Dear Action Line: Have you heard anything about chimney cleaners or chimney repair firms going door to door offering to inspect chimneys for storm damages? - L.T., Tulsa.

We've not heard of this recently, but every home repair service that can be offered also comes in the scam variety. It's usually hard economic times that brings them out, but they're always in the neighborhood offering discounts for you-name-it.

In October 2009, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued a consumer warning titled "Don't get swept up in a chimney sweep scam."

"If your home has a chimney, you could be the target of a scam," the warning says. "Each year homeowners receive unsolicited offers - a knock at the door or a flyer in the mail - for a $30 to $50 chimney cleaning. During the 'cleaning' they discover cracked mortar, etc., that will cost several thousand dollars to repair and, of course, half must be paid up front."

Chimney sweeping is not heavily regulated, McDaniel warns. Homeowners should be wary of any services advertised as being "for a limited time only" or people at the door claiming to be "running a special" as they are "working in the neighborhood," etc

Read more