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"Preventing chimney fires, heating flue carbon monoxide poisoning and dryer vent fires has been the crux of our service all these years," said company owner James Ball, who founded the business in Port Chester, New York, in 1984.
As the only certified chimney sweep and certified dryer vent technician in Stamford, the business has handled its fair share of dryer vent trouble spots. Dryer fires cause dozens of deaths annually, and millions in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and the leading is a failure to clean.
"There are more dryer vent fires in the U.S. than chimney fires -- over 15,000 a year -- most people never think that it needs cleaning or maintenance," said Ball. "But the dryer vent is just 4 inches in diameter and a half-inch build up reduces airflow by 44 percent, increases drying time, wastes energy, backs up heat to the dryer which wears out the heating element, and increases the fire risk exponentially."
The firm tackles everything from regular cleanings, chimney relining, installation of stainless steel chimney caps, application of sealants and repair materials, insurance fire investigations, smoky fireplaces, summer odors and more.
James Ball LLC also uses high-tech equipment and techniques, including a hovercraft-style lift to move dryers, state-of-the-art recordable video inspection equipment to scan the insides of chimneys and dryer vents, two different size HEPA vacuums, and six different ways to clean chimneys.
Today, the family-owned business -- Ball works with his stepson, Richard Hartill -- serves towns throughout lower Fairfield and Westchester counties. Proof of his reputation is found in the fact that he has third-generation customers: folks that are the grandchildren of original customers.
"Our reputation is built on expert customer service, providing proper information to educate our customers; neat, clean work; listening to our customers and answering their questions; returning phone calls promptly; showing up for appointments on time; fair prices; our 100 percent cleanliness satisfaction guarantee; and providing the peace of mind that comes from knowing your chimneys and dryer vents are safe and well-maintained."
For more info, visit the company website.
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