Our Certifications & Licenses

At Texas Chimney Experts, we believe homeowners deserve to know exactly who is walking into their home and what training stands behind that person. This page lists every credential, license, certification, and insurance policy our company carries — with no marketing fluff. If you have a question about any of these, call us at (214) 444-8103 and we will email you the certificate directly.

Why Credentials Matter in Chimney & Fireplace Work

Chimney sweeping, fireplace inspection, gas-log conversion, masonry rebuilds, and venting repair are not cosmetic services. A missed liner crack, an under-spec rain cap, an improperly sized gas-log set, or a creosote glaze left in place can cause a house fire, a carbon-monoxide event, or a structural collapse. National standards — NFPA 211 for chimneys, NFPA 54 for fuel-gas piping, and the manufacturer instructions for every appliance — exist because these failure modes are well documented. The certifications below exist so that homeowners, insurance adjusters, building inspectors, and real-estate professionals can verify that the company they hire actually understands those standards.

We list every credential publicly because we want the verification process to be easy. Every certification body listed here maintains a public search tool you can use to confirm an individual technician or company is in good standing.

Industry Certifications

CSIA — Chimney Safety Institute of America

The csia-certification-why-it-matters/" class="auto-entity-link" data-term="Chimney Safety Institute of America">Chimney Safety Institute of America is the most widely recognized certifying body for chimney sweeps in North America. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps complete a written exam, demonstrate field competency, and recertify every three years through continuing education. The certification covers chimney inspection levels (I, II, and III as defined by NFPA 211), creosote identification and removal, flue-liner evaluation, draft diagnostics, and homeowner safety education. Texas Chimney Experts maintains active CSIA-certified personnel on every service crew. Our CSIA member ID is printed on every report and inspection summary we issue. To verify, visit csia.org/search.

NFI — National Fireplace Institute

The National Fireplace Institute certifies hearth-product specialists in three categories: Gas Specialist, Woodburning Specialist, and Pellet Specialist. NFI certification requires passing a rigorous exam covering appliance installation, venting systems, combustion analysis, and the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54). For any gas-log installation, gas-insert replacement, or conversion work performed by Texas Chimney Experts, an NFI-certified specialist is responsible for the appliance commissioning. NFI-certified personnel are listed on nficertified.org.

F.I.R.E. Service Technician Credential

F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education) is a specialized credential focused on factory-built fireplaces and zero-clearance appliances — the type of fireplace found in most homes built after 1980. F.I.R.E.-credentialed technicians are trained to read manufacturer specifications, identify obsolete or recalled units, and source the correct OEM replacement parts. This matters because a factory-built fireplace is not a masonry fireplace; the wrong replacement panel, gasket, or refractory can void a warranty and create a real safety problem. Texas Chimney Experts keeps F.I.R.E.-credentialed personnel on staff for exactly this reason.

NCSG — National Chimney Sweep Guild

The ncsg-fire-certifications-difference/" class="auto-entity-link" data-term="National Chimney Sweep Guild">National Chimney Sweep Guild is the trade association for chimney professionals. NCSG member companies commit to a published code of ethics, continuing education, and participation in the industry’s annual technical conference. NCSG membership is not the same as a certification — it is a commitment to ongoing professionalism, peer review, and industry contribution. Texas Chimney Experts has been an NCSG member company for years and our owners and senior technicians attend the annual NCSG conference to stay current on technology, code changes, and field techniques.

BBB Accreditation

Texas Chimney Experts is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. BBB accreditation requires a documented commitment to advertising honesty, transparent pricing, responsive complaint handling, and ethical business practice. Our BBB profile is public and includes our complete complaint and resolution history; we encourage every prospective customer to read it before scheduling service.

Licensing

Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR)

For trades that require state licensure in Texas, Texas Chimney Experts maintains active credentials with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. TDLR is the state body that oversees electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and several specialty trades. Where our scope of work intersects with TDLR-regulated activity — for example, gas-log installation, electrical components in fireplace inserts, or HVAC pass-throughs near chimney chases — the licensed master in that trade is on staff, on the truck, or directly supervising. We never let an unlicensed helper perform work that Texas law requires a licensed tradesperson to perform. Our TDLR license numbers are printed on every invoice and on the side of every service vehicle. If you would like to verify a license, call TDLR at (800) 803-9202 or look it up on tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch.

Insurance Coverage

Credentials and licenses cover the training side of professional service. Insurance covers the financial side — what happens if something goes wrong despite our best efforts. Texas Chimney Experts maintains insurance coverage that meets or exceeds industry standards in every market we serve:

• General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate. This is the policy that responds if our work causes property damage to your home or belongings.
• Workers’ Compensation: Statutory limits in every state where we operate. If a technician is injured on your property, our workers’ comp policy responds — you are never personally liable.
• Commercial Auto: Full coverage on every service vehicle, including hired and non-owned auto coverage for any contractor partner.
• Umbrella / Excess Liability: Additional layered coverage above the primary general-liability and auto policies.

We will provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming any HOA, property manager, builder, real-estate agent, or insurance adjuster as a certificate-holder. Email service@texaschimneyexperts.com or call (214) 444-8103 and our office will fax or email a COI the same business day.

Continuing Education

The CSIA, NFI, and F.I.R.E. credentials all require continuing education to renew. Texas Chimney Experts treats CE as a budget line item, not an afterthought. Every technician on our roster has a documented training plan, hands-on time with a senior mentor before solo service calls, and access to manufacturer training (Heatilator, Majestic, Empire, Mendota, FMI, Real Fyre, RH Peterson, and others) so that the person diagnosing your fireplace actually knows the appliance in front of them.

How to Verify Any Credential

You should never have to take a contractor’s word on a credential. Here is how to verify ours directly:

• CSIA certified sweeps: csia.org/search
• NFI certified specialists: nficertified.org
• NCSG member companies: ncsg.org/find-a-sweep
• BBB accreditation: bbb.org (search by company name and ZIP)
• Texas TDLR license lookup: tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch

If you find any discrepancy — a credential that does not show as active, a license that is not current, anything at all — call us directly at (214) 444-8103 and we will resolve it the same day, including providing a refund if work was performed under a credential we did not in fact hold at the time. We have never had to do that, but the policy exists because we believe in standing behind what we publish.

Questions About Our Credentials?

Call (214) 444-8103 or email service@texaschimneyexperts.com. Ask for any certificate, license number, COI, or training record by name — we keep them on file and will email them to you within one business day.