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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2018 Volume 40, Number 2 ©Copyright, Jim Gillam, 2018 ISN: 07372205 lindemannsupply.com | 866.242.9899 $12 IN THIS ISSUE A Bleak View of Future Employment, By Dale Howard ...... 3 Voice of the Sweep since 1979

Editor/PublishEr Respirator Cleaning, Article and photos by Toby Brown ...... 6 Jim Gillam Tip for the Trade – Masking for Pointing, By Frank Ayres ...... 12 ManagEr ExtraordinairE Harriet Gillam Why You Need a Website, By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins ...... 14 graPhic dEsign Jill Beddoe Freebie Public Service Article:...... 16 KOKO Graphix, Inc. Increase Your Bottom Line, By Karen Foreman ...... 18 sPEcial corrEsPondEnts Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Jeff Gitlin, Doing What’s Right, By Michael Stone ...... 22 Marge Padgitt, Steve Snyder, John Wisnewski

illustrators How To Be Successful in a Small Chimney Sweep Business, By Jeff Gitlin ...23 Laura Eaton Jones, Kyle McQueen Sweeping with the Viking Spirit, Article and photos by Charlie Dunn ...... 24 PhotograPhy Frank Ayres, Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Best Wishes for the New Year — Vintage European Postcards Harriet & Jim Gillam Courtesy of Steve Snyder ...... 27 Contributors Frank Ayres, Karen Foreman, Taylor Hill & Carter Harkins, Dale Howard, Chimneys of Belize, By Jim Gillam ...... 28 Michael Stone Upcoming Events and Unclassified Ads ...... 30 on thE covEr Best wishes for the coming year. Postcard from Hungary. Courtesy of Steve Snyder. ADVERTISERS The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) 12119 Lupine Lane Chim-Cap Corp...... 800-262-9622 ...... 9 Klamath Falls, OR 97603-9637 541-882-5196 Chimney Products ...... 800-366-8677 ...... 7 [email protected] Chimney Safety Institute of America ...317-837-5362 ...... 17 http://www.ChimneySweepNews.com Condar...... 828-436-2102 ...... 4 Our Premium Forever Flex™ liner is now also available in Premium Pre-Insulated™! The Chimney Sweep News is published Copperfield Chimney Supply ...... 800-247-3305 ...... 21 As with all Forever Flex liners, they feature Olympia’s Forever Warranty and come 6 times per year, bi-monthly. with Free Shipping on liners and kits. Subscription Rates (US Currency): Firesafe Industries ...... 800-545-6607 ...... 5 $69 print in the USA PREMIUM $99 print outside USA HeatShield...... 800-860-6327 ...... 29 $69 PDF emailed anywhere Single Copy, $12 Improved Consumer Products ...... 508-695-7000 ...... 30

Advertising rates available upon request. Lindemann Chimney Company ...... 800-722-7230 ...... 32 Patent Pending Only Pre-Insulated Liner to Lock-Top Dampers...... 800-247-3305 ...... 12 Available in 316TI/304L .005 Feature Stainless Steel Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not Inner & Outer Construction necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The publisher 5’’- 12’’ Diameter Lynn Ladder & Scaffolding ...... 800-225-2510 ...... 8 does not assume any liability for advertiser claims, errors Provides Zero/Zero Clearance or omissions. When you read, use your own judgment. Extremely Flexible & Easy to Uncoil National Chimney ...... 800-897-8481 ...... 25 Inside a Masonry Chimney We are not responsible for anything you do. Olympia Chimney Supply ...... 800-569-1425 ...... 31 Superior Strength Forever Warranty™ Copyright © 2018, Jim Gillam Very Lightweight All rights reserved. Pro-Spin Vent Cleaning Systems...... 800-994-7933 ...... 23 Reprinting page 16, the Freebie public service article, IS allowed and encouraged if it is not altered in any way. Roydhouse Effect ...... 410-863-0157 ...... 27 Sand Hill Wholesale ...... 888-726-3445 ...... 11 Printed at Sutherland Printing SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems ...... 702-790-4107 ...... 13 Montezuma, Iowa USA SEE HOW Wohler USA ...... 978-750-9876 ...... 26 EASY IT We encourage you to send announcements, articles, UNCOILS! photos, anecdotes, quips, newspaper clippings, verse and Z-Flex Chimney Liners ...... 800-654-5600 ...... 20 short stories by, for and about chimney sweeps, their customers and the chimney service trade. We treat contributions with care, but cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage. Please visit www.ChimneySweepNews.com for links to our advertisers’ websites. Call 1-800-569-1425 or visit WWW.OLYMPIACHIMNEY.COM Please tell our advertisers you saw them in TECHNICAL & OTHER NEEDS CALL: 1-844-814-3002 The Chimney Sweep News! SCRANTON, PA

2 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 31 Jan 30-31: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, Upcoming Events Denver, CO. 8 speakers, technical and business class- Unclassified Ads es. Register online at olympiachimney.com or call remote vision equipment has A Bleak View of Future Employment Information subject to change. Please 570-503-7177. confirm dates and locations of any been providing interior chimney and ductwork images since 1984. Three different color cam- events! Feb 7-8: CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician But I Think Chimney Sweeps Do OK in the End Review & Exam, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, era types are available plus a hook up to laptop computers for all units built since 1995. Check 2019 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Call CSIA at 317-837- By Dale Howard Jan 12-13: Mass Guild Winter Extravaganza, Stur- 5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info. out our new website at www.chimscan.net. bridge, MA. Publick House Historic Inn, 277 Main Call our helpful and friendly staff at the Esto- St. For more info, contact David Hannah, davehan- Feb 14-16: Certified Chimney Professionals Chim- ban Corporation at 641-472-7643 or e-mail us [email protected] ney Expo, King of Prussia, PA. Valley Forge Casino at [email protected] for more information. Those of us who are parents and What Comes Next? into a corner. Jan 16-17: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, & Resort, 1160 1st Ave, 19406. 610-354-8118. Trade grandparents worry about the future for The fast answer to the question of Times may Scranton, PA. 8 speakers, technical and business show and training. Contact Certified Chimney Pro- fessionals, 814-689-1576, for more info. The Chimney Sweep News is seeking a new our kids. With automation advancing at what comes next is, “We’ve been down change, but classes. Register online at olympiachimney.com or owner. Contact [email protected]. call 570-503-7177. this road before; machine aids didn’t put people don’t. Feb 25 – Mar 1: CSIA National Chimney Sweep the pace it is now, I think there is plenty Jan 23: CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Looking for new Sweep / Entrepreneur: small Rou- Exams, Oreland, PA. Jamison Home Services, 1429 Training School, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, of reason for concern. One might look us all out of work, just made us more Ulmer Ave, 19075. Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Six-day course includes eccentric sweep business, idyllic New England productive and made our lives easier. tine labor is classroom and field instruction. Contact CSIA at setting, 30 year history of soot, sweat, smiles at the picture below and say, “Let’s see it www.csia.org for more info. replaced all www.csia.org or call 317-837-5362 for more info. and treating folks fairly. Organized and ex- climb up a scaffold and rebuild a top.” Plus new jobs crop up to replace the old Jan 23-24: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, pandable. Will work with right person to make Nashville, TN. 8 speakers, technical and business ones.” I can’t deny any of that, but am the time by the dream come true. Contact [email protected] That would be a trick indeed. But the big classes. Register online at olympiachimney.com or March 13-15: Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo, not so sure it holds up into the future. machines. I call 570-503-7177. Dallas, TX. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Experienced Sweep Wanted - Looking for a point is that lots of stuff people do now For more info, visit www.hpbexpo.com. When machines can fix machines, live in Mary- Jan 23-25: Warrior Leadership Conference, certified sweep to join our team. 40 year old, is going to be done by robots later. Dale Howard Shreveport, LA. Hilton Shreveport, 104 Market family owned chimney sweeping company please tell me what those new jobs will land where St, 70111. The ultimate business and motivational April 17-20: National Chimney Sweep Guild con- located near Sacramento, CA. Signing bonus Self-driving cars, and big rigs too. crabbing is a sizable industry. People experience. Sponsored by National Chimney and vention, Norfolk, VA. Waterside Marriott, 235 E be. (Does anyone doubt that will be available. Competitive salary/commission. Huge farms don’t need lots of people Lindemann Chimney Co. $349 first attendee/$199 Main St, 23510. 757-627-4200. Visit www.ncsgcon- common 50 years from now? Or even pick crabmeat better than machines but, additional attendees per company. Call 800-897-8481 Medical & vacation available. Please email vention.org for more info. to sign up. resumes to Amie Ryan - [email protected] — mostly some guys in a control room 20?) since a lot of crab pickers got deported in front of a computer screen and some There will probably be plenty of civil lately, mostly we get machine-picked field problem solvers. The machines will unrest as we transition to whatever the crabmeat now. I doubt those jobs will The premier chimney Although there work all night long if you want them future looks like. Back in the 1700s, auto- ever go back to humans. cap for keeping smoke have been to. I hear robotic nursing assistants mation came to the textile industry in I have a Roomba (robot vacuum out of living spaces. many attempts are big in Japan. What is the difference England and it put plenty of people out cleaner) and it does a reasonable job. to copy it over between 1000 people watching a video of work. To “fix that” the former weavers Anyone not have a washing machine? tried to smash all the machines (the Lud- People used to do the wash. Which one • Vacu-Stack® works with single wall, the last 40+ of a teacher (robotic school) and a real dite Revolution) and the military had to of you has no power tools? At what point double wall, triple wall, or masonry. years, there is robot there? They have been doing that put the riots down. In the end, it didn’t does increased productivity give way to for years but they don’t lower the price • Solves draft problems related to hills only one change anything, but it does tell you a outright unemployment? Think Detroit. any. Drone deliveries are already being and mountains, tall trees, and tall Vacu-Stack®. lot about what people do when backed But with jobs that require education buildings near the chimney. done. Factory automation is way beyond increased production now; jobs lost to • Sizes available from 3” to 30”+; Always ask machines in many cases are gone for- custom and oversize available. for it by name Air cooled and non-air cooled. ever. and look for Amazingly, it turns out computer- • Standard construction is 100% Model VSA-TDW the seal of doctors are way better than you would for air cooled chimney austenitic stainless steel; also available in other alloys including copper and authenticity on imagine. They produce better diagnoses Type 316 for marine/coal appliances. top of the cap. by percentage than human doctors. Not that I want one, but if the overall results the authentic Improved Consumer Products, Inc. PO Box B Attleboro Falls, MA 02763 100% made are there and it’s cheaper, who do you Available from leading (508) 695-7000 Fax: (508) 695-4209 think the insurance companies want to distributors nationwide. www.chimneycaps.com in USA “hire”? Dr. HAL. Good luck Dave. Robot bricklayer

30 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 3 and/or skill starting to disappear too, it unique character. makes you wonder. Even if you man- Belize is a popular retirement desti- age to do something that a machine Dear Readers, nation for North Americans and ex-pats When it comes to the topic of climate change, chimney probably won’t do (which, happily, service professionals can feel good, or at least neutral, about live in all regions of the country. Years promoting the use of biomass fuels such as wood and pellets. mostly chimney sweeps do — let’s see Efficient combustion of biomass is considered a neutral con- a machine install a liner) who will hire ago, Sooty Bob Daniels floated the idea tributor to greenhouse gases since the carbon released is of rel- you? The teacher/doctor/bank teller/ atively current origin. However, the carbon released by burn- of a hypothetical retirement community ing natural gas and petroleum fuels was sequestered by plant grocery store clerk/brick layer/nursing life millions of years ago. Burning those products releases aid/truck-taxi-tractor-delivery driver/ called “Sweep City, Arizona.” Anyone for ancient carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and is considered the major contributor to Houses in this lumber camp in the Moun- factory worker/crab picker/etc. who Chimney Sweep Village, Belize? climate change. tain Pine Ridge had fireplaces and chim- used to have a job? Chimney professionals and the hearth industry need to rethink their promotion of About 15% of Belizean households neys for cooking. The kitchen with its exte- natural gas. The recent UN report on climate change gives humankind about a dozen rior chimney were separated from the main years to reorganize society to avert catastrophe. It is past time now to stop promoting the The Work that Will Be in use firewood for cooking, mainly in living quarters. recreational use of natural gas such as decorative fireplaces. Gas and oil should be seen as transitional fuels to get us to non-polluting sources of energy. Demand rural areas. Cooking fires rarely are We cannot rely on government to do this. Most of us do not welcome government So what to do? You can go off the cooking fireplaces with chimneys at a vented through chimneys. Smoke typi- regulation and coercion anyway. We must each choose the responsible course so that we An older residence in Benque Viejo del grid, but most won’t or can’t. You can lumber camp. Apparently, a few home- can leave a livable world to our children and future generations. Carmen. take it as it comes, which most will — cally flows directly into the living space Thanks to YOU and our loyal advertisers for your support! YOU make this publica- owners enjoy a recreational fireplace. tion possible. We thank Jill Beddoe for her excellent graphic design work on these pages. though it may not be much fun. My where the cooking fire is located, which “I first visited in 1982,” he recalls. “I Thanks to Sutherland Printing for their diligent printing and mailing efforts. I especially guess is that for the foreseeable future, thank Manager Extraordinaire Harriet for her love and devotion. may be the house or a separate kitchen Chimney Jim the ones who serve the machines arrived from Belize City in a small plane, structure. I found some examples of (i.e. designing, building and fixing) which landed on a grass strip. A native them have the best chance of staying took me across the lagoon in a dugout LET CONDAR’S FACTORY MAKE employed. custom thermometers FOR YOU! In my opinion, a lot of the “edu- canoe. Placencia had just strung its first cation” over the past several years was electric line along the sidewalk through Why ? Chimney sweeps reap rich harvests of repeat business when you sell, useless from the start and certainly the village. It was powered by a diesel- or even give away, custom woodstove thermometers. about to be outmoded even if it was useful at one time (I’ve got a pretty fueled generator installed at the fisher- The HeatShield Repair System is a Condar’s staff takes care of design work efficiently, for a modest one- method to repair chimney interiors that: time art charge. Choose one of three standard dial designs, tell us dim view of the education industry). men’s’ cooperative processing facility what information you want printed, and send us your logo. Many colleges have turned into glo- Takes Less Time to freeze and ship fish. My friend and I rified tech schools (which academic Is Non-Destructive (No More Breaking Out Flue Tiles) Black case, printed with silver high- people generally disdain, so there is fished for what we ate. When I returned Solves a Wide Range of Chimney Problems temp ink. Minimum 100 per order. a contradiction for you.) The educa- Adds More to Your Bottom Line in 2010, we drove there on a newly paved Visit our website: tion industry generally does not have condar.com/ChimneySweepThermometers.html the answer; they still crank out degrees road. Belize had been ‘discovered’ and in (and put people in debt for) studies upscale resorts and vacation homes were Your customers are looking for a For pricing e-mail: Visit about the sociological importance of HeatShield installer near you. [email protected] popping up all around.” www.HeatShieldChimney.com Or call: football to students taking sociology, For More Info (828) 436-2102 ext. 2280 sports science, or media studies. Well, Your editor first visited Belize in Mon-Fri 8am-5pm ET that will prepare you for the future! 1976 and has returned many times since, Y OU OM RWEBSITE.C The long haul I can’t begin to guess, most recently in September. The coun- but I think the nearer-term decent futures belong to engineer types, prob- try has modernized dramatically in the © Condar Company lem solvers and the artistic/thinkers. past forty years; however, it retains its

4 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 29 Artistic/thinker types have a rela- repaired/replaced by a machine, there The good news is that all this is not tively small niche; and they are mostly will be a place for problem solvers. going to happen in the flip of a switch. Chimneys of Belize born with the talent; skill alone comes For our lifetimes, I imagine robots However, since it is happening right up short of spectacular. I have a grand- have one plan: Plan A to replace [what- now and the pace will only pick up, it Article and photos by Jim Gillam son who is going to school to become a ever]. As a problem solver, you may be would be a mistake to pretend like it film director. I have another grandson able to provide the work all the non- isn’t coming. So, I think teaching your Are you looking for a place to retire who is a sculptor in wood. Most people employed people really need. kids to be problem solvers and/or guid- and maybe sweep a few chimneys on the can’t plan for careers like that and there Robots will probably never be able to ing them into an education that stands side? Belize is probably not the place for isn’t wide demand. Mostly thinkers are fix something by jumping a wire or mov- a chance of working with the machines not involved in public service and there ing a hole in the wall to the left two inches, is the medium-term hope. And keep on you. There are not many chimneys in the is only so much room for thinkers in etc. Imagination will always have a place. sweeping! subtropical Central American nation of industry. It is a niche with more supply Interesting that this is a concern at Belize, but there are a few. than demand. a time when it is hard to find qualified Dale Howard currently assists with But there will be lots of room for people to do most anything. Yet most marketing at New England Chimney Belize is a country about the size problem solvers — a niche with more available jobs available either don’t pay Supply, which acquired his former busi- of Massachusetts, located south of the demand than supply. Problem solv- anything (being part-time and on-call ness Regional Chimney Supply in 2017. Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and east of ers include chimney sweeps, plumbers, at Noodles counts as employed) or they Dale started sweeping in 1978 and has mechanics, etc. Until everything is built would pay plenty but you can’t find peo- been an occasional contributor to The Guatemala. Belize was formerly a Brit- so a robot can plug in and see what is ple who can do the job. With as close to Chimney Sweep News for many years. ish colony and was known previously as wrong (probably not forever away…) 100% employment as we get, not many British Honduras. Belize achieved polit- AND manufactured so that it is easily people give this stuff a second thought. We featured this chimney in Hopkins on our August 2010 cover. Due to its exposed loca- ical independence in 1981. tion on the beach, I did not expect it to last long. Side by side comparison with recent photo shows some apparent mortar deterioration, but less than I expected. Note that masonry About 400,000 people reside there. chimneys should be supported by a foundation according to North American building codes. Belizeans are a diverse group of Latinos, CrownGuard nese, East Indians and Anglos. English and Linda Morton (The Merry Sweep, Severe weather crown repair & protection Creoles, Maya, Garifuna, Lebanese, Chi- is the official language, while Spanish Greenville, SC) and eight others for my Centering system for metal chimney liners and Belize Kriol are more widely spo- 60th birthday and had a great time.” ken. Placencia is the second most popular Belize has become increasingly pop- destination in Belize. Jeff Gitlin (retired, FireGuard ® ular as a tourist destination in recent Nonesuch, KY) has been there twice. The most advanced chimney liner in the world Patented decades. Madonna’s visit to Ambergris “I wanted to write in and tell you how much I appreciate the quality of your products. We inspect approximately 20 to 30 Caye, the most popular tourist spot in chimneys every week and we run into every product there is on the market. I can tell you with absolute certainty that your FireGuard and Guardian products have no equals. I can say this because I've tried the other products and had to deal with the country, reportedly inspired her many call backs due to cracks and failures as well as the complications involved with the installation. FireGuard and Guardian are simple to install and we do not get call backs. I've been using your products since 2005 and it is always a 1987 hit song, “La Isla Bonita.” pleasure to inspect a chimney we repaired years ago and see that it still looks as good as it did the day we fixed it with your products. Thank you Jay!” Numerous chimney sweeps have Dave Laverdiere - Owner of Boston Brick & Stone - Pasadena California visited Belize. “We love Belize,” says Ron Rust (Top Hat Sweepers, Colum- For additional information or to order products, call 800-545-6607

This recently built two-story house in Traditional Maya cookstove. The smoke is bia, SC). “We go to Ambergris Caye and [email protected] www.firesafeinc.com Benque Viejo del Carmen has a Conestoga simply vented out the window and through type chimney cap. have been three times. We took Blume the roof.

28 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 5 An Old European Tradition Take a Clean Deep Breath Wishing You Good Fortune in the New Year By Toby Brown Postcards from the collections of Steve Snyder and Jeff Gitlin Smoke Stack Services, LLC Eastsound, Washington The custom of sending postcards to wish good fortune in the coming year flourished throughout Europe in the first forty years of the th20 century. The Breathing is an important part of Before you start the job, it is important cards were gloriously illustrated with numerous good luck symbols including four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, pink piglets, amanita muscaria mushrooms and life. Dust masks and respirators are the to know the chemicals and substances chimney sweeps. important tools that help keep your to which you are being exposed and We wish you health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year! lungs happy and healthy on the job. which filter will protect you. Manu- facturers make filters for almost every Choosing a Respirator type of particle and vapor. Check with Choosing the right respirator for the product safety data sheet (SDS, this important task is the first step in previously MSDS) to determine what protection. Using the respirator is also vitally important; it doesn’t work if you don’t wear it. Making sure it works properly is critical. When purchasing a dust mask or respirator make sure it fits properly, Toby Brown cleaning a respirator. creating a tight seal between the rub- ber and skin. Beards, piercings and continue to purchase their filters. glasses can render respirators useless. A N95 dust filter will not protect Selecting the right type of filter is your lungs from organic vapors like critical to ensure proper protection. benzene or toluene. Dust masks are Frank Ayres (Ayres Ashes Away Chimney single use and should be stored in a Service, Chiloquin, OR) tests the fit of a half-face respirator. sealable container. These inexpensive chemicals the product contains and dust-filtering masks should be prop- how to properly protect your lungs. erly disposed after each use. When purchasing a new respirator, WE MAKE BUSINESSES PROFITABLE & ORGANIZED make sure that the filters are replace- Cleaning Your Respirator Business Consulting Fractional CEO Virtual Chief Information Officer able and that the store carries the type The most neglected aspect of res- of filter for the job. The fittings on fil- pirators is routine cleaning. The pro- [email protected] (410) 863-0157 www.roydhouseeffect.com ters match the particular manufactur- cess of cleaning full face and half face Disassemble the respirator and clean each Stay out of the poorhouse, call Roydhouse! individual piece. er’s respirator, ensuring that you will filtering respirators is simple and only continued on page 8

6 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 27 that Hedan is a humble chimney sweep and individual. He tends his beautifully landscaped yard around three-bedroom home as a hobby. He told me it relieves the stress and tension of life’s daily trials. His “little shop” surprised all of us. A number of years ago he and a couple of other sweeps formed a profit sharing corporation. Now they are one of the Thaddeus Mussner of Germany shows off The fire building competition. largest full service chimney sweep oper- his new tattoo. the other end on the toe of your shoe ations in Sweden. has some ink) son’s tattoo parlor, situ- while standing on one foot! The “shop” has an office, warehouse ated in the center of town and walk- and employee facilities including show- ing distance from our hotel. Da Ruass Anders Hedan Hedstrom — ers, lockers, sauna, eating area, recre- received his new tattoo with a cheer- Knoparhedan ation, laundry and parking area. The ing section while Ronja Sire’n did the Anders Hedan Hedstrom, his company furnishes uniforms, equip- artwork on his arm. That was the clos- wife, Manuela, and family provided us ment and tools to employees. However, est I have ever come to getting ink, with some authentic Swedish fast food an employee must pay for a tool lost or except one time in Copenhagen in 1959. treats and invited us to see their home damaged through negligence. (Almost 60 years ago!?) and “little shop.” Hedan is a bit mysteri- The large parking area in the rear ous; he always keeps his Swedish chim- also serves as a parking area for their The Viking Spirit ney sweep cap pulled down almost to the multiple service vehicles and for stor- Viking spirit is present in Sweden’s point of covering his eyes. I discovered ing truckloads of bagged pellets. They chimney sweeps whether they are work- are one of Sweden’s ing on a roof on a sweltering hot day in largest pellet resale the summer or a brutally cold snowy locations and pellet windy day with two feet of icy snow. appliance installers. A big plus for them is their history of Sweden promotes chimney sweeping in Sweden and gov- the use of wood ernment intervention that requires safe pellets fuel for resi- working conditions for chimney sweeps dential heating and at commercial and residential locations. industry.

FREE WOHLER VIPER L, 50 FT. Tattoo A group of us WITH WOHLER VIS 400 PURCHASE sweeps went with Da Rauss [see “Adven- Wohler VIS 400 Chimney Camera tures in German · Includes one 2“ pan and tilt color camera head Chimney Sweeping” Charlie Dunn in the May-June 2009 · Features include photo, video, & voice over issue] to watch him In closing, I truly appreciate my functions get another chimney bride, Jennie Lynn, for continuing to be · Valid with any VIS 400 monitor or kit purchase sweep tattoo – which my partner and supporting me when I · Promo Code: SNEWS he had personally want to spread my vintage wings and designed. This was “soar like Odin’s ravens.” Annette’s (who also

26 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 7 The first step is to remove the filters and discard expired filters or heavily used filters. For filters that are reusable, seal the connection ports and put the filters in the small clean seal- able bag (photo). Be careful not to lose any gaskets or rings. Remove any large chunky bits (mortar, adhesive, creo- sote, etc.) from the respirator body. Gaskets in a pan of warm water. Harness in Thin rubber disc seal. Fill the dish tub or pan with the sink. Face mask ready for washing. WE ARE ALL warm water and a few squirts of dish takes a few minutes. Almost all respi- able nose cup, remove it and place it soap. Remove the harness and strap rators consist of a series of rubber gas- in the dish tub. The goal is to reduce STOCKED UP! assembly from the respirator and set it kets and rubber valves. the respirator to its individual parts aside in the sink. Remove any exterior The cleaning process is done best for cleaning. After everything has been with a large sink with warm water, a gaskets or rings and put them in the disassembled, proceed to wash each Are You? dish tub or pan and a clean counter warm soapy dish tub. Carefully remove part in the warm soapy dish tub, gently top. I also recommend: the exhalation port from the respira- rub each part ensuring every surface • 2 large lint free towels tor body and place in dish tub. Care- is clean. Rinse each part thoroughly • scent free liquid dish soap fully remove the small rubber disk seal and set to drip dry on the clean towel. • 1 small sealable bag and place it in the tub. Look inside the Wash the harness last, since it typically • 1 large sealable bag. respirator body and locate the inhala- contains the most oils. Place one of the clean towels on the tion ports. Carefully remove the small After washing and rinsing all the counter as a landing zone for the clean rubber disk seals and place them in the parts it is time to dry. Use the second wet parts as they come out of the sink. dish tub. If the respirator has a remov- clean towel to dry each part. I don’t continued on page 10 Stock Up & Save Trust us with your full business this season *Chimney Scaffolds Extensive delivery service routes an 3 Ways to Save *Roof Ladders and Hooks capabilities 1. Free delivery on our delivery loop with a *Steel Scaffolding min $400 order *Truck and Van Racks More trucks added to the fleet 2. Free shipping at $1000 or 60’ of stainless steel liner LYNN LADDER & SCAFFOLDING CO., INC. Lifetime warranties that you can be 3. 10% of the order total if you don’t meet the confident in free shipping requirements 1-800-225-2510

www.lynnladder.com National Chimney 2147C Fletcher Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 www.nationalchimney.com Call 800.897.8481 Now to Order! 8 November-December 2018

Nov_NC_3.indd 1 9/14/18 9:43 AM CALL NOW! Sweeping with the Viking Spirit

By Charlie Dunn Keeper of the Chimneys Livermore, California

The Vikings, history tells us, were dubbed a Viking Chimney Sweep’s an interesting group of brave seafar- Valhalla – including a well-organized ing warrior marauders from the Nordic “Chimney Sweep Olympics.” It was a countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, pleasant and relaxing social time to meet Norway, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, with old and new friends with an inter- the Aland Islands and Sweden. They esting array of beverages, snacks, and have passed down that Viking spirit of meals. A highlight was a Master Chim- courage and honor to these present day ney Sweep award presentation ceremony Nordic countries – and their chimney – Viking style — held outside in a beau- sweeps. I had the pleasure of visiting tiful park situated between Annette’s Swedish chimney sweeps again for the home and her business center. This was 2018 International Swedish Chimney part of a parade route through town, Sweep Gathering. [See the Sept-Oct and which was televised by one of the local Jorgen Eriksson tosses the ring. Nov-Dec 2017 issues for Charlie Dunn’s TV stations. pop the cork in the shortest time. Most previous reports from Sweden.] of us must have been Boy Scouts because Annette Soth Stolz’s company spon- Chimney Sweep Olympics most everyone scored pretty well on this sored the gathering, held at their loca- The most interesting event was event. tion in Hedemora. building a fire. Contestants were given a I got down and dirty in the pipe The itinerary could have been small log, a small hatchet or knife, and a crawl. You started at one end of a 25’ pack of matches. Their challenge was to culvert and crawled on your hands and start a fire from scratch. There was also a knees — or belly slide commando style tube filled with water, sealed with a cork like I did — to arrive at the other end. at the top and propped up on legs. The Then hammer a ten-penny nail into a 4” object was to build a fire, heat the water X 4” board, and then balance a 4’ chim- and build up steam within the tube to ney sweep rod with a brush attached to

Balancing a chimney rod and brush on one foot. Chimney sweep parade through Hedemora, Sweden. continued on page 26

24 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 9 How to be Successful in a Small Chimney Sweep Business — It’s Simple

By Jeff Gitlin Nonesuch, Kentucky

Treat people with respect, you would want a contractor to treat your parents. It’s really

Carefully reassemble the respirator. honesty, and courtesy. Live very simple.

Once everything is back together With cleaning complete, put the your life according to the Jeff Gitlin, now retired, ran a successful chimney sweep give it a test breath to ensure it is work- clean respirator into the large reseal- values you have learned business for thirty years, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the ing properly and adjust any parts as able bag along with the small bag con- from your parents and the surrounding area. He was Technical Advisor to The Chimney

needed. taining the filters. I consider my big Boy Scouts. Sweep News from 1983 until 1999 and now serves as Special clean bag as a sacred space. Nothing Learn all that you can to Correspondent. dirty goes in the bag, ever. Jeff Gitlin become a competent and The cleaning process should take knowledgeable sweep. Be proud of your occupation and about 15-20 minutes at first but as you become familiar with the process, receive satisfaction in knowing that you are helping to make Respirator parts on a clean towel as they it should take only about 10-15 min- people safer in the comfort of their homes against the dan- come out of the sink. utes. A small investment considering gers of fire and carbon monoxide. recommend letting parts air dry, as it is the importance of breathing. In these days, if you are prompt and neat in doing your likely that gremlins will steal the most My legal advisors say to read and important part while you are not look- work you will never be without work. Be personable and Cover the connection point of the filter after follow the manufacturer’s instructions use to keep out contaminants. ing. friendly — folks are hungry for the personal connection. for proper usage and cleaning. With everything dry, it is now time Speak from your heart. Tip: use blue painters tape to cover to reassemble. Put the respirator back the clean connection point on the filter Look at the big picture and the long term. Don’t count in reverse order as you took it apart. after use. Sealing the clean side helps your money by the day — it may lead you to make short- Start with the respirator body and prevent debris from contaminating the term decisions that do not benefit you or your customer. continue all the way back to the har- filter while its being stored. Never be afraid to tell a customer that a repair is needed but ness. Be gentle and pay attention to the alignment marks most respirators that it can wait until your next visit if it is not a safety hazard have. Be extra gentle with the round (crown repair, spalled bricks, etc.) seals and ensure that they seal prop- Place the clean respirator in a sealable for Connect with your customers and treat them the way erly. clean storage.

10 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 23 Doing What’s Right By Michael Stone Construction Programs and Results

How should you handle a mistake? not be relevant. cheap, only What if it is a mistake you made over a Fortunately, that is what this con- to find out decade ago? tractor did; he was not comfortable their business “I have purchased your books and charging for the repairs. has failed read all of your emails weekly. I have I encouraged him to take it one a few years been in business for 18 years and have step further. Do not let a good mistake later and they a question concerning work that we did go to waste. He didn’t go to arbitra- don’t have

14 years ago. tion; instead, he corrected the mistake recourse if Michael Stone Scenario: We built a covered patio for on his own. So, ask the owner to write a there is a a neighbor 14 years ago which I look at note explaining the problem and how problem. When you can demonstrate every day from my back yard. This year it was fixed. The note needs to include both longevity and integrity, you can a piece of the trim coil on the lower part the fact that it has been fourteen years give potential clients the peace of of the gable end came off and it exposed since the original work was done but mind that you will be there for them rot that was behind it due to water infil- they still made things right. If needed, down the road. tration. We ended up fixing the rot and offer to write the note to get it started That’s being a good guy, and we re-trimmed with trim coil. and the owner could edit it as needed. like to see the good guys win. I am embarrassed to say that the Let the owner know the letter will trim coil was originally not installed be used for marketing. Then take the Michael and Devon Stone oper- right by us. My feeling is that I do not time to notify others: local newspa- ate Construction Programs & Results, charge for the repair. However my cost pers, television and radio stations, 2818 NE 292nd Avenue, Camas, WA to repair for two employees 2 days, roll magazines, etc. If you are lucky and it 98607. Michael Stone has been involved of trim coil and framing materials was is a slow news day, they have some feel- in the construction trades for over forty approximately $960, which if I were good content to fill space. You might years. He is the author of Markup and billing out at our normal rate would be get ignored, but since it is rare to find Profit: A Contractor’s Guide Revisited, $2,110. a company in any industry that would available at their website, www.mark- I have a profitable business and a stand behind their work fourteen years upandprofit.com, or by phone at 888- good reputation. I’d like to know what later, they might be interested. The let- 944-0044. He offers coaching and con- your take would be on this.” ter could also be included in a direct sulting services for general and specialty My take: If the original work was mail piece, starting in the neighbor- contractors throughout the U.S., as well not done correctly and I was arbitrat- hood right around the client’s home. as audio and CD programs for busi- ing this as a dispute, I would rule that Being in business for more than a ness management. He is also available it is the contractor’s responsibility to few years is an accomplishment. Too to speak at chimney sweep conventions make it right. The time frame would many owners hire a contractor for and workshops.

22 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 11 PATENT PENDING Tip for the Trade: Mask Go to www.copperfield.com/HomeSaver-UltraPro-Pre-Insulated the Brick When Pointing Lifetime MADE IN By Frank Ayres USA Transferable Energy-Saving Dampers Ayres Ashes Away Chimney Service Warranty Chiloquin, Oregon

We live in an area with lots of older homes, some around 100 Quality = Confidence. years old. This high desert/forest area experiences dramatic tem- perature fluctuations. The frequent freeze/thaw cycles break the Gain Peace-Of-Mind Knowing tops of chimneys. Many chimneys are crumbling and need repair. You Installed the Best. Some of these homes are in well-maintained neighborhoods. Some of the repairs have stained the bricks for an “obviously repaired” look, which degrades the street appeal of these beautiful older houses. When pointing, we put masking tape on the face of each brick before applying the mortar. Our chimneys look as good as they did when they were built.

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12 November-December 2018 and your business tasks will keep you in and your employees is the most impor- perspective and a chance to question check, and will help you make the most tant thing you can do to save money your business practices. of your time as you conquer the season. and make money. Many businesses fail I will leave you with a quote from the because of health issues. This could late Steve Jobs that I feel sums things up: Manage Your Money include stress and overly long working “It’s not the tools that you have faith in Who is your main “go to” for finan- hours, leading to fatigue and accidents – tools are just tools. They work, or they cial advice? Who manages your books? on the job. don’t work. It’s people you have faith in How does this increase your bottom Make time for doctor appointments. or not. Yeah, sure, I’m still optimistic. I line? Important questions to consider Take time out for sanity breaks. Plan mean, I get pessimistic sometimes but are, “Who is qualified to make financial one day a week for rest. Spend time with not for long.” decisions for your business?” and “Are family. Investing in yourself, your family, Have a great season! these decisions based on true facts or on and your employees is the best invest- speculations?” ment you can make. Karen Foreman, an employee at By looking outside the box and con- Copperfield, has been in the industry for Maintain Health and sidering ideas other than “More Sales” 27 years. She is also the author of “Design Relationships and “Saving Money,” my hope for you is Ideas for Fireplaces” published by Creative Taking care of yourself, your family, that this article has given you some new Homeowner Press.

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Z-FLEX Liner Triple Lock Smoothcore Z-Max - Chimmney Sweep News 7.5 x 4.875.indd 2 2017-09-28 4:04 PM 20 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 13 ments on Facebook? Do similar posts. endear you to your employees. Respect trucks with a big box of extra compo- Every Business Needs a Website, Here’s Why Before and after pictures are atten- is generally earned, not given – drive nents. If her company is out on a job and

By Taylor Hill and Carter Hawkins tion getters, but get permission from your old work truck, get out in the field, someone forgot to order a component, Spark Marketer your customers to use them. Set up an handle the difficult customers, listen to they can finish the work using items account for Pinterest, a great place to your employees, and lead. Be a leader, a from the box of extras. When a tech

Some say Google is on a mission to how can you convince those searchers post your quality work. respected leader. pulls a part from the box, it is quickly become the new home page for busi- that you are trustworthy if you do not replaced. A little planning and imple- nesses; that they want to provide search- even know they are considering you? Let Retain Employees menting can save hundreds of dollars in ers with everything they need to know your website do the work. Training employees is a big invest- rescheduled return work. about a business, without ever leaving According to BrightLocal’s 2017 ment. Not only is training a financial Scheduling is another way to be Google. Local Consumer Review Survey, visit- investment, it also involves a time com- more efficient. Are you over scheduling? Sure, the Knowledge Panel provides ing the company website is still the most mitment. One of the biggest complaints Are you under scheduling? Do you know Taylor Hill and Carter Hawkins searchers with a lot of the information common next step after reading reviews. I hear in this industry is how hard it is to how much time it really takes to do a they are searching for, like the business With a website, you are able to build tralized place where you can send people keep and to motivate employees. job? If you run your business from one phone number, location, hours, and authority and earn a degree of trust to learn more about you, your services, Employees do not come to work for truck, do you have someone who can online review scores, but does that mean before meeting a potential customer face Illustration by Laura Eaton Jones and your company, 24/7. You spend you because they don’t have anything to pick up some slack if a job gets compli- you no longer need a website? We would to face. Think that is just a nice thought? money on advertising -- like radio ads, do. They come for the “WIIFM” (What’s Do you provide bonuses? The indus- cated and runs over on time? Scheduling argue no, and not just because we hap- It’s more than that! 34% of consumers TV commercials, AdWords, or other in it for me?). They are there to make try seems divided on this. I feel it is up to appropriately is a big part of efficiency. pen to build websites. believe a “clear & smart” website gives a ad campaigns -- but where do people money so they can pursue their dreams, you to implement a strict code of ethics You want any information that could business more credibility. Just having a reached go to schedule an appointment take care of their family, purchase a and train your employees in salesman- Eliminate Waste convert curious searchers into loyal cus- website can secure confidence and give or find out more about your business? house, pay the rent, etc. ship. Watch your sales grow ethically. Waste can be as simple as ordering tomers readily available, and your web- your potential customers peace of mind. Whether customers or colleagues have If they see you pull up in your Cor- Your employees are there to make a incorrect product, using too much prod- site is a great place to provide that. Don’t Not only that, your website also questions during office hours or while vette the first day at work, their thought difference – to grow, to feel needed, and uct, making return trips due to mistakes, let naysayers convince you your website allows you to showcase your expertise they are up nursing at three in the morn- is likely, “I’m going to have my own to be praised. They stay at your business scheduling issues, vehicle breakdowns, is insignificant or unnecessary — even and knowledge, so those searching for ing, your website is always there. And someday.” The question is, are you going to make money and they believe in what etc. the smallest business could benefit from your services can confidently pick up unlike listing sites and social media pro- to help them obtain it and keep them as they are doing. What are you doing to Losing your business focus and get- a website. Here is why… the phone and call you, knowing you your employees or are you going to give foster that? Do you have a growth pro- ting “off plan” can also create waste. will take care of their problems and do files, your website provides ample space them reasons to leave your business and gram for them so they will continue to During the busy season, it is easy to react Your website builds cred- the job right. to introduce your company and educate ibility, proves authority, those wanting to know more. start their own? invest their time and skill in your busi- to the stressors. Before long, your busi- and shows customers you Your website acts as a hub Having a centralized place where One of the most important things ness? Are there future opportunities? ness is managing you. are a real company. where potential custom- you showcase your services and expe- you can do to retain employees is to Give them reasons to stay and they will It helps to organize a list each day of There is certainly no shortage of ers, those who hear you rience, share information and answers make sure you have their “buy in,” bring you sales. your goals and create an order of impor- scammers in the world, especially in the speak, and those you net- to FAQs, and build authority and trust which includes gaining their respect. tance. Group them in to 1s, 2s, and 3s. trades, and especially in the chimney work with can learn more makes it easy for potential customers to Driving your Corvette to the office, sit- Work More Efficiently Start with the 1s, which are most criti- industry. It can be hard for customers about you. get a good idea of who you are, what you ting behind a desk with your feet up, One of the best ideas I have heard cal and work through the list. After a to know who is trustworthy and who is One of the greatest advantages to do, and why you are a better choice than spending long lunches and talking about for being efficient comes from one of week, you will notice the 3s maybe were going to take their money and run, but having a website is that it acts as a cen- your competitors are. your toys and weekend home, may not my customers. She sets up the relining not so important. Controlling your time

14 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 19 The fact of the matter is, people are Without a website, Google’s confi- you are able to track all the direct and Increasing Your Bottom Line doing less research after reading reviews dence decreases. Google is not going to referral traffic that comes in. Knowing — if it’s hard for them to quickly find take chances on your business if they are who is visiting your website, how they By Karen Foreman the additional information they need to not confident because they care more are getting there, what they are look- Copperfield Chimney Supply confidently pick up that phone, they’re about surfacing the best results for the ing at, and how long they are staying going to move on to someone who searcher than they do about how local can give you the knowledge you need There are a couple of widely known, tions for making their dream a reality. makes it easy. Websites make it easy. We businesses will feed their families. to tweak your website and marketing proven ways to increase your bottom Your customer must trust you to are willing to bet that at least one of your messages and retarget those who have line. One is to increase sales; another make their purchases without feeling top competitors has a website that will Your website is more con- expressed interest in your business. is to reduce expenses. But what about “sold.” They want to make the decision sell them if you don’t have one to sell trollable than your social Without a website, you are missing everything in between? In the chimney based on what is going to complete their you. profiles. out on a great deal of helpful knowledge and hearth industry, there are additional dream. It seems Facebook is in the news and countless opportunities to convert solutions to improve your bottom line – In sales, it is crucial to follow up. Your website gives you a every other day for something — another more leads into customers. things you can implement right now for There is a short window of time to close chance to show up organi- privacy issue, an algorithm change, etc. Have questions about what a website a more successful season. a sale. The best window is while you are cally and locally when peo- Who knows what Facebook’s status can and cannot do for you? We would at your customer’s home. The next best Karen Foreman ple are searching for your (pun intended) will be five years from love to hear from you! Increase Sales time is within 24 hours of your meeting services online. now? However, many business owners Another way to increase your cus- Are you satisfied with your business with them. As a chimney company, you need think that a Facebook business page can Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins are tomer base is through your custom- income? Would you like to create more those in your service area to be able to take the place of a website. the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a sales with each job? The “close” of a sale Increase Prices ers’ Facebook shares, online testimoni- find you when they need you — other- While having a Facebook page for Nashville-based digital marketing com- starts the moment a consumer calls your When your employee picks up the als, and positive ratings – these are all wise, the phone will stop ringing. And your business is a good call, if you are pany that works primarily with service company, or sees your website, social telephone to make a sales call, when you opportunities to grow your business. I where are people going when they need using that as an alternative to a website, businesses. They’re also the co-hosts of the media, or online rating. Do you fre- start your work vehicle, or when your know of a local insurance company that help? To Google. you are putting a lot on the line. “Likes” Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the pod- quently monitor your referrals? employees punch in – outflow starts. gives out $10 Subway gift certificates Without a website, you cannot rank have dramatically lost their value and cast that’s all about having and living the Your customer’s experience may be Are you charging enough to meet these for every customer lead that becomes a organically, and if you can’t rank organi- organic reach on the platform is virtu- blue collar dream, and the co-authors of the clincher for increased sales. When demands as well as to make a profit? customer. They report surprisingly good cally, you are less likely to show up in ally nil. the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles you pull up to their house, you are on Make sure your prices are adequate and results. local search results. It does not matter If you are solely relying on your for Building a Kickass Business You Love. their territory – their “safe place.” Treat as demand increases, consider raising how much better you are than the com- Facebook business page to bring you Both regularly speak at service industry their home better than you would your your prices. Market Your Business petition, if potential customers don’t new customers ad-free, don’t. Facebook trade shows and conferences across the own. Marketing includes the actual work. know you exist, they certainly will not and other social platforms will never nation. @sparkmarketer, @bcpshow, @ Introduce yourself and sum up what Increase Customer Base If a job goes south, a customer can cre- be calling you. provide you with the permanent, con- taylorkhill, @carterharkins, facebook. you understand they want you to do The hectic autumn season is a hard ate many negative inputs in today’s digi- Your website also acts as the most trollable online presence that your web- com/sparkmarketer, facebook.com/bcp- that day. Listen closely. They may share time to increase your customer base tal world, which take time and focus to trusted citation for Google, confirming site will. show/, facebook.com/groups/bluecollar- with you a part of their dream or their unless you have done your homework. reverse. To keep problems from escalat- the information Google needs to know proudnation/ ideal situation for their home. If they do, Did you forward schedule last year’s ing, take time to listen and take care of to surface your business with confidence Your website allows you to summarize what they just told you to customers and take care of them in the the customer before it becomes a dam- in search results: information like your track and tweak. confirm for them that you are listening spring/summer? If so, autumn is open aging problem. business name, address, and phone The key to marketing success is and that you care. Make recommenda- for potential new clients. Leverage what works. Positive com- number. tracking and tweaking. With a website,

18 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 15

Heating Safety Tips

Heating is the second leading cause • Use a metal or glass fireplace screen • Install a smoke alarm outside every of home fires after cooking. Unfortunately, to keep sparks from hitting nearby car- sleeping area. people frequently overlook some heating pets or furniture. • Teach children what your smoke alarm hazards. From 2013-2015, an average • Keep kindling, paper, and décor away sounds like and what to do if they of 45,900 home heating fires occurred in from fireplaces and wood stoves. hear it — get out and crawl low under the United States each year, according to • Do not burn paper in your fireplace. smoke. the U.S. Fire Administration. These fires • Put ashes in a metal container with a • Test smoke alarms monthly. caused an annual average of approxi- lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your • Change the batteries at least once mately 205 deaths, 725 injuries and $506 home. a year — maybe at Daylight Saving million in property loss. Time or on your birthday. Fires that were confined to chimneys, Space Heaters – • Replace smoke alarms after 10 years. flues or fuel burners accounted for 75 per- Give Them Space • If an alarm sounds, leave your home cent of home heating fires. Twenty-nine • Keep space heaters at least 3 feet immediately and call 911. percent of the nonconfined home heating away from anything that can burn — fires — fires that spread past the object including furniture, blankets, curtains, of origin — happened because the heat and paper products. TAKE CLASSES ANYWHERE. source (like a space heater or fireplace) • Place the heater on a stable, level sur- was too close to things that can burn. face. Make sure it will not be knocked Here are some heating safety tips for over. the winter season: • Never place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Fireplaces • Never power the heater with an exten- • Have flues and chimneys inspected sion cord or power strip. Carbon Monoxide – by a certified chimney professional • Do not leave the heater on while you The Invisible Killer before each heating season for suit- are not there or while you are sleep- • Seek medical attention immediately ability of use and blockage by creo- ing. if you suspect CO poisoning and are sote or debris. • Choose space heaters that turn off feeling dizzy, lightheaded or nau- • Open the fireplace damper before automatically if they tip over. seous. lighting the fire and keep it open until • Purchase and use only space heat- • Have your heating system inspected the ashes are cool. Never close the ers that have the label of a recognized and serviced by a qualified technician SUBSCRIBE & SAVE damper if the ashes are still warm. testing laboratory. every year, including furnaces and With a CSIA eLearning subscription, you get: An open damper may help prevent CERTIFIED DRYER chimneys. EXHAUST • Access to TECHNICIAN Online Reviews for Certification build-up of poisonous gases inside the Furnaces • Use portable generators outside your home. • Have your furnace and venting system home and place them at least 20 feet • Instant access to 50+ courses w/new classes added monthly inspected by a qualified professional away. Never use a generator inside • Guided learning to meet the needs of all staff each year. a home, basement, shed or garage. • Keep anything that can burn away The exhaust from portable generators • Courses designed by industry leaders with decades of experience in from the furnace. contains poisonous carbon monoxide, technical, safety, operations, administration, and more which can kill in minutes. • CEU’s on-the-go: at the shop, at home, or even between jobs Smoke Alarms • Never leave a car running in a garage The early warning provided by smoke even with the garage door open. alarms can save your life. • Have working CO alarms on every CSIA eLearning courses also available à la carte • Install a smoke alarm on every floor of level of your home and outside sleep- your home, even the basement. ing areas. subscribe or buy individual courses online

Reprinted, with permission, from the November-December 2018 issue of The Chimney Sweep News, an independent trade magazine for at: www.csia.org/elearning chimney service professionals. Jim Gillam, editor/publisher. 541-882-5196. ChimneySweepNews.com 16 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 17

Heating Safety Tips

Heating is the second leading cause • Use a metal or glass fireplace screen • Install a smoke alarm outside every of home fires after cooking. Unfortunately, to keep sparks from hitting nearby car- sleeping area. people frequently overlook some heating pets or furniture. • Teach children what your smoke alarm hazards. From 2013-2015, an average • Keep kindling, paper, and décor away sounds like and what to do if they of 45,900 home heating fires occurred in from fireplaces and wood stoves. hear it — get out and crawl low under the United States each year, according to • Do not burn paper in your fireplace. smoke. the U.S. Fire Administration. These fires • Put ashes in a metal container with a • Test smoke alarms monthly. caused an annual average of approxi- lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your • Change the batteries at least once mately 205 deaths, 725 injuries and $506 home. a year — maybe at Daylight Saving million in property loss. Time or on your birthday. Fires that were confined to chimneys, Space Heaters – • Replace smoke alarms after 10 years. flues or fuel burners accounted for 75 per- Give Them Space • If an alarm sounds, leave your home cent of home heating fires. Twenty-nine • Keep space heaters at least 3 feet immediately and call 911. percent of the nonconfined home heating away from anything that can burn — fires — fires that spread past the object including furniture, blankets, curtains, of origin — happened because the heat and paper products. TAKE CLASSES ANYWHERE. source (like a space heater or fireplace) • Place the heater on a stable, level sur- was too close to things that can burn. face. Make sure it will not be knocked Here are some heating safety tips for over. the winter season: • Never place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Fireplaces • Never power the heater with an exten- • Have flues and chimneys inspected sion cord or power strip. Carbon Monoxide – by a certified chimney professional • Do not leave the heater on while you The Invisible Killer before each heating season for suit- are not there or while you are sleep- • Seek medical attention immediately ability of use and blockage by creo- ing. if you suspect CO poisoning and are sote or debris. • Choose space heaters that turn off feeling dizzy, lightheaded or nau- • Open the fireplace damper before automatically if they tip over. seous. lighting the fire and keep it open until • Purchase and use only space heat- • Have your heating system inspected the ashes are cool. Never close the ers that have the label of a recognized and serviced by a qualified technician SUBSCRIBE & SAVE damper if the ashes are still warm. testing laboratory. every year, including furnaces and With a CSIA eLearning subscription, you get: An open damper may help prevent CERTIFIED DRYER chimneys. EXHAUST • Access to TECHNICIAN Online Reviews for Certification build-up of poisonous gases inside the Furnaces • Use portable generators outside your home. • Have your furnace and venting system home and place them at least 20 feet • Instant access to 50+ courses w/new classes added monthly inspected by a qualified professional away. Never use a generator inside • Guided learning to meet the needs of all staff each year. a home, basement, shed or garage. • Keep anything that can burn away The exhaust from portable generators • Courses designed by industry leaders with decades of experience in from the furnace. contains poisonous carbon monoxide, technical, safety, operations, administration, and more which can kill in minutes. • CEU’s on-the-go: at the shop, at home, or even between jobs Smoke Alarms • Never leave a car running in a garage The early warning provided by smoke even with the garage door open. alarms can save your life. • Have working CO alarms on every CSIA eLearning courses also available à la carte • Install a smoke alarm on every floor of level of your home and outside sleep- your home, even the basement. ing areas. subscribe or buy individual courses online

Reprinted, with permission, from the November-December 2018 issue of The Chimney Sweep News, an independent trade magazine for at: www.csia.org/elearning chimney service professionals. Jim Gillam, editor/publisher. 541-882-5196. ChimneySweepNews.com 16 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 17 The fact of the matter is, people are Without a website, Google’s confi- you are able to track all the direct and Increasing Your Bottom Line doing less research after reading reviews dence decreases. Google is not going to referral traffic that comes in. Knowing — if it’s hard for them to quickly find take chances on your business if they are who is visiting your website, how they By Karen Foreman the additional information they need to not confident because they care more are getting there, what they are look- Copperfield Chimney Supply confidently pick up that phone, they’re about surfacing the best results for the ing at, and how long they are staying going to move on to someone who searcher than they do about how local can give you the knowledge you need There are a couple of widely known, tions for making their dream a reality. makes it easy. Websites make it easy. We businesses will feed their families. to tweak your website and marketing proven ways to increase your bottom Your customer must trust you to are willing to bet that at least one of your messages and retarget those who have line. One is to increase sales; another make their purchases without feeling top competitors has a website that will Your website is more con- expressed interest in your business. is to reduce expenses. But what about “sold.” They want to make the decision sell them if you don’t have one to sell trollable than your social Without a website, you are missing everything in between? In the chimney based on what is going to complete their you. profiles. out on a great deal of helpful knowledge and hearth industry, there are additional dream. It seems Facebook is in the news and countless opportunities to convert solutions to improve your bottom line – In sales, it is crucial to follow up. Your website gives you a every other day for something — another more leads into customers. things you can implement right now for There is a short window of time to close chance to show up organi- privacy issue, an algorithm change, etc. Have questions about what a website a more successful season. a sale. The best window is while you are cally and locally when peo- Who knows what Facebook’s status can and cannot do for you? We would at your customer’s home. The next best Karen Foreman ple are searching for your (pun intended) will be five years from love to hear from you! Increase Sales time is within 24 hours of your meeting services online. now? However, many business owners Another way to increase your cus- Are you satisfied with your business with them. As a chimney company, you need think that a Facebook business page can Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins are tomer base is through your custom- income? Would you like to create more those in your service area to be able to take the place of a website. the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a sales with each job? The “close” of a sale Increase Prices ers’ Facebook shares, online testimoni- find you when they need you — other- While having a Facebook page for Nashville-based digital marketing com- starts the moment a consumer calls your When your employee picks up the als, and positive ratings – these are all wise, the phone will stop ringing. And your business is a good call, if you are pany that works primarily with service company, or sees your website, social telephone to make a sales call, when you opportunities to grow your business. I where are people going when they need using that as an alternative to a website, businesses. They’re also the co-hosts of the media, or online rating. Do you fre- start your work vehicle, or when your know of a local insurance company that help? To Google. you are putting a lot on the line. “Likes” Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the pod- quently monitor your referrals? employees punch in – outflow starts. gives out $10 Subway gift certificates Without a website, you cannot rank have dramatically lost their value and cast that’s all about having and living the Your customer’s experience may be Are you charging enough to meet these for every customer lead that becomes a organically, and if you can’t rank organi- organic reach on the platform is virtu- blue collar dream, and the co-authors of the clincher for increased sales. When demands as well as to make a profit? customer. They report surprisingly good cally, you are less likely to show up in ally nil. the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles you pull up to their house, you are on Make sure your prices are adequate and results. local search results. It does not matter If you are solely relying on your for Building a Kickass Business You Love. their territory – their “safe place.” Treat as demand increases, consider raising how much better you are than the com- Facebook business page to bring you Both regularly speak at service industry their home better than you would your your prices. Market Your Business petition, if potential customers don’t new customers ad-free, don’t. Facebook trade shows and conferences across the own. Marketing includes the actual work. know you exist, they certainly will not and other social platforms will never nation. @sparkmarketer, @bcpshow, @ Introduce yourself and sum up what Increase Customer Base If a job goes south, a customer can cre- be calling you. provide you with the permanent, con- taylorkhill, @carterharkins, facebook. you understand they want you to do The hectic autumn season is a hard ate many negative inputs in today’s digi- Your website also acts as the most trollable online presence that your web- com/sparkmarketer, facebook.com/bcp- that day. Listen closely. They may share time to increase your customer base tal world, which take time and focus to trusted citation for Google, confirming site will. show/, facebook.com/groups/bluecollar- with you a part of their dream or their unless you have done your homework. reverse. To keep problems from escalat- the information Google needs to know proudnation/ ideal situation for their home. If they do, Did you forward schedule last year’s ing, take time to listen and take care of to surface your business with confidence Your website allows you to summarize what they just told you to customers and take care of them in the the customer before it becomes a dam- in search results: information like your track and tweak. confirm for them that you are listening spring/summer? If so, autumn is open aging problem. business name, address, and phone The key to marketing success is and that you care. Make recommenda- for potential new clients. Leverage what works. Positive com- number. tracking and tweaking. With a website,

18 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 15 ments on Facebook? Do similar posts. endear you to your employees. Respect trucks with a big box of extra compo- Every Business Needs a Website, Here’s Why Before and after pictures are atten- is generally earned, not given – drive nents. If her company is out on a job and

By Taylor Hill and Carter Hawkins tion getters, but get permission from your old work truck, get out in the field, someone forgot to order a component, Spark Marketer your customers to use them. Set up an handle the difficult customers, listen to they can finish the work using items account for Pinterest, a great place to your employees, and lead. Be a leader, a from the box of extras. When a tech

Some say Google is on a mission to how can you convince those searchers post your quality work. respected leader. pulls a part from the box, it is quickly become the new home page for busi- that you are trustworthy if you do not replaced. A little planning and imple- nesses; that they want to provide search- even know they are considering you? Let Retain Employees menting can save hundreds of dollars in ers with everything they need to know your website do the work. Training employees is a big invest- rescheduled return work. about a business, without ever leaving According to BrightLocal’s 2017 ment. Not only is training a financial Scheduling is another way to be Google. Local Consumer Review Survey, visit- investment, it also involves a time com- more efficient. Are you over scheduling? Sure, the Knowledge Panel provides ing the company website is still the most mitment. One of the biggest complaints Are you under scheduling? Do you know Taylor Hill and Carter Hawkins searchers with a lot of the information common next step after reading reviews. I hear in this industry is how hard it is to how much time it really takes to do a they are searching for, like the business With a website, you are able to build tralized place where you can send people keep and to motivate employees. job? If you run your business from one phone number, location, hours, and authority and earn a degree of trust to learn more about you, your services, Employees do not come to work for truck, do you have someone who can online review scores, but does that mean before meeting a potential customer face Illustration by Laura Eaton Jones and your company, 24/7. You spend you because they don’t have anything to pick up some slack if a job gets compli- you no longer need a website? We would to face. Think that is just a nice thought? money on advertising -- like radio ads, do. They come for the “WIIFM” (What’s Do you provide bonuses? The indus- cated and runs over on time? Scheduling argue no, and not just because we hap- It’s more than that! 34% of consumers TV commercials, AdWords, or other in it for me?). They are there to make try seems divided on this. I feel it is up to appropriately is a big part of efficiency. pen to build websites. believe a “clear & smart” website gives a ad campaigns -- but where do people money so they can pursue their dreams, you to implement a strict code of ethics You want any information that could business more credibility. Just having a reached go to schedule an appointment take care of their family, purchase a and train your employees in salesman- Eliminate Waste convert curious searchers into loyal cus- website can secure confidence and give or find out more about your business? house, pay the rent, etc. ship. Watch your sales grow ethically. Waste can be as simple as ordering tomers readily available, and your web- your potential customers peace of mind. Whether customers or colleagues have If they see you pull up in your Cor- Your employees are there to make a incorrect product, using too much prod- site is a great place to provide that. Don’t Not only that, your website also questions during office hours or while vette the first day at work, their thought difference – to grow, to feel needed, and uct, making return trips due to mistakes, let naysayers convince you your website allows you to showcase your expertise they are up nursing at three in the morn- is likely, “I’m going to have my own to be praised. They stay at your business scheduling issues, vehicle breakdowns, is insignificant or unnecessary — even and knowledge, so those searching for ing, your website is always there. And someday.” The question is, are you going to make money and they believe in what etc. the smallest business could benefit from your services can confidently pick up unlike listing sites and social media pro- to help them obtain it and keep them as they are doing. What are you doing to Losing your business focus and get- a website. Here is why… the phone and call you, knowing you your employees or are you going to give foster that? Do you have a growth pro- ting “off plan” can also create waste. will take care of their problems and do files, your website provides ample space them reasons to leave your business and gram for them so they will continue to During the busy season, it is easy to react Your website builds cred- the job right. to introduce your company and educate ibility, proves authority, those wanting to know more. start their own? invest their time and skill in your busi- to the stressors. Before long, your busi- and shows customers you Your website acts as a hub Having a centralized place where One of the most important things ness? Are there future opportunities? ness is managing you. are a real company. where potential custom- you showcase your services and expe- you can do to retain employees is to Give them reasons to stay and they will It helps to organize a list each day of There is certainly no shortage of ers, those who hear you rience, share information and answers make sure you have their “buy in,” bring you sales. your goals and create an order of impor- scammers in the world, especially in the speak, and those you net- to FAQs, and build authority and trust which includes gaining their respect. tance. Group them in to 1s, 2s, and 3s. trades, and especially in the chimney work with can learn more makes it easy for potential customers to Driving your Corvette to the office, sit- Work More Efficiently Start with the 1s, which are most criti- industry. It can be hard for customers about you. get a good idea of who you are, what you ting behind a desk with your feet up, One of the best ideas I have heard cal and work through the list. After a to know who is trustworthy and who is One of the greatest advantages to do, and why you are a better choice than spending long lunches and talking about for being efficient comes from one of week, you will notice the 3s maybe were going to take their money and run, but having a website is that it acts as a cen- your competitors are. your toys and weekend home, may not my customers. She sets up the relining not so important. Controlling your time

14 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 19 and your business tasks will keep you in and your employees is the most impor- perspective and a chance to question check, and will help you make the most tant thing you can do to save money your business practices. of your time as you conquer the season. and make money. Many businesses fail I will leave you with a quote from the because of health issues. This could late Steve Jobs that I feel sums things up: Manage Your Money include stress and overly long working “It’s not the tools that you have faith in Who is your main “go to” for finan- hours, leading to fatigue and accidents – tools are just tools. They work, or they cial advice? Who manages your books? on the job. don’t work. It’s people you have faith in How does this increase your bottom Make time for doctor appointments. or not. Yeah, sure, I’m still optimistic. I line? Important questions to consider Take time out for sanity breaks. Plan mean, I get pessimistic sometimes but are, “Who is qualified to make financial one day a week for rest. Spend time with not for long.” decisions for your business?” and “Are family. Investing in yourself, your family, Have a great season! these decisions based on true facts or on and your employees is the best invest- speculations?” ment you can make. Karen Foreman, an employee at By looking outside the box and con- Copperfield, has been in the industry for Maintain Health and sidering ideas other than “More Sales” 27 years. She is also the author of “Design Relationships and “Saving Money,” my hope for you is Ideas for Fireplaces” published by Creative Taking care of yourself, your family, that this article has given you some new Homeowner Press.

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12 November-December 2018 Doing What’s Right By Michael Stone Construction Programs and Results

How should you handle a mistake? not be relevant. cheap, only What if it is a mistake you made over a Fortunately, that is what this con- to find out decade ago? tractor did; he was not comfortable their business “I have purchased your books and charging for the repairs. has failed read all of your emails weekly. I have I encouraged him to take it one a few years been in business for 18 years and have step further. Do not let a good mistake later and they a question concerning work that we did go to waste. He didn’t go to arbitra- don’t have

14 years ago. tion; instead, he corrected the mistake recourse if Michael Stone Scenario: We built a covered patio for on his own. So, ask the owner to write a there is a a neighbor 14 years ago which I look at note explaining the problem and how problem. When you can demonstrate every day from my back yard. This year it was fixed. The note needs to include both longevity and integrity, you can a piece of the trim coil on the lower part the fact that it has been fourteen years give potential clients the peace of of the gable end came off and it exposed since the original work was done but mind that you will be there for them rot that was behind it due to water infil- they still made things right. If needed, down the road. tration. We ended up fixing the rot and offer to write the note to get it started That’s being a good guy, and we re-trimmed with trim coil. and the owner could edit it as needed. like to see the good guys win. I am embarrassed to say that the Let the owner know the letter will trim coil was originally not installed be used for marketing. Then take the Michael and Devon Stone oper- right by us. My feeling is that I do not time to notify others: local newspa- ate Construction Programs & Results, charge for the repair. However my cost pers, television and radio stations, 2818 NE 292nd Avenue, Camas, WA to repair for two employees 2 days, roll magazines, etc. If you are lucky and it 98607. Michael Stone has been involved of trim coil and framing materials was is a slow news day, they have some feel- in the construction trades for over forty approximately $960, which if I were good content to fill space. You might years. He is the author of Markup and billing out at our normal rate would be get ignored, but since it is rare to find Profit: A Contractor’s Guide Revisited, $2,110. a company in any industry that would available at their website, www.mark- I have a profitable business and a stand behind their work fourteen years upandprofit.com, or by phone at 888- good reputation. I’d like to know what later, they might be interested. The let- 944-0044. He offers coaching and con- your take would be on this.” ter could also be included in a direct sulting services for general and specialty My take: If the original work was mail piece, starting in the neighbor- contractors throughout the U.S., as well not done correctly and I was arbitrat- hood right around the client’s home. as audio and CD programs for busi- ing this as a dispute, I would rule that Being in business for more than a ness management. He is also available it is the contractor’s responsibility to few years is an accomplishment. Too to speak at chimney sweep conventions make it right. The time frame would many owners hire a contractor for and workshops.

22 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 11 How to be Successful in a Small Chimney Sweep Business — It’s Simple

By Jeff Gitlin Nonesuch, Kentucky

Treat people with respect, you would want a contractor to treat your parents. It’s really

Carefully reassemble the respirator. honesty, and courtesy. Live very simple.

Once everything is back together With cleaning complete, put the your life according to the Jeff Gitlin, now retired, ran a successful chimney sweep give it a test breath to ensure it is work- clean respirator into the large reseal- values you have learned business for thirty years, serving Lexington, Kentucky and the ing properly and adjust any parts as able bag along with the small bag con- from your parents and the surrounding area. He was Technical Advisor to The Chimney needed. taining the filters. I consider my big Boy Scouts. Sweep News from 1983 until 1999 and now serves as Special clean bag as a sacred space. Nothing Learn all that you can to Correspondent. dirty goes in the bag, ever. Jeff Gitlin become a competent and The cleaning process should take knowledgeable sweep. Be proud of your occupation and about 15-20 minutes at first but as you become familiar with the process, receive satisfaction in knowing that you are helping to make Respirator parts on a clean towel as they it should take only about 10-15 min- people safer in the comfort of their homes against the dan- come out of the sink. utes. A small investment considering gers of fire and carbon monoxide. recommend letting parts air dry, as it is the importance of breathing. In these days, if you are prompt and neat in doing your likely that gremlins will steal the most My legal advisors say to read and important part while you are not look- work you will never be without work. Be personable and Cover the connection point of the filter after follow the manufacturer’s instructions use to keep out contaminants. ing. friendly — folks are hungry for the personal connection. for proper usage and cleaning. With everything dry, it is now time Speak from your heart. Tip: use blue painters tape to cover to reassemble. Put the respirator back the clean connection point on the filter Look at the big picture and the long term. Don’t count in reverse order as you took it apart. after use. Sealing the clean side helps your money by the day — it may lead you to make short- Start with the respirator body and prevent debris from contaminating the term decisions that do not benefit you or your customer. continue all the way back to the har- filter while its being stored. Never be afraid to tell a customer that a repair is needed but ness. Be gentle and pay attention to the alignment marks most respirators that it can wait until your next visit if it is not a safety hazard have. Be extra gentle with the round (crown repair, spalled bricks, etc.) seals and ensure that they seal prop- Place the clean respirator in a sealable for Connect with your customers and treat them the way erly. clean storage.

10 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 23 Sweeping with the Viking Spirit

By Charlie Dunn Keeper of the Chimneys Livermore, California

The Vikings, history tells us, were dubbed a Viking Chimney Sweep’s an interesting group of brave seafar- Valhalla – including a well-organized ing warrior marauders from the Nordic “Chimney Sweep Olympics.” It was a countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, pleasant and relaxing social time to meet Norway, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, with old and new friends with an inter- the Aland Islands and Sweden. They esting array of beverages, snacks, and have passed down that Viking spirit of meals. A highlight was a Master Chim- courage and honor to these present day ney Sweep award presentation ceremony Nordic countries – and their chimney – Viking style — held outside in a beau- sweeps. I had the pleasure of visiting tiful park situated between Annette’s Swedish chimney sweeps again for the home and her business center. This was 2018 International Swedish Chimney part of a parade route through town, Sweep Gathering. [See the Sept-Oct and which was televised by one of the local Jorgen Eriksson tosses the ring. Nov-Dec 2017 issues for Charlie Dunn’s TV stations. pop the cork in the shortest time. Most previous reports from Sweden.] of us must have been Boy Scouts because Annette Soth Stolz’s company spon- Chimney Sweep Olympics most everyone scored pretty well on this sored the gathering, held at their loca- The most interesting event was event. tion in Hedemora. building a fire. Contestants were given a I got down and dirty in the pipe The itinerary could have been small log, a small hatchet or knife, and a crawl. You started at one end of a 25’ pack of matches. Their challenge was to culvert and crawled on your hands and start a fire from scratch. There was also a knees — or belly slide commando style tube filled with water, sealed with a cork like I did — to arrive at the other end. at the top and propped up on legs. The Then hammer a ten-penny nail into a 4” object was to build a fire, heat the water X 4” board, and then balance a 4’ chim- and build up steam within the tube to ney sweep rod with a brush attached to

Balancing a chimney rod and brush on one foot. Chimney sweep parade through Hedemora, Sweden. continued on page 26

24 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 9 The first step is to remove the filters and discard expired filters or heavily used filters. For filters that are reusable, seal the connection ports and put the filters in the small clean seal- able bag (photo). Be careful not to lose any gaskets or rings. Remove any large chunky bits (mortar, adhesive, creo- sote, etc.) from the respirator body. Gaskets in a pan of warm water. Harness in Thin rubber disc seal. Fill the dish tub or pan with the sink. Face mask ready for washing. WE ARE ALL warm water and a few squirts of dish takes a few minutes. Almost all respi- able nose cup, remove it and place it soap. Remove the harness and strap rators consist of a series of rubber gas- in the dish tub. The goal is to reduce STOCKED UP! assembly from the respirator and set it kets and rubber valves. the respirator to its individual parts aside in the sink. Remove any exterior The cleaning process is done best for cleaning. After everything has been with a large sink with warm water, a gaskets or rings and put them in the disassembled, proceed to wash each Are You? dish tub or pan and a clean counter warm soapy dish tub. Carefully remove part in the warm soapy dish tub, gently top. I also recommend: the exhalation port from the respira- rub each part ensuring every surface • 2 large lint free towels tor body and place in dish tub. Care- is clean. Rinse each part thoroughly • scent free liquid dish soap fully remove the small rubber disk seal and set to drip dry on the clean towel. • 1 small sealable bag and place it in the tub. Look inside the Wash the harness last, since it typically • 1 large sealable bag. respirator body and locate the inhala- contains the most oils. Place one of the clean towels on the tion ports. Carefully remove the small After washing and rinsing all the counter as a landing zone for the clean rubber disk seals and place them in the parts it is time to dry. Use the second wet parts as they come out of the sink. dish tub. If the respirator has a remov- clean towel to dry each part. I don’t continued on page 10 Stock Up & Save Trust us with your full business this season *Chimney Scaffolds Extensive delivery service routes an 3 Ways to Save *Roof Ladders and Hooks capabilities 1. Free delivery on our delivery loop with a *Steel Scaffolding min $400 order *Truck and Van Racks More trucks added to the fleet 2. Free shipping at $1000 or 60’ of stainless steel liner LYNN LADDER & SCAFFOLDING CO., INC. Lifetime warranties that you can be 3. 10% of the order total if you don’t meet the confident in free shipping requirements 1-800-225-2510 www.lynnladder.com National Chimney 2147C Fletcher Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 www.nationalchimney.com Call 800.897.8481 Now to Order! 8 November-December 2018

Nov_NC_3.indd 1 9/14/18 9:43 AM CALL NOW! that Hedan is a humble chimney sweep and individual. He tends his beautifully landscaped yard around three-bedroom home as a hobby. He told me it relieves the stress and tension of life’s daily trials. His “little shop” surprised all of us. A number of years ago he and a couple of other sweeps formed a profit sharing corporation. Now they are one of the Thaddeus Mussner of Germany shows off The fire building competition. largest full service chimney sweep oper- his new tattoo. the other end on the toe of your shoe ations in Sweden. has some ink) son’s tattoo parlor, situ- while standing on one foot! The “shop” has an office, warehouse ated in the center of town and walk- and employee facilities including show- ing distance from our hotel. Da Ruass Anders Hedan Hedstrom — ers, lockers, sauna, eating area, recre- received his new tattoo with a cheer- Knoparhedan ation, laundry and parking area. The ing section while Ronja Sire’n did the Anders Hedan Hedstrom, his company furnishes uniforms, equip- artwork on his arm. That was the clos- wife, Manuela, and family provided us ment and tools to employees. However, est I have ever come to getting ink, with some authentic Swedish fast food an employee must pay for a tool lost or except one time in Copenhagen in 1959. treats and invited us to see their home damaged through negligence. (Almost 60 years ago!?) and “little shop.” Hedan is a bit mysteri- The large parking area in the rear ous; he always keeps his Swedish chim- also serves as a parking area for their The Viking Spirit ney sweep cap pulled down almost to the multiple service vehicles and for stor- Viking spirit is present in Sweden’s point of covering his eyes. I discovered ing truckloads of bagged pellets. They chimney sweeps whether they are work- are one of Sweden’s ing on a roof on a sweltering hot day in largest pellet resale the summer or a brutally cold snowy locations and pellet windy day with two feet of icy snow. appliance installers. A big plus for them is their history of Sweden promotes chimney sweeping in Sweden and gov- the use of wood ernment intervention that requires safe pellets fuel for resi- working conditions for chimney sweeps dential heating and at commercial and residential locations. industry.

FREE WOHLER VIPER L, 50 FT. Tattoo A group of us WITH WOHLER VIS 400 PURCHASE sweeps went with Da Rauss [see “Adven- Wohler VIS 400 Chimney Camera tures in German · Includes one 2“ pan and tilt color camera head Chimney Sweeping” Charlie Dunn in the May-June 2009 · Features include photo, video, & voice over issue] to watch him In closing, I truly appreciate my functions get another chimney bride, Jennie Lynn, for continuing to be · Valid with any VIS 400 monitor or kit purchase sweep tattoo – which my partner and supporting me when I · Promo Code: SNEWS he had personally want to spread my vintage wings and designed. This was “soar like Odin’s ravens.” Annette’s (who also

26 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 7 An Old European Tradition Take a Clean Deep Breath Wishing You Good Fortune in the New Year By Toby Brown Postcards from the collections of Steve Snyder and Jeff Gitlin Smoke Stack Services, LLC Eastsound, Washington The custom of sending postcards to wish good fortune in the coming year flourished throughout Europe in the first forty years of the th20 century. The Breathing is an important part of Before you start the job, it is important cards were gloriously illustrated with numerous good luck symbols including four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, pink piglets, amanita muscaria mushrooms and life. Dust masks and respirators are the to know the chemicals and substances chimney sweeps. important tools that help keep your to which you are being exposed and We wish you health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year! lungs happy and healthy on the job. which filter will protect you. Manu- facturers make filters for almost every Choosing a Respirator type of particle and vapor. Check with Choosing the right respirator for the product safety data sheet (SDS, this important task is the first step in previously MSDS) to determine what protection. Using the respirator is also vitally important; it doesn’t work if you don’t wear it. Making sure it works properly is critical. When purchasing a dust mask or respirator make sure it fits properly, Toby Brown cleaning a respirator. creating a tight seal between the rub- ber and skin. Beards, piercings and continue to purchase their filters. glasses can render respirators useless. A N95 dust filter will not protect Selecting the right type of filter is your lungs from organic vapors like critical to ensure proper protection. benzene or toluene. Dust masks are Frank Ayres (Ayres Ashes Away Chimney single use and should be stored in a Service, Chiloquin, OR) tests the fit of a half-face respirator. sealable container. These inexpensive chemicals the product contains and dust-filtering masks should be prop- how to properly protect your lungs. erly disposed after each use. When purchasing a new respirator, WE MAKE BUSINESSES PROFITABLE & ORGANIZED make sure that the filters are replace- Cleaning Your Respirator Business Consulting Fractional CEO Virtual Chief Information Officer able and that the store carries the type The most neglected aspect of res- of filter for the job. The fittings on fil- pirators is routine cleaning. The pro- [email protected] (410) 863-0157 www.roydhouseeffect.com ters match the particular manufactur- cess of cleaning full face and half face Disassemble the respirator and clean each Stay out of the poorhouse, call Roydhouse! individual piece. er’s respirator, ensuring that you will filtering respirators is simple and only continued on page 8

6 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 27 Artistic/thinker types have a rela- repaired/replaced by a machine, there The good news is that all this is not tively small niche; and they are mostly will be a place for problem solvers. going to happen in the flip of a switch. Chimneys of Belize born with the talent; skill alone comes For our lifetimes, I imagine robots However, since it is happening right up short of spectacular. I have a grand- have one plan: Plan A to replace [what- now and the pace will only pick up, it Article and photos by Jim Gillam son who is going to school to become a ever]. As a problem solver, you may be would be a mistake to pretend like it film director. I have another grandson able to provide the work all the non- isn’t coming. So, I think teaching your Are you looking for a place to retire who is a sculptor in wood. Most people employed people really need. kids to be problem solvers and/or guid- and maybe sweep a few chimneys on the can’t plan for careers like that and there Robots will probably never be able to ing them into an education that stands side? Belize is probably not the place for isn’t wide demand. Mostly thinkers are fix something by jumping a wire or mov- a chance of working with the machines not involved in public service and there ing a hole in the wall to the left two inches, is the medium-term hope. And keep on you. There are not many chimneys in the is only so much room for thinkers in etc. Imagination will always have a place. sweeping! subtropical Central American nation of industry. It is a niche with more supply Interesting that this is a concern at Belize, but there are a few. than demand. a time when it is hard to find qualified Dale Howard currently assists with But there will be lots of room for people to do most anything. Yet most marketing at New England Chimney Belize is a country about the size problem solvers — a niche with more available jobs available either don’t pay Supply, which acquired his former busi- of Massachusetts, located south of the demand than supply. Problem solv- anything (being part-time and on-call ness Regional Chimney Supply in 2017. Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and east of ers include chimney sweeps, plumbers, at Noodles counts as employed) or they Dale started sweeping in 1978 and has mechanics, etc. Until everything is built would pay plenty but you can’t find peo- been an occasional contributor to The Guatemala. Belize was formerly a Brit- so a robot can plug in and see what is ple who can do the job. With as close to Chimney Sweep News for many years. ish colony and was known previously as wrong (probably not forever away…) 100% employment as we get, not many British Honduras. Belize achieved polit- AND manufactured so that it is easily people give this stuff a second thought. We featured this chimney in Hopkins on our August 2010 cover. Due to its exposed loca- ical independence in 1981. tion on the beach, I did not expect it to last long. Side by side comparison with recent photo shows some apparent mortar deterioration, but less than I expected. Note that masonry About 400,000 people reside there. chimneys should be supported by a foundation according to North American building codes. Belizeans are a diverse group of Latinos, CrownGuard nese, East Indians and Anglos. English and Linda Morton (The Merry Sweep, Severe weather crown repair & protection Creoles, Maya, Garifuna, Lebanese, Chi- is the official language, while Spanish Greenville, SC) and eight others for my Centering system for metal chimney liners and Belize Kriol are more widely spo- 60th birthday and had a great time.” ken. Placencia is the second most popular Belize has become increasingly pop- destination in Belize. Jeff Gitlin (retired, FireGuard ® ular as a tourist destination in recent Nonesuch, KY) has been there twice. The most advanced chimney liner in the world Patented decades. Madonna’s visit to Ambergris “I wanted to write in and tell you how much I appreciate the quality of your products. We inspect approximately 20 to 30 Caye, the most popular tourist spot in chimneys every week and we run into every product there is on the market. I can tell you with absolute certainty that your FireGuard and Guardian products have no equals. I can say this because I've tried the other products and had to deal with the country, reportedly inspired her many call backs due to cracks and failures as well as the complications involved with the installation. FireGuard and Guardian are simple to install and we do not get call backs. I've been using your products since 2005 and it is always a 1987 hit song, “La Isla Bonita.” pleasure to inspect a chimney we repaired years ago and see that it still looks as good as it did the day we fixed it with your products. Thank you Jay!” Numerous chimney sweeps have Dave Laverdiere - Owner of Boston Brick & Stone - Pasadena California visited Belize. “We love Belize,” says Ron Rust (Top Hat Sweepers, Colum- For additional information or to order products, call 800-545-6607

This recently built two-story house in Traditional Maya cookstove. The smoke is bia, SC). “We go to Ambergris Caye and [email protected] www.firesafeinc.com Benque Viejo del Carmen has a Conestoga simply vented out the window and through type chimney cap. have been three times. We took Blume the roof.

28 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 5 and/or skill starting to disappear too, it unique character. makes you wonder. Even if you man- Belize is a popular retirement desti- age to do something that a machine Dear Readers, nation for North Americans and ex-pats When it comes to the topic of climate change, chimney probably won’t do (which, happily, service professionals can feel good, or at least neutral, about live in all regions of the country. Years promoting the use of biomass fuels such as wood and pellets. mostly chimney sweeps do — let’s see Efficient combustion of biomass is considered a neutral con- a machine install a liner) who will hire ago, Sooty Bob Daniels floated the idea tributor to greenhouse gases since the carbon released is of rel- you? The teacher/doctor/bank teller/ atively current origin. However, the carbon released by burn- of a hypothetical retirement community ing natural gas and petroleum fuels was sequestered by plant grocery store clerk/brick layer/nursing life millions of years ago. Burning those products releases aid/truck-taxi-tractor-delivery driver/ called “Sweep City, Arizona.” Anyone for ancient carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and is considered the major contributor to Houses in this lumber camp in the Moun- factory worker/crab picker/etc. who Chimney Sweep Village, Belize? climate change. tain Pine Ridge had fireplaces and chim- used to have a job? Chimney professionals and the hearth industry need to rethink their promotion of About 15% of Belizean households neys for cooking. The kitchen with its exte- natural gas. The recent UN report on climate change gives humankind about a dozen rior chimney were separated from the main years to reorganize society to avert catastrophe. It is past time now to stop promoting the The Work that Will Be in use firewood for cooking, mainly in living quarters. recreational use of natural gas such as decorative fireplaces. Gas and oil should be seen as transitional fuels to get us to non-polluting sources of energy. Demand rural areas. Cooking fires rarely are We cannot rely on government to do this. Most of us do not welcome government So what to do? You can go off the cooking fireplaces with chimneys at a vented through chimneys. Smoke typi- regulation and coercion anyway. We must each choose the responsible course so that we An older residence in Benque Viejo del grid, but most won’t or can’t. You can lumber camp. Apparently, a few home- can leave a livable world to our children and future generations. Carmen. take it as it comes, which most will — cally flows directly into the living space Thanks to YOU and our loyal advertisers for your support! YOU make this publica- owners enjoy a recreational fireplace. tion possible. We thank Jill Beddoe for her excellent graphic design work on these pages. though it may not be much fun. My where the cooking fire is located, which “I first visited in 1982,” he recalls. “I Thanks to Sutherland Printing for their diligent printing and mailing efforts. I especially guess is that for the foreseeable future, thank Manager Extraordinaire Harriet for her love and devotion. may be the house or a separate kitchen Chimney Jim the ones who serve the machines arrived from Belize City in a small plane, structure. I found some examples of (i.e. designing, building and fixing) which landed on a grass strip. A native them have the best chance of staying took me across the lagoon in a dugout LET CONDAR’S FACTORY MAKE employed. custom thermometers FOR YOU! In my opinion, a lot of the “edu- canoe. Placencia had just strung its first cation” over the past several years was electric line along the sidewalk through Why ? Chimney sweeps reap rich harvests of repeat business when you sell, useless from the start and certainly the village. It was powered by a diesel- or even give away, custom woodstove thermometers. about to be outmoded even if it was useful at one time (I’ve got a pretty fueled generator installed at the fisher- The HeatShield Repair System is a Condar’s staff takes care of design work efficiently, for a modest one- method to repair chimney interiors that: time art charge. Choose one of three standard dial designs, tell us dim view of the education industry). men’s’ cooperative processing facility what information you want printed, and send us your logo. Many colleges have turned into glo- Takes Less Time to freeze and ship fish. My friend and I rified tech schools (which academic Is Non-Destructive (No More Breaking Out Flue Tiles) Black case, printed with silver high- people generally disdain, so there is fished for what we ate. When I returned Solves a Wide Range of Chimney Problems temp ink. Minimum 100 per order. a contradiction for you.) The educa- Adds More to Your Bottom Line in 2010, we drove there on a newly paved Visit our website: tion industry generally does not have condar.com/ChimneySweepThermometers.html the answer; they still crank out degrees road. Belize had been ‘discovered’ and in (and put people in debt for) studies upscale resorts and vacation homes were Your customers are looking for a For pricing e-mail: Visit about the sociological importance of HeatShield installer near you. [email protected] popping up all around.” www.HeatShieldChimney.com Or call: football to students taking sociology, For More Info (828) 436-2102 ext. 2280 sports science, or media studies. Well, Your editor first visited Belize in Mon-Fri 8am-5pm ET that will prepare you for the future! 1976 and has returned many times since, Y OU OM RWEBSITE.C The long haul I can’t begin to guess, most recently in September. The coun- but I think the nearer-term decent futures belong to engineer types, prob- try has modernized dramatically in the © Condar Company lem solvers and the artistic/thinkers. past forty years; however, it retains its

4 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 29 Jan 30-31: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, Upcoming Events Denver, CO. 8 speakers, technical and business class- Unclassified Ads es. Register online at olympiachimney.com or call remote vision equipment has A Bleak View of Future Employment Information subject to change. Please 570-503-7177. confirm dates and locations of any been providing interior chimney and ductwork images since 1984. Three different color cam- events! Feb 7-8: CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician But I Think Chimney Sweeps Do OK in the End Review & Exam, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, era types are available plus a hook up to laptop computers for all units built since 1995. Check 2019 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Call CSIA at 317-837- By Dale Howard Jan 12-13: Mass Guild Winter Extravaganza, Stur- 5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info. out our new website at www.chimscan.net. bridge, MA. Publick House Historic Inn, 277 Main Call our helpful and friendly staff at the Esto- St. For more info, contact David Hannah, davehan- Feb 14-16: Certified Chimney Professionals Chim- ban Corporation at 641-472-7643 or e-mail us [email protected] ney Expo, King of Prussia, PA. Valley Forge Casino at [email protected] for more information. Those of us who are parents and What Comes Next? into a corner. Jan 16-17: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, & Resort, 1160 1st Ave, 19406. 610-354-8118. Trade grandparents worry about the future for The fast answer to the question of Times may Scranton, PA. 8 speakers, technical and business show and training. Contact Certified Chimney Pro- fessionals, 814-689-1576, for more info. The Chimney Sweep News is seeking a new our kids. With automation advancing at what comes next is, “We’ve been down change, but classes. Register online at olympiachimney.com or owner. Contact [email protected]. call 570-503-7177. this road before; machine aids didn’t put people don’t. Feb 25 – Mar 1: CSIA National Chimney Sweep the pace it is now, I think there is plenty Jan 23: CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Looking for new Sweep / Entrepreneur: small Rou- Exams, Oreland, PA. Jamison Home Services, 1429 Training School, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, of reason for concern. One might look us all out of work, just made us more Ulmer Ave, 19075. Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Six-day course includes eccentric sweep business, idyllic New England productive and made our lives easier. tine labor is classroom and field instruction. Contact CSIA at setting, 30 year history of soot, sweat, smiles at the picture below and say, “Let’s see it www.csia.org for more info. replaced all www.csia.org or call 317-837-5362 for more info. and treating folks fairly. Organized and ex- climb up a scaffold and rebuild a top.” Plus new jobs crop up to replace the old Jan 23-24: Olympia Academy All-Star Seminar, pandable. Will work with right person to make Nashville, TN. 8 speakers, technical and business ones.” I can’t deny any of that, but am the time by the dream come true. Contact [email protected] That would be a trick indeed. But the big classes. Register online at olympiachimney.com or March 13-15: Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo, not so sure it holds up into the future. machines. I call 570-503-7177. Dallas, TX. Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Experienced Sweep Wanted - Looking for a point is that lots of stuff people do now For more info, visit www.hpbexpo.com. When machines can fix machines, live in Mary- Jan 23-25: Warrior Leadership Conference, certified sweep to join our team. 40 year old, is going to be done by robots later. Dale Howard Shreveport, LA. Hilton Shreveport, 104 Market family owned chimney sweeping company please tell me what those new jobs will land where St, 70111. The ultimate business and motivational April 17-20: National Chimney Sweep Guild con- located near Sacramento, CA. Signing bonus Self-driving cars, and big rigs too. crabbing is a sizable industry. People experience. Sponsored by National Chimney and vention, Norfolk, VA. Waterside Marriott, 235 E be. (Does anyone doubt that will be available. Competitive salary/commission. Huge farms don’t need lots of people Lindemann Chimney Co. $349 first attendee/$199 Main St, 23510. 757-627-4200. Visit www.ncsgcon- common 50 years from now? Or even pick crabmeat better than machines but, additional attendees per company. Call 800-897-8481 Medical & vacation available. Please email vention.org for more info. to sign up. resumes to Amie Ryan - [email protected] — mostly some guys in a control room 20?) since a lot of crab pickers got deported in front of a computer screen and some There will probably be plenty of civil lately, mostly we get machine-picked field problem solvers. The machines will unrest as we transition to whatever the crabmeat now. I doubt those jobs will The premier chimney Although there work all night long if you want them future looks like. Back in the 1700s, auto- ever go back to humans. cap for keeping smoke have been to. I hear robotic nursing assistants mation came to the textile industry in I have a Roomba (robot vacuum out of living spaces. many attempts are big in Japan. What is the difference England and it put plenty of people out cleaner) and it does a reasonable job. to copy it over between 1000 people watching a video of work. To “fix that” the former weavers Anyone not have a washing machine? tried to smash all the machines (the Lud- People used to do the wash. Which one • Vacu-Stack® works with single wall, the last 40+ of a teacher (robotic school) and a real dite Revolution) and the military had to of you has no power tools? At what point double wall, triple wall, or masonry. years, there is robot there? They have been doing that put the riots down. In the end, it didn’t does increased productivity give way to for years but they don’t lower the price • Solves draft problems related to hills only one change anything, but it does tell you a outright unemployment? Think Detroit. any. Drone deliveries are already being and mountains, tall trees, and tall Vacu-Stack®. lot about what people do when backed But with jobs that require education buildings near the chimney. done. Factory automation is way beyond increased production now; jobs lost to • Sizes available from 3” to 30”+; Always ask machines in many cases are gone for- custom and oversize available. for it by name Air cooled and non-air cooled. ever. and look for Amazingly, it turns out computer- • Standard construction is 100% Model VSA-TDW the seal of doctors are way better than you would for air cooled chimney austenitic stainless steel; also available in other alloys including copper and authenticity on imagine. They produce better diagnoses Type 316 for marine/coal appliances. top of the cap. by percentage than human doctors. Not that I want one, but if the overall results the authentic Improved Consumer Products, Inc. PO Box B Attleboro Falls, MA 02763 100% made are there and it’s cheaper, who do you Available from leading (508) 695-7000 Fax: (508) 695-4209 think the insurance companies want to distributors nationwide. www.chimneycaps.com in USA “hire”? Dr. HAL. Good luck Dave. Robot bricklayer

30 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 3 IN THIS ISSUE A Bleak View of Future Employment, By Dale Howard ...... 3 Voice of the Sweep since 1979

Editor/PublishEr Respirator Cleaning, Article and photos by Toby Brown ...... 6 Jim Gillam Tip for the Trade – Masking for Pointing, By Frank Ayres ...... 12 ManagEr ExtraordinairE Harriet Gillam Why You Need a Website, By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins ...... 14 graPhic dEsign Jill Beddoe Freebie Public Service Article:...... 16 KOKO Graphix, Inc. Increase Your Bottom Line, By Karen Foreman ...... 18 sPEcial corrEsPondEnts Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Jeff Gitlin, Doing What’s Right, By Michael Stone ...... 22 Marge Padgitt, Steve Snyder, John Wisnewski illustrators How To Be Successful in a Small Chimney Sweep Business, By Jeff Gitlin ...23 Laura Eaton Jones, Kyle McQueen Sweeping with the Viking Spirit, Article and photos by Charlie Dunn ...... 24 PhotograPhy Frank Ayres, Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Best Wishes for the New Year — Vintage European Postcards Harriet & Jim Gillam Courtesy of Steve Snyder ...... 27 Contributors Frank Ayres, Karen Foreman, Taylor Hill & Carter Harkins, Dale Howard, Chimneys of Belize, By Jim Gillam ...... 28 Michael Stone Upcoming Events and Unclassified Ads ...... 30 on thE covEr Best wishes for the coming year. Postcard from Hungary. Courtesy of Steve Snyder. ADVERTISERS The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) 12119 Lupine Lane Chim-Cap Corp...... 800-262-9622 ...... 9 Klamath Falls, OR 97603-9637 541-882-5196 Chimney Products ...... 800-366-8677 ...... 7 [email protected] Chimney Safety Institute of America ...317-837-5362 ...... 17 http://www.ChimneySweepNews.com Condar...... 828-436-2102 ...... 4 Our Premium Forever Flex™ liner is now also available in Premium Pre-Insulated™! The Chimney Sweep News is published Copperfield Chimney Supply ...... 800-247-3305 ...... 21 As with all Forever Flex liners, they feature Olympia’s Forever Warranty and come 6 times per year, bi-monthly. with Free Shipping on liners and kits. Subscription Rates (US Currency): Firesafe Industries ...... 800-545-6607 ...... 5 $69 print in the USA PREMIUM $99 print outside USA HeatShield...... 800-860-6327 ...... 29 $69 PDF emailed anywhere Single Copy, $12 Improved Consumer Products ...... 508-695-7000 ...... 30

Advertising rates available upon request. Lindemann Chimney Company ...... 800-722-7230 ...... 32 Patent Pending Only Pre-Insulated Liner to Lock-Top Dampers...... 800-247-3305 ...... 12 Available in 316TI/304L .005 Feature Stainless Steel Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not Inner & Outer Construction necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The publisher 5’’- 12’’ Diameter Lynn Ladder & Scaffolding ...... 800-225-2510 ...... 8 does not assume any liability for advertiser claims, errors Provides Zero/Zero Clearance or omissions. When you read, use your own judgment. Extremely Flexible & Easy to Uncoil National Chimney ...... 800-897-8481 ...... 25 Inside a Masonry Chimney We are not responsible for anything you do. Olympia Chimney Supply ...... 800-569-1425 ...... 31 Superior Strength Forever Warranty™ Copyright © 2018, Jim Gillam Very Lightweight All rights reserved. Pro-Spin Vent Cleaning Systems...... 800-994-7933 ...... 23 Reprinting page 16, the Freebie public service article, IS allowed and encouraged if it is not altered in any way. Roydhouse Effect ...... 410-863-0157 ...... 27 Sand Hill Wholesale ...... 888-726-3445 ...... 11 Printed at Sutherland Printing SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems ...... 702-790-4107 ...... 13 Montezuma, Iowa USA SEE HOW Wohler USA ...... 978-750-9876 ...... 26 EASY IT We encourage you to send announcements, articles, UNCOILS! photos, anecdotes, quips, newspaper clippings, verse and Z-Flex Chimney Liners ...... 800-654-5600 ...... 20 short stories by, for and about chimney sweeps, their customers and the chimney service trade. We treat contributions with care, but cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage. Please visit www.ChimneySweepNews.com for links to our advertisers’ websites. Call 1-800-569-1425 or visit WWW.OLYMPIACHIMNEY.COM Please tell our advertisers you saw them in TECHNICAL & OTHER NEEDS CALL: 1-844-814-3002 The Chimney Sweep News! SCRANTON, PA

2 November-December 2018 November-December 2018 31 WE GROW & SUPPLY CHIMNEY COMPANIES

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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2018 Volume 40, Number 2 ©Copyright, Jim Gillam, 2018 ISN: 07372205 lindemannsupply.com | 866.242.9899 $12