CHIM Certification

At Midtown Chimney Sweeps, we always strive to be the most qualified and knowledgeable chimney service company.. We’ve even created our own in-house certification named CHIM.

We believe it rivals the best chimney sweep certification programs available in the USA.

Here are some FAQ’s that we often get:

What is CHIM?

CHIM stands for Chimney & Hearth Inspection Mastery and was created by our founder, Byron Schramm, located here in the USA, and with contributing authors and influencers from the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Byron holds several chimney related certifications including, F.I.R.E, and CertifiedChimneyProfessional, and National Fireplace Institute, and a Class C Mechanicial Contractor in the County of Boulder, Colorado (United States credentials) and is HETAS basic sweep certified (United Kingdom credential).

He is a 2nd generation chimney professional, with his father starting the business in 1979. He is a multi-generational business owner and lover of a job well-done.

After working and socializing with chimney sweeps around the USA for over 20 years, Byron found existing US chimney sweep certifications each have their merits and downfalls. After travelling to Europe for an extended trip, he’s sought to combine aspects of 3 European training and certification programs into what we humbly believe is the most comprehensive chimney program available in the United States of America, which we lovingly call CHIM.

CHIM is an ever growing, rigorous program comprising dozens of courses, modules, tests, quizzes, and resources that requires a 100% pass rate from its students.

Since CHIM is controlled by Midtown Chimney Sweeps, we require additional items which NO OTHER United States chimney sweep credential requests or requires.

CHIM requires credentialed individuals/companies to possess:

Physical training on the tools or the fireplaces
Academic classroom training on the materials
An exam of the individual’s physical work in the field
Good online reviews from customers, with a monitoring plan in place
A customer complaint handling process
Proper minimum insurance being met

What else is happening around the world in chimney sweep certification and credentialing today?

After a 7 month sabbatical studying the chimneys of Europe and meeting with top leaders and sweeps alike in 4 European nations, Byron has come to an important conclusion: there is a lack of umph with all US chimney sweep and fireplace installation certifications and exams. Only in the USA can you buy a chimney sweeping book online, study at home, and pass a Certification exam without ever meeting another human and without ever being physically reviewed by the Certifying body.

There is a Lack of Umph with US Chimney and Fireplace installation Certifications

Looking around the World… the US Chimney Certifications Lack.. well.. Umph.

Neither US Chimney sweep nor US Fireplace installation certifications require what other first world countries require:

Physical training on the tools or the fireplaces
Academic classroom training on the materials
An exam of the individual’s physical work in the field
Good online reviews from customers, with a monitoring plan in place
A customer complaint handling process
Proper minimum insurance being met

Why Did We Create Our Own Certification Instead of Using One of the “Other Guy’s Certification”?

Over the years we’ve found each certification to be lacking in one or more areas, and instreaad of improving, the organizations have become embittered toward eachother and personalities and petty offenses have taken center stage. Our company is committed to chimney sweeping well, and inspecting as best we can, and we didn’t pursue the inner drama of these organizations. Some of these US chimney sweep certifications are so “club feeling” and exclusive feeling, they have left their primary function of administering a step-wise program of certification and training for the core materials they claim to support. Some certifications come with unreasonably high fees in order to simply take the exam, or to maintain the same. Others simply don’t cover chimney sweep or inspection material which we believe is critical.

At Midtown Chimney Sweeps, we believe that there should be more qualified people out there sweeping chimneys. We find that the industry tends to isolate itself and thus begin to feel more like an exclusive club than a welcoming group dedicated to the safety of their customer’s homes.

What is the Future of CHIM?

In the coming years, Midtown Chimney Sweeps seeks for CHIM to become a nationally recognized program with in-person training facilities and availability for anyone, not just Midtown Chimney Sweeps franchise partners.

Please submit your interest by giving us a call (303) 670-7785 or drop us an email, scheduling@midtonwsweeps.com. We will look forward to hearing from you.