Chimney Sweep Insurance Policy Information
Chimney Sweep Insurance. Chimney sweeps inspect, clean and repair residential and commercial chimneys. The traditional method of cleaning chimneys involves a two-step process in which the sweep brushes from the top of the chimney outside the building, and then finishes by sweeping and cleaning the fire box from inside the premises.
A newer method involves the sweep working from the inside using a vacuum and brushes. chimney sweeps offer chimney repair services such as masonry work, tuck pointing, installation of chimney caps, and similar chimney-related services.
When most people picture a chimney sweep, images of Mary Poppins' friend Bert (played by Dick Van Dyke) dancing along rooftops and singing "Chim Chim Cheree" come to mind. In real life, chimney sweeps don't sing and dance, but rather, they provide an invaluable service for the clients that they serve: they clean out and inspect chimneys to ensure that they are working properly and safely.
There are a lot of risks that are associated with operating a chimney sweep company. To protect your business, your clients, your employees, and your personal assets, carrying the right type of chimney sweep insurance coverage is essential.
Chimney sweep insurance protects your business from lawsuits with rates as low as $67/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.
Below are some answers to commonly asked chimney sweep insurance questions:
- What Is Chimney Sweep Insurance?
- How Much Does Chimney Sweep Insurance Cost?
- Why Do Chimney Sweeps Need Insurance?
- What Type Of Insurance Do Chimney Sweeps Need?
- What Does Chimney Sweep Insurance Cover & Pay For?
What Is Chimney Sweep Insurance?
Chimney sweep insurance is a specialized type of insurance designed for businesses that provide chimney cleaning and maintenance services. This insurance typically covers a wide range of risks, such as property damage, personal injury, and liability claims, which are specific to the chimney sweep industry.
The insurance policy provides financial protection for the chimney sweep business and its employees in the event of an accident or injury that occurs while performing chimney cleaning and maintenance services.
How Much Does Chimney Sweep Insurance Cost?
The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small chimney sweep businesses ranges from $67 to $79 per month based on location, size, payroll, sales and experience.
Why Do Chimney Sweeps Need Insurance?
Working as a chimney sweep involves climbing ladders, getting into cramped quarters, and inspecting the structural elements of a chimney, among other things; who knows, you might even sing and dance a little (but probably not as elaborately as Dick Van Dyke) while you're working.
Given the nature of your line of work, and the fact that you are providing specific services, working on someone else's property, and that you likely employ a staff, there are a variety of risks that are associated with operating a chimney sweep.
Despite your best efforts to make sure that you are offering the best services and providing your employees with a safe workplace, mishaps can happen.
An employee could slip off of a ladder and suffer a serious injury, or a client could file a lawsuit against you, stating that you damaged their property while cleaning a chimney. In these types of situations, you will be held liable for any injuries or property damages.
Should someone take legal action, you would also be responsible for covering the cost of your legal defense fees. These types of expenses can be exorbitant and could potentially put you in financial ruin; ultimately, you could end up going bankrupt trying to pay for damages, medical bills, and legal fees. With the right insurance in place, however, you can avoid financial turmoil.
Why? - Because your chimney sweep insurance policy would help to cover the costs of the liabilities that are related to your business operations.
What Type Of Insurance Do Chimney Sweeps Need?
The type of insurance a chimney sweep business should carry depends on the specifics of your operations. Some of the factors that will affect the coverage you should carry include where you are located, the size of your operation, the number of people you employ, and the services you offer,
However, there are certain chimney sweep insurance policies that you should have in place, regardless of the specificities of your business. These policies include:
- Commercial General Liability - All business owners and operators must carry commercial general liability insurance, including chimney sweeps. This form of coverage protects you against any third-party injuries or property damage that may occur; for instance, if a vendor slips and falls while delivering supplies to your business, your insurance will cover the cost of any related medical care, as well as any legal costs that may arise if the person files a lawsuit.
- Commercial Property - This type of coverage protects the physical structure that you operate your chimney sweep business out of, as well as the contents within it, from damages, theft, and acts of vandalism. For instance, if someone spray paints the side of your building, breaks the windows, and steals any of your supplies, the provider of this type of this policy will help to pay for the repairs to your building, as well as the cost of replacing the stolen inventory.
- Inland Marine - While a commercial property insurance policy will protect your equipment and inventory, it only protects these items when they are within the structure of your business; but, the coverage isn't extended to equipment and inventory that's in-transit. For instance, any tools or machinery that you're using on a job sit isn't covered by a commercial property insurance policy, but it is protected by inland marine insurance. For example, if any of your tools are stolen at a job site, marine inland insurance will cover the cost of replacing the tools.
These are just some of the insurance policies that chimney sweeps should have in place. If you have employees workers compensation is a must.
Chimney Sweeps Risks & Exposures
Premises liability exposure is slight at the chimney sweep's premises due to lack of public access, but moderate away from the premises due to hazards at the job site on clients' premises. Equipment used for chimney cleaning may present an attractive nuisance to children. Property damage can result from soot and creosote entering the house or commercial building.
Completed operations bodily injury claims from fire or carbon monoxide poisoning may occur if the cleaning results in a blocked chimney instead of a clean one.
Workers compensation exposures are moderate due to the soot and creosote dust that may be inhaled by the sweep. Long-handled equipment may result in sprains from standing in awkward positions. Wildlife can nest in chimneys and attack, resulting in bites or scratches. If the sweep works outside from the top of the chimney, a fall can result in injury or death. Falling objects may strike sweeps cleaning the chimney from the inside.
Property exposures at the chimney sweep's premises are generally limited to an office and storage of chimney-cleaning equipment, supplies, and related stock including chimney caps and masonry products.
Crime exposures are primarily from employee dishonesty. Background checks, including criminal history, should be performed on all employees handling money. Since many sweeps are smaller operations, checks and cash are normally collected by the employee at the time of service.
Inland marine exposures include accounts receivable if the chimney sweep offers credit to customers, contractors' equipment, and valuable papers and records for customers' and suppliers' information. The brushes, vacuums, ladders and other tools taken to job sites are neither attractive from a theft standpoint nor easily damaged. Backup copies of all data should be stored off premises.
Business auto exposure generally consists of travel to and from job sites with crew, equipment, and supplies. All drivers must be well trained and have valid licenses for the type of vehicle being driven. MVRs must be run on a regular basis. Random drug and alcohol testing should be conducted. Vehicles must be well maintained with records kept in a central location.
What Does Chimney Sweep Insurance Cover & Pay For?
Chimney sweepers can face lawsuits due to various reasons, such as accidents or damages that occur during chimney cleaning or repair, failure to comply with industry regulations, and negligence or errors in their services. Insurance can protect chimney sweepers by providing coverage for legal fees and damages resulting from such lawsuits.
Here are some examples of how insurance can help pay for lawsuits filed against chimney sweepers:
Accidents during chimney cleaning: If a chimney sweeper accidentally drops a tool or causes damage to the homeowner's property during cleaning, the homeowner may file a lawsuit to recover the cost of the damage. Insurance can help pay for the legal fees and damages resulting from such a lawsuit.
Failure to comply with industry regulations: Chimney sweepers must comply with regulations related to their industry to ensure the safety of their clients. If a chimney sweeper fails to comply with these regulations, they may face legal action from the regulatory authorities. Insurance can help pay for the legal fees and fines associated with such legal action.
Negligence or errors in services: Chimney sweepers can also face lawsuits if they make errors or act negligently while providing their services. For example, if a chimney sweeper fails to properly clean a chimney, causing a fire, the homeowner may file a lawsuit to recover damages. Insurance can help pay for the legal fees and damages associated with such lawsuits.
In summary, insurance can protect chimney sweepers from lawsuits resulting from accidents, failure to comply with regulations, and negligence or errors in their services. By providing coverage for legal fees and damages, insurance can help chimney sweepers avoid financial hardship and protect their business.
Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification
- SIC CODE: 7349 Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
- NAICS CODE: 561790 Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings
- Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 9014 Janitorial Services by Contractors - No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
Description for 7349: Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
Division I: Services | Major Group 73: Business Services | Industry Group 734: Services To Dwellings And Other Buildings
7349 Building Cleaning and Maintenance Services, Not Elsewhere Classified: Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing building cleaning and maintenance services, not elsewhere classified, such as window cleaning, janitorial service, floor waxing, and office cleaning. General contractors and special trade contractors primarily engaged in building repair work are classified in Division C, Construction.
- Acoustical tile cleaning service
- Building cleaning service, interior
- Chimney cleaning service
- Custodians of schools on a contract or fee basis
- Floor waxing service
- Housekeeping (cleaning service) on a contract or fee basis
- Janitorial services on a contract or fee basis
- Lighting maintenance service (bulb replacement and cleaning)
- Maid service on a contract or fee basis
- Maintenance, building: except repairs
- Office cleaning service
- Service station cleaning and degreasing service
- Telephone booths, cleaning and maintenance of
- Venetian blind cleaning, including work done on owners'premises
- Window cleaning service
Chimney Sweep Insurance - The Bottom Line
To make sure that your business is properly protected, speak to an experienced commercial insurance broker to find out exactly what type of chimney sweep insurance coverage you need and how much coverage you should have.
Additional Resources For Contractors & Home Improvement Insurance
Learn about small business contractor's insurance, including what it covers, how much it costs - and how commercial insurance can help protect your contracting business from lawsuits.
- Air Conditioning Systems Installation Repair
- Appliance Repair & Service
- Blacksmith & Metal Workers
- Boat Repair & Dry Docks
- Boiler Contractors
- Builders Risk
- Building Cleaning & Maintenance Services
- Cabinet Installer
- Cable And Satellite TV Installer
- Carpentry
- Chimney Sweep
- Cistern Contractors
- Contractor Liability
- Curtain Cleaners
- Deck Builders
- Door And Window Installers
- Dryer Vent Cleaning
- Drywall Contractor
- Electrical Contractors
- Environmental Remediation Contractors
- Fence Installation
- Fire Sprinkler Contractors
- Fire & Water Restoration Contractors
- Flooring Contractor
- Furniture Repair
- Garage Door Installer And Repair
- General Contractors
- Glass Contractor
- Glazier Insurance
- Gutter Installation And Repair
- Handyman
- House Cleaning
- HVAC Contractor
- Insulation Contractor
- Janitorial Cleaning Services
- Landscaping
- Lawn Care
- Lawn Irrigation Sprinkler System Installation
- Locksmith
- Oil And Gas Well Drilling Contractors
- Painters
- Paperhanging Contractors
- Plastering And Stucco Contractor
- Plumbing
- Pressure Washing Contractors
- Propane And Fuel Dealers
- Rug, Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning
- Sandblasting Contractors
- Security Alarm
- Septic Tank Cleaning
- Siding Contractor
- Sign Installation & Repair
- Solar Panel Installers
- Snow Plow
- Stone And Tile Installer
- Subcontractor
- Surety Bonds
- Swimming Pool Contractor
- Swimming Pool Service And Maintenance
- Tank Cleaners
- Tool Grinding And Repair
- Tree Surgeon
- Tree Trimming
- Upholstery Shop
- Waste Haulers & Garbage Collection
- Water Well Drilling
- Welding Contractor
- Wildlife & Pest Control
- Window Cleaning
- Specialty Contractors
The contracting industry is a field that involves a lot of risks, both for the contractor and for the clients they work for. This is why commercial insurance is so important for contractors. Insurance can protect contractors from a variety of potential losses, such as:
Liability: If a contractor causes damage to a client's property or if a client is injured while on a job site, the contractor could be held legally responsible. Liability insurance can cover legal fees and any settlements or judgments that may be awarded.
Property damage: Contractors often use a lot of expensive equipment and tools, and there is always a risk that this equipment could be damaged or stolen. Commercial property insurance can help cover the cost of replacing damaged or stolen equipment.
Business interruption: If a contractor is unable to work due to an unforeseen event, such as a natural disaster, insurance can help cover their lost income during this time.
Workers compensation: If a contractor or one of their employees is injured on the job, worker's comp can help cover medical expenses and lost wages.
Overall, commercial insurance is an important risk management tool for contractors. It can provide financial protection against a wide range of potential losses, helping contractors to stay in business and continue serving their clients.
Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Business Personal Property, Employee Dishonesty, Contractors' Equipment and Tools, General Liability, Employee Benefits Liability, Umbrella Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.
Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Building, Business Income with Extra Expense, Earthquake, Flood, Leasehold Interest, Real Property Legal Liability, Accounts Receivable, Builders Risk, Computers, Goods in Transit, Installation Floater, Valuable Papers and Records, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practicesand Stop Gap Liability.
