It’s Time for Chim-Scan® Maintenance!

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.

A cable can be stretched, twisted, kinked or peel. We can replace your cable if it becomes damaged. We build it, we can repair it.

We clean all units before we begin repairs. There's over 40-years of experience in every repair, upgrade and new Chim-Scan®.

Click on this image to view how to change a Lighthouse™, Lighthouse™ Tilt, J3D™, or Combo Camera Lens Cover. It starts with removing the electrical tape, circled in this image.