Water was leaking down the chimney of my gas fireplace whenever it rain.i called BHO. A technician came and told me that he applied some silicone around the chimney and fixed the problem. When it rain, the problem was fixed. I called them at least ten times to report that the problem hasn't been fixed. Each time they promised to have some call me to come back to fix the problem. No calls and no show. I would not recommend this company to anyone. They are very dishonest and unprofessional. Very poor customer service.
RR
Russ R.
😡 Terrible Service, Damaged Property, and a $5,680 Unnecessary Replacement Quote
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, we had Technician Leo visit our home to assess our non-working gas fireplace. The service was a complete failure and resulted in unnecessary damage to our property.
Caused Damage: While attempting to assess the fireplace, Technician Leo could not determine how the decorative logs were affixed. He proceeded to forcefully pull and broke the right bottom log during his disassembly attempt.
Failed Assessment: Despite causing damage, Leo failed to diagnose the issue. Instead, he simply told us the fireplace was "old" and needed complete replacement, providing us with Quote #722-1 for $5,680.
Charged for Failure: Leo then charged a service fee of $71.62 for this failed and damaging visit, which I paid.
Competitor Success: The very next day, a technician from Aztec Fireplace Service came out. They immediately diagnosed the problem (a common electronic control unit failure) and repaired the unit for only $400. We were told the fireplace is in good condition and should last another 20 years.
Cost of Damage: The Aztec technician even provided the part number to replace the log Leo broke. The replacement log cost $147.25.
In total, Leo's company caused damage and tried to push a near $6,000 replacement for a simple $400 repair. When I contacted Technician Leo about the damage and requesting a refund for the service fee and log cost ($218.87 total), he did not respond. I strongly recommend avoiding this company.
ME
Mary E.
A scam is a dishonest scheme to defraud…
A scam is a dishonest scheme to defraud someone by gaining their trust, often exploiting emotions like greed, naivety, or compassion.
Chimney scams are unfortunately quite common, especially during colder months when homeowners are more likely to book last-minute cleanings.
Here’s how to spot and avoid chimney cleaning scams:
🔍 1. Verify Credentials and Certifications
Legitimate chimney professionals are usually certified by recognized trade organizations such as:
CSIA — Chimney Safety Institute of America
NFI — National Fireplace Institute
NCSG — National Chimney Sweep Guild
👉 Check the company’s website and confirm their certification on the official CSIA or NFI directories.
If they can’t or won’t provide a certification number, that’s a red flag.
Also check Trust Pilot to ensure that the company is not advertising false reviews on it's website.
💲 2. Beware of “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Prices
Scammers often advertise very low prices (like $29 or $49 chimney cleanings) to get inside your home — then claim to “find” serious issues requiring hundreds in cleanings or repairs.
✅ A typical professional cleaning costs $150–$250, depending on chimney type and region.
❌ If the quote is suspiciously low, assume it’s a bait-and-switch.
❌ If the quote is high, ask how much time they will spend cleaning and get it in writing.
A single-flue wood-burning fireplace is faster and should take about 45–60 minutes.
Multi-flue or tall masonry chimneys can take closer to 2 hours or more.
🧾 3. Ask for a Written Estimate and Inspection Report
A reputable company will:
Provide a written, itemized estimate before starting.
Include photos or video of any problems they find (cracks, creosote, liner issues).
Never pressure you into immediate repairs.
Scammers often:
Use high-pressure tactics (“this could cause a fire tonight!”).
Reuse to show you visual proof, or show you fake photos.
Demand cash-only or instant payments.
ED
Erica D.
Very disappointed!
I agree with someone else's review that the 5-star reviews on their website must be bogus. They are the most unprofessional company I have ever worked with by far. The people in the call center can't assist with anything needed and you can't get a call from someone in the actual office. I was lied to repeatedly and then because I kept calling for help, they actually blocked my number. I had to call from another number to get assistance but again was told they would take care of my issue and then again, it never happened. I still haven't gotten my issue resolved but have given up. I do not recommend this company.
SA
Sandra
SCAM!!
SCAM! We hired this company to inspect three gas fireplaces in a home we just purchased. We have never had this type of "fake log" fireplace and didn't know how to light the pilot light and wanted to make sure they functioned properly. We were told this would cost $69 per fireplace. Fine. When Dolph showed up, he took off the screen and lit the pilot light and said "it works fine." I said "Can you show me how you lit the pilot light? I wasn't paying attention." He said "Sure that'll cost $299." I laughed because I thought he was joking. He wasn't. I said "Just leave it lit then." He said "No. If you're not going to pay $299, I'm turning it off." This is the WORSE company I have EVER dealt with. They are a complete SCAM and NO ONE SHOULD EVER USE THEM!
RA
Randy
STAY AWAY FROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay away. I read the terrible reviews and should have headed the warnings. I talked to service guy Dolph beforehand. Explained it was a new house to us and needed the fireplaces inspected and show me how to light . He lit pilot and turned it off after asking to borrow a lighter. I ask for instructions and he said that would be $299 in addition to the $69 I was quoted for inspecting and lighting. Also said it would be extra to clean glass. RIP OFF. Terrible service and terrible arrogant attitude.
LH
Lisa H.
Hire at own risk!!!
Warning! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!! They are a total scam! They stole our money and did absolutely NO WORK!
SW
Scott W.
If I could give zero stars
If I could give zero stars, I would. First off, BHO actually doesn’t exist as advertised. We scheduled an inspection with BHO but a tech from Universal Chimney Duct Cleaning showed up. Turns out,BHO uses “affiliates” (as I was told by a rep when I called BHO) to do the work. I was also told by the rep that they are in the process of sharing licenses. Very sketchy.