$289 chimney sweep.... you have got to be kidding me

Here in the land of overpriced, overtaxed freaking everything, I paid less than $80 my first season. I do my own cleaning now because I prefer to do it more than once a year. I suppose the price should be determined by the difficulty of the job rather than just a "sweep" or "cleaning". I would think that jobs with the falling and dying risk would add a few bucks.

You are paying for the convenience of having someone else do what for the most part is a very simple job. Very dirty, but simple. These folks have to travel in order to do the work, and time is money. If you don't like the price, I'd suggest buying a good ladder and sweeping parts, you'll earn it back in a few sweeps. If you burn properly seasoned wood through an EPA stove, you really only have to sweep it about every four cords or so.

Even the guy who comes to pump my septic doesn't charge $289, and he puts up with a lot more sh*t than the chimney sweep.

That's funny.
Yep. $165 about 3.5 years ago, he had to drive here (in a big azz poop hauler) too. I'm pretty sure his overhead is higher than a sweep, since he has to dump that crap somewhere (probably fees involved), truck, and replacing contaminated clothes. :ahhh:
Everyone has their own perspective on worth of services.

I heard that business is crap, though.

Well, no "change" there.

I have never done a thing to my AC or boiler in over 20 years. I spray the coils off with a hose and nothing with the gas boiler, but it has been rarely used in the past 6-7 years. I clean the chimney once or twice a year myself. The supplies cost me about $70, quite a few years back. good luck

Things to take into account for a service person that comes to your home to repair service or install. Insurance - Business, auto and liability. Vehicle expenses think of what it costs to maintain your personal vehicle then double that. Tools an equipment. Lastly you are calling that service person to do the work because you cant!

I am in a service realated business (not wood heat). The emergency jobs I go on. Lets just say i think people should pay for their stupidity! Its amazing how quickly it becomes a non emergency when they hear my price. Then again I dont make a living on emergency service. If I did I would have retired when I was 30!

I live in Maine and do mine each month . . . but a) I'm still young at only 40 . . . or young enough, b) I'm cheap and hate to pay folks for something I can do, c) I am anal retentive when it comes to fire safety and d) (perhaps most important of all) I can sweep my chimney from the ground and don't have to climb icy roofs and slippery ladders.

galv piping run that hot off gasses some horrible stuff
and, the tee is upside down.

we get 125 for a sweep (one appliance/fp), 55 on top for extra flues/ appliances at the same location. Sometimes it's gravy, ina nd out in 30 mins flat... other times you are there for an hour or so because of some hard to re connect some old posi connect fpinsert install. But it's a flat rate unless really outrageous circumstances.

Wow. Once a month? Do you get anything out? I've been debating going to every other year as I get so little out each spring. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry though.
Joe

Not much to be truthful . . . I could skip a month . . . or two . . . or three . . . or once a year . . . but I figure I'm going to inspect the chimney anyways just in case and since it's open and the cleaning process is quick and easy I just run the brush up anyways . . . yeah, I know . . . serious over-kill . . . sadly my wife is used to my overly-cautious ways by now and just goes with the flow since she realizes I do what I do because I am who I am.

"I do what I do because I am who I am" Yup, I guess that about sums up most of us (for better or worse).

"I am who I am"

Wait, so Jake is really Popeye?
N/M, I think his line was, "I yam what I yam".

In my hometown it was a chimney fire that burned down the house across the street from the fire station.

whats your hourly pay, traveltime included?

Just to add it to the mix, we charge $130 for a one story sweep and $195 for a two story. We add $100 to each if there is a fireplace insert that needs to be pulled.

If you saw me you would think I am more like J. Wellington Wimpy . . . although I pay up front.

I vote to buy the rods and brush and sweep it yourself if you can. For most setups it is not a big deal. You get to see what your burning habits are doing to your flue. You can inspect the chimney, the crown, and ensure your cap is properly secured at the same time. I do mine 1X per year, usually in the fall before burning season. I consider it preventative maintenance.