Jacqueline P. says, "I had a terrible experience with United Chimney Services (formerly Vee Home Solutions). I initially hired them to convert my gas fireplace to wood-burning, and they assured me multiple times that my chimney was in great condition. They said all I needed was a gas line cap and a chimney cleaning, and I’d be good to go. However, after attempting to light two fires, my house filled with smoke both times, and my fire alarm went off.
When I reached out to them for help, it turned into a frustrating cycle of miscommunication, scheduling, and rescheduling. The original technician came back twice—once just to say it was “too dark” to inspect the chimney at 6pm and another time to briefly light a small piece of paper to show how "good the draft" was before dismissing my concerns. His only advice? Keep a window open while lighting a fire, even in freezing winter temperatures.
Unsurprisingly, that didn't solve the issue. I sought a second opinion, only to realize that another chimney company I contacted had subcontracted to United Chimney Services—now operating under a different name. When I asked them directly if they were the same company, they denied it, despite my original paperwork clearly showing "United Chimney Services."
The new technician informed me that my chimney needed a full metal liner replacement or a complete rebuild—an additional $5,500 cost. This was something that should have been obvious from the beginning if the first technician had properly assessed the situation. He even laughed when I told him the previous advice I was given. He also pointed out that my chimney couldn't have been cleaned properly 3 months prior with only two attempted fires, given the excessive buildup of soot that had left the damper completely sealed shut.
The worst part of this ordeal was my conversation with the so-called “supervisor,” who I strongly suspect was actually the owner. He claimed he was just trying to "help me," yet he offered nothing—no discount, no reimbursement, no solution. Instead, I was kept on the phone, repeatedly being asked to explain the situation while they twisted my words and laughed. They also questioned why I didn’t reach out sooner, despite the multiple communications I had already had with their company.
Ultimately, I spent $1,300 for nothing. If they had been honest from the beginning about the true cost of making my fireplace functional, I never would have proceeded. Now, I have neither a working gas fireplace nor a safe wood-burning one. This company wasted my time, my money, and left me with an unusable, unsafe fireplace—all while refusing to take any responsibility.
If you're considering using this company, I strongly urge you to look elsewhere. Their dishonesty, poor workmanship, and complete disregard for customer satisfaction make them entirely untrustworthy."See more
