InstaBidsHow often should you have your chimney inspected and cleaned?
Put chimney inspection on your maintenance plan and ask the professional to document the condition before proposing repairs. The U.S. Fire Administration guidance is quoted below; keep inspection, cleaning and any repair work clearly described in the written request.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
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- Describe it onceBy chat, or through your own AI assistant, and add photos.
- Post it and send itContractors bid in writing on that scope.
- Compare line by lineEvery quote is written against the same scope.
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Key facts
- U.S. Fire Administration: "Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
- U.S. Fire Administration: "Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
- U.S. Fire Administration: "Never use an oven to heat your home."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
How often does USFA recommend a chimney check?
USFA’s maintenance sentence is quoted below.
U.S. Fire Administration, read 23 October 2026: "Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
What separation from heat sources does USFA describe?
USFA’s heat-source guidance is quoted below.
U.S. Fire Administration, read 23 October 2026: "Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
What other heating precautions does USFA give?
USFA’s oven and portable-heater guidance is quoted below.
U.S. Fire Administration, read 23 October 2026: "Never use an oven to heat your home."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
U.S. Fire Administration, read 23 October 2026: "Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed."
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Heating fire safety, read 23 October 2026.
How can you request a chimney inspection and repair bid?
Ask for a condition report before deciding on a repair scope. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.
- Describe the fireplace or appliance and attach the available maintenance history.
- Ask what the inspection and cleaning include.
- Request photographs and a written explanation of proposed repairs.
- Compare the same repair scope across written bids.
Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?
Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.
Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 23 October 2026.
Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.
Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.
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