​Are all of your employees on the same page? Is there a discrepancy in terms or procedures? Does your office staff understand what your chimney technicians are trying to tell them? Does it take a long time to train new employees? These problems can be solved with the Chim-Scan® Factory Training (CSFT) class.

This class/book follows a video scanning and inspection process. Each of the five modules takes the technician from one transition point to the next. It provides an up-close view within the structure.  There is also a 17-page glossary with terms and images. The book includes over 400 photos that explain what you will see in the flue. 

How can your team be aligned if your technicians don’t agree on terms or the procedure? Is this causing confusion with your office staff? If each employee who trains a new technician uses their own terms and unique processes, this confuses the technicians and office support staff! Having streamlined training is essential to having a staff that works together. 
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Do your technicians understand what is happening in the flue? A cracked chimney does not always mean a chimney fire has occurred. A crack may indicate one of these causes: overfiring, chimney fire, or a seismic event. This book focuses in depth on the symptoms to look for other than cracks. There is other evidence to gather, images to capture, and analysis of how this may affect the structure. 

Highlights for the CSFT book and training:
• What is an Ideal Chimney? How does it stand up to IRC and NFPA 211?
• When do I use IRC, NFPA 211, or the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions?
• Understanding the Levels of Inspection and Chimney Scanning
• Cracks in the flue, Thermal Stress, and Thermal Shock
• Best viewing angles for scanning – the best angle to use by defect for the best images
• The Four Pathways to Deterioration, with examples and images
• Best Access Points for scanning
• What you might find in a chimney (animals, types of soot, etc.).
• Equipment check
• Scanning patterns

Once technicians become familiar with the content in the book, they can take the Chim-Scan® Factory Trained Technician Test to achieve this designation. They will earn a certificate and a patch. A copy of the logo is also available for their use now. This will put them light years ahead of their competition and make them a source of knowledge for homeowners.

Masonry Clay Flue Tile Defects
Masonry clay flue tiles meet a harsh environment inside the chimney. Corrosive condensation, moisture, chimney fires, and other conditions may damage a flue tile. In certain circumstances, a clay flue tile can last for decades, provided they are maintained and the homeowner operates the appliance or burns responsibly.

Latent Defects are defects found within the system from improper and sometimes creative use of material that stray from building codes or the manufacturer's installation instructions. This deviation from the codes or installation instructions creates various issues within an installation.

Wear and Tear is the natural aging process where material breaks down over time. Wear and tear can also include how an appliance is operated. If it is too hot, it decreases the life of the appliance, chimney, and connector pipe. If the temperatures are too low, it can create a tar-like creosote and increase the likelihood of a Sudden Occurrence (or condensation with gas/oil). Another factor is maintenance or lack of maintenance. Wear and tear can sometimes overlap with other categories.

Moisture and Condensation damage occur when water enters the chimney interior due to a missing cap, leaking crown, cracks in the brick structure, freeze-thaw breaks in the bed or head joints, and a poor choice of brick, causing excess water absorption. Another source of water in a chimney can come from condensation. This condensation occurs when the flue gas temperature falls below the dew point. Because of the water percentage in natural gas and liquid propane, the flue gases may condense in masonry chimneys, especially those located along the home's exterior.
The next fuel to condense is wood. When the warm gases reach the masonry flue liners, they, too, cool off. The moisture is included with the other byproducts of wood burning – black creosote, watery or tarlike soot.
The last fuel, oil, will also condense on the masonry walls. Due to the higher efficiencies that oil appliances can now operate, they too will condense and, with their acidic nature, can destroy masonry clay flue tiles.

A Sudden Occurrence is a sudden event that causes damage. It can be a chimney fire, a sudden weather-related incident(s) such as a tornado, strong wind, or a seismic event. It has to be out of the ordinary of daily operations.
A Sudden Occurrence, the last Pathway, includes damage seen from a direct and sudden event. Indirect manners can apply to areas where mine subsidence has occurred (where mining was performed). Of the Pathways, this last defect(s) will usually become an insurable loss. The other three defect categories – Latent Defect, Wear & Tear, and Moisture are generally not insurable losses since insurance contracts (policies) do not include them.

Spring is slowly turning into summer. The days are getting warmer and longer. Forward-scheduled work such as chimney repairs, waterproofing, and chimney relining becomes the norm. During this change in pace, take some time to perform some maintenance on your Chim-Scan® System.
50-foot Cable 
Cables get dirty and take a lot of abuse. They need weekly cleaning, which also helps reduce the cable's drying and cracking, preventing it from becoming a soot mummy. Pull the cable out until you see the tape, and wipe or clean it with a damp paper towel. Grab the cable and rewind it as it runs through the cleaning cloth in your hand. This cleaning method should remove corrosive soot and prevent the outer casing from drying out. It also addresses nicks or peel-offs. (If you see a bare wire or a nick, wrap it with three layers of electrical tape and keep an eye on it.) If the cable is stretched, twisted, or kinked, now is a good time to send it back to us for repairs or replacement. 
Unit Maintenance
The controller and case tend to be areas prone to catching soot and soil. You can use canned or compressed air to blow out the case. Ray, who details units at our shop, finds it helpful to run the vacuum simultaneously. Whatever is loosened with the compressed air is picked up with the vacuum. 
Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the controller. It should pick up a lot of soot and soil. If there is dust behind the monitor protector, carefully remove the acorn nuts and wipe the monitor with a fresh, clean microfiber cloth designed for monitors. Don’t forget to put the monitor protector back in place. Also, clean the debris from the grooves in the case so it shuts completely.
You can also remove the reeler to clean even more dirt from the case. Having the reeler removed makes cleaning the cable easier. 
Specialized brushes and tools used to reach small areas, like for car detailing, can help loosen some soot within the case. Cleaning the case exterior usually takes a lot of scrubbing and patience. This is important because your customer sees you bringing it into their home.
The Camera
When it comes to the camera, use a soft, clean microfiber cloth to clean the camera. You can replace the colored electrical tape at the top and bottom of the lens protector if you have a Lighthouse™, Lighthouse Tilt™, J3D™, or Combo Camera. If the lens cover is scratched badly, you can scan the QR code below, to the right, to see how to change this lens cover. When replacing the lens cover, we use canned air to blow out the camera housing.
Keyboard Care
Blow out the keyboard with compressed air to remove debris that may fall into it. Don't set anything on top of the keyboard. We stock replacement keyboards, or you can use any USB Keyboard other than Bluetooth. If you want to add a keyboard, we need your controller to make specific changes to accept the keyboard.  
In summary
If you don’t want to do the cleaning yourself, you can send it to us and we will clean it. In the past forty years, we’ve experimented with various products to find cleaners that pull the soot out. We use industrial, commercial, and residential cleaning products, and have the proper tools and equipment to make your unit look brand new!
If we notice wear & tear or damage that could lead to problems, we will contact you first with an estimate. Otherwise, we will complete the cleaning and make your unit bright and shiny, all for $190. Note: shipping is not included.

​1. All new cameras and units will have the new connectors.
2. 2. Starting June 1st, any whole unit that needs a new connector will be changed to the new style.
3. We have a small stash of old connectors, so we intend to use them only for repairs.
4. The new connectors are cheaper, but the durability is top quality.
5. *Starting May 1st, all cameras with Y-blocks must be upgraded to J3D Cameras. We will put old connectors on them as long as we have the old connectors available.
6. Please ask if you’d like an adaptor cable from the old to the new connector.
7. Payment plans are available for people who ask. It’s ½ down, and the balance is financed over 3 months. No interest.
We know there will be some confusion and snafu’s, so please share this information with everyone in your company who deals with your Chim-Scan®!
*There’s no discount or coupon.
For those who own multiple units, you may want to think about sending units in to be switched over before fall.
To obtain a price Quote
Please send us a picture of your camera and your unit. You can text photos to 641-472-7643 or send them to [email protected]. Please let us know if you would like an upgrade, require repair, want it refurbished, or just cleaned. Please fill out the repair form before sending it in for repair and enclose a copy in the box. 
We will call you if we have questions and send you a  quote. The work doesn’t start until we get your approval.
Financing 
In a bit of a pinch? Whether you want to purchase a new unit or need upgrades, we have a payment plan if this project is a little more than you planned. We still require ½ down, but the remaining balance can be spread out over 3 monthly payments.
Thank you for your business!!

Cleaning dryer vents is an essential service for your customers and is usually required to maintain a dryer’s warranty. Our Chim-Scan® Dryer Vent Plus System makes scanning dryer vent interiors easy! Scanning the dryer vent before cleaning is essential. You can check for blockages, disconnected joints, overuse of elbows, nests, correct termination to the exterior, and that the proper materials were used when the dryer vent was installed.

According to an NFPA 211 report created in 2020 by Marty Ahrens, an estimated 13,820 residential dryer fires happen each year, with an estimated 7 deaths, 344 injuries, and $233 million in property damage annually. Failure to clean was the leading factor contributing to the fire.
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One of the most critical indicators of a problem is when the dryer takes longer to dry clothes. Another indicator is when they have to keep replacing heating elements, sensors, or dryers. This is where our Dryer Vent Plus System becomes invaluable. You can use this tool to scan the dryer vent before cleaning. Every homeowner is a candidate for dryer vent inspections and cleaning. 

Our hi-res Dryer Vent Camera includes 9 dimmable lights. The 1.5-inch diameter camera is stabilized and centered using the 4 wheels, which provide the camera the freedom and stability to maneuver around offsets.
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​The camera is wired directly to the 30’ flexible wired rod, which easily pushes the camera around offsets in the dryer vent. The rod is stored in a built-in spool within the case. 

The protective case has a generous opening for easy access to the camera and rod. The case includes a handle and a cable connector to connect to any Chim-Scan® Units manufactured after 2015. If your unit was made before 2015, or if you are in doubt, please contact us. 

​To see how the camera works, scan or click on the QR Code at right. 
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1. Commercial-grade imaging equipment. There’s a difference between our products and disposable consumer electronics.

2. We fix what we sell. Chim-Scans® are made by hand here in Iowa.

3. We offer upgrades on older equipment. 

4. Two reference guides: Chimney Scanning & Inspection Guide and Interior Chimney Scanning.
5. Chim-Scan® Factory-Trained Technician Program™. 

6. The Flue & Hearth Notes™ for documentation and reporting.

7. Easy-to-understand product manual with a quick-start guide.

8. A book targeted specifically for realtors.

9. We promote our customers by providing your name and contact information to the American public when asked.

10. We provide an active website with information, videos, and the latest innovations.
11. When you call, the phone is answered by a live person. 

12. We offer 40 years of experience in equipment building, 110 years of combined industry experience in-house, and reliable equipment that 8 people in Iowa build. 
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