we have extended our large project window to include October and November this year (2021). As a matter of reference – that window has been completely filled for 2021. Be assured that any project already “in the pipeline” will be completed in order of acceptance until all are complete. However, new projects will now be scheduled for Spring/Summer 2022.
• Currently, most projects will be performed 4–14 weeks after the proposal is accepted — depending on the complexity of the project.  Some factors that impact scheduling are weather, freight damage to materials, product availability, unexpected complications with projects, and staff availability.
  • Weather:  While we do our best to re-arrange work as needed around complications with weather to reschedule rainouts within a week or two, sometimes a bit longer wait will be necessary.  The safety of our workers is of paramount concern for us and we WILL NOT risk their lives.  Some weather conditions will not allow us to send our workers out safely.
  • Freight Damage:  We cannot anticipate when freight handlers will destroy or damage product.  Our commitment to excellence is to provide the product you are purchasing in first-rate condition.  If your job materials are damaged, they will be replaced.  This will always require rescheduling until the new product arrives.
  • Product Availability:  We are experiencing much longer than normal delivery times for many products. Many manufacturers are still behind in production due to how COVID-19 impacted their manufacturing processes.  Transportation issues across the globe have also impacted production on both ends of the spectrum.  Manufacturers are experiencing difficulties getting raw materials, parts, etc.  The large uptick in home renovations has increased the already strained supply chain. The supply chain is simply backed up in many areas.
  • Project Complications:  On large projects where “deconstruction” is necessary before “reconstruction” can begin, occasionally there will be hidden issues uncovered that require more time to resolve than is anticipated thereby extending the project.  This will impact the scheduling of subsequent projects.
  • Staff Availability:  
    • Sometimes people get sick.  While we do try to reassign scheduled appointments to the other teams the same day where possible, there will be times when providing quality service will require rescheduling when one of our team members or their immediate family members experience illness.
    • There is an overall shortage of people willing to work in “trades” right now.  While we offer training and a career path to technical acuity, we do have general difficulty finding willing, qualified workers.

We hope these tips have been useful and will help you with understanding and navigating our scheduling processes at Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps.  It is our intention to help everyone in as timely a fashion as possible.  Sometimes (like now) this is more challenging than others.  We do wish we could help every customer immediately upon request, but in the current circumstances, that is often not possible.  

We consider it a blessing for our company, and specifically for our staff, that we are incredibly busy, and their livelihoods are secure. We are grateful for the patronage that allows us the privilege of helping so many with their chimney and fireplace maintenance and repairs. That being said, scheduling is one of our greatest challenges. Be assured that the frustrations you experience around our current limitations are just as frustrating to us.

As one final note: We are always on the lookout to find individuals interested in a career in fireplace and chimney maintenance and repair. Having more trained professionals on our team, particularly technicians and assistants, will positively impact our scheduling profoundly. If you know someone looking for an unconventional, stimulating career that provides something different almost every day, solving unusual and sometimes out of the ordinary problems, we are happy to train persons with basic mechanical aptitude and a curious spirit. Our compensation plans allow experienced technicians to pretty much determine their own paycheck.

Thank you for visiting our “Scheduling Tips” page.  We know it is because of our customers, like you, who have trusted our experience and commitment to excellence, for these past 41 years, that we are experiencing our current success.   Thank you for your support and choice to continue to work with us.

Following our scheduling tips will help your appointment scheduling go smoothly. Don’t forget to contact us for all of your chimney and fireplace needs.