Chimney cleaning and repair scammers tend to follow the patterns of those in other home improvement industries, luring homeowners via phone solicitations, door-to-door sales pitches or ads offering too-good-to-be-true prices and preying on fear and lack of knowledge to score quick sales. Once they get a foot in the door, they may claim costly repairs or products are needed immediately to prevent serious problems like carbon monoxide leaks or chimney fires. Some encounters don't turn out as well as Talaszek's.Joe Sauter of Your Chimney Sweep in Indianapolis recommends homeowners hire chimney contractors who are insured and bonded. Sauter goes so far as having his insurance agent send proof that he's covered up to $1 million to prospective customers. Sauter's agent, Brian May of the highly rated May Insurance in Fishers, Ind., recommends that customers validate insurance before service, and to make sure their chimney contractors have at least $300,000 in coverage. DO NOT USE!!