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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019 Volume 40, Number 3 ©Copyright, Jim Gillam, 2019 ISN: 07372205 lindemannsupply.com | 866.242.9899 $12 IN THIS ISSUE 2019 Silver Creek Chimney Sweep: Passing the Torch, Voice of the Sweep since 1979 Article and Photos by Jim Gillam ...... 3 Editor/PublishEr Jim Gillam Using Expanded Stainless Steel Mesh, By Jeff Gitlin ...... 10 ManagEr ExtraordinairE SNEWS Briefs ...... 11 Harriet Gillam

graPhic dEsign Five Tips for Making Your Small Business Last, By Mitzi Perdue...... 14 Jill Beddoe KOKO Graphix, Inc. Freebie Public Service Article: Earthquake Preparedness ...... 16 ALL STAR SEMINAR sPEcial corrEsPondEnts The Latest on Google Local Services Ads, Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Jeff Gitlin, Marge Padgitt, Steve Snyder, John Wisnewski By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins...... 18 illustrators 30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in SNEWS ...... 22 TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS CLASSES RUNNING Laura Eaton Jones, Kyle McQueen SIMULTANEOUSLY — BRING YOUR WHOLE CREW! PhotograPhy Dear SNEWS...... 24 Grant Darrow, Charlie Dunn, Harriet & Jim Gillam The Wood Stove Design Challenge...... 26

Contributors (Technical classes Dan Bortolan, Grant Darrow, The 37th International Chimney Sweep Gathering, COST DAY 1 SCHEDULE DAY 2 SCHEDULE repeated at opposite times on Day 2 for Taylor Hill & Carter Harkins, Mike Kohn, Article and photos by Grant Darrow ...... 28 $199/PERSON TECHNICAL CLASSES TECHNICAL CLASSES maximum scheduling Mitzi Perdue, Marshall Peters 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM 8 AM – 12:00 PM fl exibility) Upcoming Events and Unclassified Ads ...... 30 Carbon Monoxide And The Venting Professional Ahrens-Fire on thE covEr CEU’S Professional by Bob Harper Installation by Michael Segerstrom to come TBD 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) Lunch provided by Lunch provided by 12119 Lupine Lane ADVERTISERS Olympia Chimney Supply Olympia Chimney Supply Klamath Falls, OR 97603-9637 WHEN & WHERE 1/16/19 – 1/17/19 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM 1:15 PM – 4:45 PM A.W. Perkins ...... 800-698-7412 .... 15, 19 Professional Ahren-Fire Installation Carbon Monoxide And The Venting 541-882-5196 HILTON SCRANTON [email protected] by Michael Segerstrom Professional by Bob Harper Chimney Safety Institute of America ...... 317-837-5362 ...... 27 100 Adams Ave. http://www.ChimneySweepNews.com Scranton, PA 18503 BUSINESS CLASSES BUSINESS CLASSES Copperfield Chimney Supply ...... 800-247-3305 ...... 7 570-343-3000 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Is Your Chimney Protected? Crown vs. 5 Critical Insurance Mistakes The Chimney Sweep News is published $99/night (cutoff date Firesafe Industries ...... 800-545-6607 ...... 30 Outside Mount Caps by Brian Cline That Chimney Companies Make 6 times per year, bi-monthly. for rooms is 1/4/2019) by Cam Arnold Subscription Rates (US Currency): Gelco Chimney Caps ...... 800-247-3305 ...... 24 9:45 AM – 11:45 AM $69 print in the USA 1/23/19 – 1/24/19 Sketch Up Designs For Chimney 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM $99 print outside USA HomeSaver ...... 800-247-3305 ...... 9 HILTON BRENTWOOD Pros by Will Omlor Building A Better Workplace $69 PDF emailed anywhere Culture by Colin Healey 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Single Copy, $12 Improved Consumer Products ...... 508-695-7000 ...... 6 9000 Overlook Blvd. Brentwood, TN 37027 Lunch provided by 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Olympia Chimney Supply Lunch provided by Advertising rates available upon request. Lindemann Chimney Company ...... 800-722-7230 ...... 32 615-370-0111 Olympia Chimney Supply $129/night (cutoff date 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Lock-Top Dampers...... 800-247-3305 ...... 25 Defi ning Your Business Model-Defi ne Your 1:15 PM – 3:15 PM for rooms is 12/21/18) Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not Profi t by Bill Ryan Transition: Creating necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The publisher Lynn Ladder & Scaffolding ...... 800-225-2510 ...... 29 A Path For New does not assume any liability for advertiser claims, errors 1/30/19 – 1/31/19 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Management or omissions. When you read, use your own judgment. National Chimney ...... 800-897-8481 ...... 13 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM by Andy Raycroft We are not responsible for anything you do. DENVER BRYAN ANDERSON – Veteran of the National Chimney Sweep Guild convention .....317-837-1500 ...... 21 Iraq War, triple amputee, purple heart 3203 Quebec St. recipient, author, actor and national Copyright © 2019, Jim Gillam Olympia Chimney Supply ...... 800-569-1425 ...... 31 Denver, CO 80207 spokesperson for USA Cares. All rights reserved. 303-321-3333 COCKTAIL RECEPTION Reprinting page 16, the Freebie public service article, Pro-Spin Vent Cleaning Systems...... 800-994-7933 ...... 23 $189/night (cutoff date IS allowed and encouraged if it is not altered in any way. 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM for rooms is 12/30/2018) An evening with Will Kozlansky, cocktails, BRYAN ANDERSON Roydhouse Effect ...... 410-863-0157 ...... 12 2019 Keynote Speaker hors d’oeuvres, and conversations. Printed at Sutherland Printing Montezuma, Iowa USA Sand Hill Wholesale ...... 888-726-3445 ...... 11 SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems ...... 702-790-4107 ...... 17 We encourage you to send announcements, articles, photos, anecdotes, quips, newspaper clippings, verse and Wohler USA ...... 978-750-9876 ...... 4 short stories by, for and about chimney sweeps, their customers and the chimney service trade. Z-Flex Chimney Liners ...... 800-654-5600 ...... 5 We treat contributions with care, but cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage. REGISTER TODAY! Please visit www.ChimneySweepNews.com CALL OR TEXT 570-504-7177 for links to our advertisers’ websites. OR VISIT OLYMPIACHIMNEY.COM Please tell our advertisers you saw them in A minimum of 15 registrants are required for training to commence. Should fewer than fi fteen people be registered for the event 14 days prior to the scheduled date, Olympia will regrettably cancel the event. The Chimney Sweep News! If the event is sold out, you will be placed on a waiting list and notifi ed if there is a cancellation. Important: If any event details do change, we will communicate directly to each person registered to attend.

2 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 31 by Iraq war vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Upcoming Events Kozlansky. $199/person. For more info or to register, Unclassified Ads call or text 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney. Information subject to change. Please remote vision equipment Silver Creek Chimney Sweep: com. confirm dates and locations of any has been providing interior chimney and Jan 23-25: Warrior Leadership Conference, Shreve- ductwork images since 1984. For more events! port, LA. Hilton Shreveport, 104 Market St, 70111. info with training videos, check out our Jan 16-17: Olympia Academy, Scranton, PA. Hilton The ultimate business and motivational experience. Sponsored by National Chimney and Lindemann website at www.chimscan.net or ChimS- Passing the Torch Scranton, 100 Adams Ave, 570-343-3000. Simulta- neous business and technical classes. Instructors Chimney Co. $349/first attendee, $199/additional at- can1643 YouTube channel. Call our help- include Michael Segerstrom, Bill Ryan, Cam Ar- tendees per company. Call 800-897-8481 to sign up. ful and friendly staff at the Estoban Cor- By Jim Gillam nold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian Cline, Colin Jan 30-31: Olympia Academy, Denver, CO. Double- poration at 641-472-7643 or send photos Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech by Iraq war tree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St, 80207. 303-321-3333. Si- or texts to 641-919-4896 or e-mail us at “Making homes safer,” is the goal of “Cleaning is about 70-75% percent vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Kozlansky. multaneous business and technical classes. Instruc- $199/person. For more info or to register, call or text tors include Michael Segerstrom, Bill Ryan, Cam [email protected] for more information. Silver Creek Chimney Sweep, declares of the business,” Scott says. “Relining, 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney.com. Arnold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian Cline, Co- co-owner Hillary Hess. lin Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech by Iraq Extensive Sweep Figurine & Memorabilia caps and stove sales are minor parts of Jan 18-19: PA Guild Training, Winter Meeting and war vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Kozlan- Collection, 425 pieces. Selling all togeth- Scott and Hillary Hess are a father- the business. We concentrate on sweep- Holiday Party, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Marriott sky. $199/person. For more info or to register, call er. Photos on request. Inquire at tvs809@ North, 100 Cranberry Woods Dr. Cranberry, PA or text 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney.com. daughter team doing business as Silver ing and the other stuff falls into place.” 16066, 724-772-3700. Growing Your Business and gmail.com Feb 7-8: CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Creek Chimney Sweep. Scott named Silver Creek sells and installs Regency Office with instructor Brandi Biswell on the 18th. Review & Exam, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, Looking for new Sweep / Entrepreneur: Winter meeting and party on the 19th. Contact Bill their enterprise for Silver Creek, which stoves. 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Call CSIA at 317-837- small eccentric sweep business, idyllic New Thornton at 215-540-9787 for more info. flows down from the Cascade Moun- 5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info. England setting, 30 year history of soot, Jan 23: CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Feb 14-16: Certified Chimney Professionals Chim- sweat, smiles and treating folks fairly. Or- tains through their hometown of Silver- On the Job Exams, Oreland, PA. Jamison Home Services, 1429 ney Expo, King of Prussia, PA. Valley Forge Casino ganized and expandable. Will work with ton, Oregon into the Pudding River. Scott started the business 40 years Ulmer Ave, 19075. Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit & Resort, 1160 1st Ave, 19406. 610-354-8118. Trade www.csia.org for more info. show and training. Contact Certified Chimney Pro- right person to make the dream come true. They serve a 25-mile radius around ago. Hillary joined the business 18 years fessionals, 814-689-1576, for more info. Contact [email protected] Jan 23-24: Olympia Academy, Brentwood, TN. Silverton, from the foot of the Cascade ago. “My sister, Emily, and I used to work Scott and Hillary Hess, the Silver Creek Hilton Brentwood, 9000 Overlook Blvd, 37027. Feb 25 – Mar 1: CSIA National Chimney Sweep The Chimney Sweep News is seeking a new Mountains down to the Willamette Val- Chimney Sweeps. 615-370-0111. Simultaneous business and technical Training School, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, with Dad during the summer when we classes. Instructors include Michael Segerstrom, Bill 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Six-day course includes owner. Contact ChimneySweepNews@aol. ley. It includes the state capital, Salem. were younger,” she notes. Hillary has com. as well as smoke. A sweep on the roof Ryan, Cam Arnold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian classroom and field instruction. Contact CSIA at Aside from the urban area, most of their Cline, Colin Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech www.csia.org or call 317-837-5362 for more info. worked full time since graduating high may “overhear” a conversation inside region is a bucolic landscape of nurser- school. After training with Scott in all the house. “When I am on the roof and ies, Christmas tree farms, woodland and aspects of the job for about a year, she customers ask Hillary questions, she pasture with a scattering of small towns. began to specialize in the inside work. knows all the answers,” Scott reports. CrownGuard The customers are a mostly middle Severe weather crown repair & protection When Scott and Hillary arrive at “She is very forthcoming. She has a good class assortment with woodstoves, fire- a job, after greeting the customer they rapport with the customers.” If Hillary places and pellet stoves. “We have a large wordlessly move into their own areas of is not on the job for some reason, “cus- Centering system for metal chimney liners senior citizen clientele,” Scott notes. expertise. Hillary brings in a tarp, vac- tomers always ask about her,” he says. uum and other gear and sets up next to FireGuard the stove or fireplace. “She is really good On the Roof ® with the inside work, taking stoves apart Scott’s grandson, Matthew, 19, has and putting them back together,” Scott been teaming up with Hillary during the Patented The most advanced chimney liner in the world says. summer when not in school. Like Scott, They use a Ridgid vac modified with Matthew generally attends to the roof “I wanted to write in and tell you how much I appreciate the quality of your products. We inspect approximately 20 to 30 chimneys every week and we run into every product there is on the market. I can tell you with absolute certainty that your two HEPA filters. Nevertheless, they work. FireGuard and Guardian products have no equals. I can say this because I've tried the other products and had to deal with exhaust the vacuum outside through a Scott has recently introduced climb- 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 hose. “That way we have no dust wor- ing ropes and fall protection harnesses 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 ries,” says Scott. “I tell our customers that to the Silver Creek system. Matthew par- your products. Thank you Jay!” it is double filtered but we still exhaust it ticularly appreciates the extra security of Dave Laverdiere - Owner of Boston Brick & Stone - Pasadena California outside in case we pick up a nail.” an anchored harness. “He is somewhat Scott sets up a ladder and checks the hesitant on the roof, but the minute he For additional information or to order products, call 800-545-6607 termination, then usually proceeds to gets the harness on he is much more sweep from above. confident,” Scott observes. [email protected] www.firesafeinc.com As sweeps know, chimneys – espe- Tying off the rope initially is the big- Scott rotary sweeping a pellet stove chimney. cially metal chimneys – convey sound gest challenge, Scott says. “It is hard to

30 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 3 tion was about catching bass or cooking Posing at the Statue them. They had a great laugh over that. Saturday at 10:30 was our first gath- Dear Readers, What type of rig you are working ering of every chimney sweep attending Woodstoves may have a resurgence reminiscent of the out of is always a topic, and several had the festival. Donning our sweeps uni- boom in the 1970s if climate consciousness becomes more driven their new VW diesel Transit type forms, we all drove or walked the short widespread in North America. rigs to the event. distance upriver to the neighboring As I mentioned in this space in the last issue, efficient Late Friday afternoon was a meeting combustion of biomass is considered a neutral contributor town of Malesco and the monument of to greenhouse gases since the carbon released is of relatively at the museum and a concert in the park. the chimney sweep. Each country took current origin. In contrast, the carbon released by burning I was amazed to learn at the museum turns having group photos taken with natural gas and petroleum fuels was sequestered by plant life that the first Tour de France was won by the monument. millions of years ago. Burning those products releases an- a chimney sweep on his work bike and A lot of serious trading begins dur- cient carbon into the atmosphere and is considered the ma- without steroids. I took this opportunity jor contributor to human induced climate change. ing this meeting in Malesco. Hot trade to present the museum with a set of lim- Grant with two German sweeps at the The Alliance for Green Heat is prodding woodstove items are USA neck scarves and the ited edition OCSA coins engraved with Chimney Sweep Museum. manufacturers to reduce emissions further and increase con- American eagle uniform buttons. Sweep venience by automating some aspects of stove operation. The this year’s festival. buttons are easily removed and universal by country paraded through the streets annual Wood Stove Design Challenge [see page 26] is their of Santa Maria Maggiore. primary venue for this effort. While using a foam plug to contain the soot, Scott sweeps while Hillary in their design and attachment. Every- Presently, regulatory authorities in the U.S. are more catches any stray dust with the vacuum. one has lapel pins to trade. My supply Thousands of people come to watch this parade. Families pull you aside for concerned with particulate pollution in local areas than get the rope over the roof to tie it off sometimes. Or you have to quickly disappeared, including the two they are with sources of greenhouse gases that may affect photos with them. Open windows on climb a crazy steep roof to put in an anchor. There has to be a bet- bags of little chimney sweep figurines I the global climate. However, that may change surprisingly the parade route drew you into the liv- quickly if the association between extreme weather events ter way of doing it, but I haven’t figured it out yet.” brought to give to the kids. Refreshing ing rooms of residents as their kids and human activity becomes more widely accepted, as it is Hillary is not comfortable getting on and off tall, steep roofs. rain showers made me thankful I always perched on the windowsills. I thought already in Europe. Advanced technology woodstoves and Scott is confident that their client base has enough single-story travel with a collapsible umbrella. pellet stoves may be part of the solution. of the US GI’s that walked these very houses that she will be able to continue a good business even if she The day’s planned events ended with Chimney Jim streets as they swept through this town chooses not service houses with steep roofs and/or multiple sto- a Holy Mass in the parish church fol- while liberating it during WWII. It was ries. “I’ve done the math and looked at our customer base. There lowed by a concert in the park, and of humbling to have the crowd start chant- is plenty of work there if she wants to concentrate on single story course beer and pizza in the square. ing, “USA, USA, USA!” as we Americans houses and sweeping from the bottom up.” The Main Event paraded by. At one point, a nun pulled Ashley Retirement Plan Sunday was the main event with the international parade at 10:30. After Eldridge (former NCSG/CSIA Educa- Hillary is poised to take the reins of the business as of Janu- a historical re-enactment of cleaning tion Director) out of the parade for a ary 1. Scott’s plan is to semi-retire. “I will work for Hillary for a Tedd Cuttitta with Andreas Gartner of chimneys on the roofs of Piazza Risor- photo, but unfortunately, none of us got year part-time, maybe two or three days per week with a lot of Germany. Tedd is holding a newspaper gimento and Piazza Gennari by the Fan- a picture for posterity. slack time in between,” he projects. “We considered breaking the supplement with himself and his father on fara Alphini, chimney sweeps organized chain and selling the business to her outright, with having Hillary the cover. get her own federal ID and Oregon Contractors Board number. It looked like it would increase our tax liability and we did not want to spend that kind of money. So, we Wohler VIS 700 HD Chimney Camera, PN: 7459 will keep the busi- *Chimney Scaffolds *Roof Ladders and Hooks • ness name and she will run it,” Scott *Steel Scaffolding • *Truck and Van Racks explains. • LYNN LADDER & SCAFFOLDING CO., INC. • While Scott is looking forward to semi-retirement, he 1-800-225-2510

www.wohlerusa.com is also a bit wistful. “I Checking the flue with a mirror from inside www.lynnladder.com do enjoy the work,” the stove.

4 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 29 he says. “My customers have become died young and my dad was not able to Communicating at the Spazzacamino Festival friends.” go anywhere due to his physical condi- For her side, Hillary says, “It will be tion when he was younger than we are Article and photos by Grant Darrow interesting. When Scott is fully retired, now. We figured life is too short. It can Willie Weep Chimney Sweep Elgin, Oregon I won’t be doing as many installs by happen anytime. We had better take myself. Most of the customers know me care of business when we can because so it should be OK.” later on we might not be able. It’s nice to The 37th Raduno internazionale dello you travel through the backyards and recharge the batteries during the winter Spazzacamino (international gathering main streets of the region, the gardens, Vacations when we are not busy.” of chimney sweeps) was my first par- orchards, vineyards and beehives of the Scott and Liz make a point to take a To make such travel possible, “We ticipation at this annual three-day festi- citizenry are laid out for your enjoy- nice vacation every year. They have vis- have a travel budget,” Scott notes. “We val in Santa Maria Maggiore, VB, Italy. ment. ited France, Mexico, Jamaica and Belize set a goal of having so much in the fund, It is sponsored by the Chimney Sweep among many other places. Their first and by the time we go we have reached Museum (Museo dello Spazzacamino) Engaging order of business when Scott retires is to it. Liz is really good at lining out our and the Italian National Chimney Sweep I arrived in SMM about 5pm on the visit his brother in Australia. travel arrangements,” he adds. Association (Associazione Nazionale Thursday before the festival and walked “We usually go somewhere when Hillary has operated the business Spazzacamini). up the hill to my hotel. As I crossed the business is slow here,” Scott says. “We during their absences. “That has given The children of this region were pre- threshold of the hotel, I entered the just go – somewhere. We got the travel her good experience to run it by herself,” ferred for their lean body build and then International world of chimney sweeps Ridgid vac modified with two HEPA filters bug in the mid-80s when we went to Scott says. malnourished to keep them not only from Austria, Germany, Scotland, Brit- and vented to the outside. Sweeping Hawaii with Sooty Bob. We small in order to climb into chimneys, ain, Romania, and Belgium as well as but to prevent them from running away. the USA. English is the international said, ‘This is awesome! We’ve got to do Marketing not aggressively seek business. “I don’t Grant Darrow in the chimney sweep pa- This festival, in part, honors these kids language of business, so slow down and this again!’ The other factor is Liz’s dad Silver Creek Chimney Sweep does advertise much,” Scott shrugs. “I have rade at Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy. with parades that re-enact their leav- someone will engage you. ing the region after their folks had sold My partner in crime for this adven- Early morning treks up the narrow them. Spazzacamino is actually the word ture was Tedd Cuttitta (NY Fireplace roads above the Vigezzo Valley reward Engineered for for the young boys that where sold into Designs, New City, NY), who had you with clear and scenic vistas of human Maximum Efficiency slavery by their parents and sent off to rented a car and arrived well before me. habitation going back 1000 years. Loose clean chimneys all around Europe. To Although Tedd prefers to drive, we did a laid rock shingled roofs hundreds of the parents it was one less mouth to feed lot of walking. His shouts of “New York years old. Church bells are ringing every Triple Lock® Smoothcore™ Suitable For and a little money in their pocket. is in the room!” were always met with hour and people going about their daily All Fuels cheers. routines like every other human on the All Fuels Chimney Liner Trains The itinerary allowed a lot of time to planet. And top hats everywhere. • Eliminates turbulence. Improves draft. Having traveled the trains of Europe tour, engage and interact with the locals • Resists corrosive attack. Does not Pellet Wood before, I elected to get to SMM by train and other sweeps. The Hotel La Scheg- Communicating with impede ow of condensate. Less soot accumulation. so I could enjoy the countryside. There gia served up a bountiful breakfast each Sweeps Speaking Other Gas Oil is a train station in the Malpensa airport, morning, fireworks Thursday night and Languages so the first leg of my journey was a pleas- a free banquet Sunday night. SMM has Thursday night and most of Friday ant 40-minute trip to the Central train quiet cafés tucked away in every nook was spent schmoozing, wading into station in Milan. There I boarded a train and cranny that are best to explore dur- groups of sweeps speaking another lan- to Bellinzona, Switzerland. ing the day and book reservations for guage and in the end communicating. I This leg of the trip takes you up into nighttime meals. Pizza, beer and wine had been sitting with a small group of PROTECT YOUR NEW Z-LOK TEE the Alps. From Bellinzona, a short ride were plentiful at several street cafes in sweeps from Holland, listening to their INVESTMENTS, QUICK ASSEMBLY. got me to Locarno where I boarded a the main plaza, the epicenter of most conversation when the one that spoke ® NO TOOLS Z-FLEX QUALITY REQUIRED series of mountain trains to Santa Maria activities and close to the museum and good English asked me if I understood WHERE IT COUNTS. Maggiore. Many sweeps will take these park. Most shops shut down early after- anything they were saying. I told him trains as a day excursion, winding along noon for siesta and believe me I always that I had figured out they were talk- USA the northern side of the valley, laced take any opportunity I can to grab an ing about fishing, bass in particular, but T . 1.800.654.5600 F . 1.888.889.3539 [email protected] www.z-flex.com with narrow roads and footpaths. As afternoon nap. I could not figure out if the conversa-

Z-FLEX Liner Triple Lock Smoothcore Z-Max - Chimmney Sweep News 7.5 x 4.875.indd 2 2017-09-28 4:04 PM

28 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 5 fessional website designer In order to make it a more powerful business gen- erator as Hillary takes over the business.

The Path to Here Scott grew up in Pomona/Diamond Bar area of southern California. He vividly recalls being shaken out of bed by the Sylmar, California earthquake Viper mounted to rear van door. on February 9, 1971. After obtaining a Plastic gutter protector degree in oceanography at Humboldt been in business for forty years. Repeat State University, Scott did graduate work teka Community College in Salem. customers and word of mouth are awe- in geology at Long Beach State. He and However, the self-employment bug some!” he exclaims. “We get more calls his wife, Liz, moved to Oregon in 1978. was biting him. “Lo and behold, I saw than we can handle. Scott and Liz met when Scott audi- The Mother Earth News article” about “We made a decision early on to stay tioned as a guitarist/vocalist for a band getting started as a chimney sweep. He small,” Scott adds. “I don’t begrudge in which Liz was a singer. It was love at bought an August West System. In the anybody with multiple trucks, but I first sight. Eventually, “the band broke early days, “It was hit and miss, starv- appreciate the closeness with custom- up and we were tired of Southern Cali- ing,” Scott recalls. ers.” fornia,” Scott recalls. “We decided to Their daughter, Emily, was born in TAKE CLASSES ANYWHERE. Their website brings in some new move to Oregon.” Scott found a factory 1980 and Hillary was born in 1982. customers. Silver Creek has hired a pro- job, and then taught geology at Cheme- Scott joined the volunteer Silverton continued on page 8

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“We would like to be part of a pro- Never Seen It Before. Generating Electricity cess that reinvents the cordwood stove so The category of thermoelectric was that it can be reliably cleaner,” declared new to the 2018 Wood Stove Design GERMAN ENGINEERED. SWEEP DESIGNED. John Ackerly of the Alliance for Green Challenge. “The teams showed that it Heat, sponsor of the 2018 Wood Stove is feasible to generate useful electrical MADE IN THE USA. Design Challenge. “We want to show the energy without sacrificing the energy wider community — particularly state efficiency or impeding the heat quality and federal agencies and other renew- of the wood stove,” John said. Stoves or able communities — that wood stove boilers with thermoelectric generators technology is not static, that there is real The E-Stove and the Wittus-Fire by De- can produce 100 to 250 watts. “It could potential.” sign team, winners in the automated stove be a feature that gets people to change In November, The Wood Stove De- and thermoelectric categories at the 2018 out an old stove,” John surmised. sign Challenge returned to the National Wood Stove Design Challenge on the Na- Mall in Washington, DC for its fourth tional Mall in Washington, DC. Rigorous Testing edition. The five-day event featured ten photo courtesy of Wittus-Fire by Design JEREMIAS® FACTORY-BUILT CHIMNEY SYSTEM wood stoves in competition and three Five different teams simultaneously For venting wood, coal, oil, and category I gas appliances. stoves chosen to highlight their innova- the traditional, manually operated EPA tested the stoves and posted real-time tive technology. certified wood stove.” data on wide screen TVs in the tent on The Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) the National Mall. “When folks from was the principal organizer of the Automation EPA, the Department of Energy or Con- gress came through the tent, they could event. Olympia Chimney Supply do- Three market ready automated For the FIRST TIME EVER, you can assemble 100% accurate offsets SEE see the cycles a stove goes through in nated chimney and connector materials. stoves participated in the challenge. around roof/eaves without using clunky adjustable vent lengths. combustion over a several hour period,” For Yourself! Installers included Jerry Neal (Sugarloaf “They successfully went through a rig- John said. “They could see exactly how Chimney Restoration, Barnesville, MD) orous fueling protocol and proved they Cut to Length in the Field! much carbon monoxide and particu- and Winston’s Chimney Service (Fairfax, could burn relatively cleanly and effi- late matter were generated, and how the VA). Joshua Kelly (Tri-County Hearth ciently even when an operator tried to stack temperature changed. It helped 2¾ Wide & Patio Center) helped with the tear turn down the heat setting too far and at people understand the complexity of down. The Chimney Safety Institute of the wrong times,” John said. Locking Band building, testing and operating a wood Stainless Steel America (CSIA) and National Fireplace John and the Alliance for Green Heat stove,” he stated. Institute (NFI) were among the spon- believe that automating wood stoves 316L Inner Wall sors. The Masonry Heater Association to avoid operator error or carelessness All–Welded (MHA) sent a five-person testing team. “may be one of the best ways to save the The Winners Assembly Insulation and Construction The U.S. Department of Energy wood stove as a top tier renewable tech- The E-Stove, shown by Wittus-Fire Allow For Cut-to-Length (DOE) Bioenergy Technology Office nology. by Design and designed by German Stainless Steel awarded $10,000 grants to each of the “You can drive down emissions of company HE Energy GmbH took first 304 Outer Wall ten competition stove teams. EPA certified stoves in the lab to two prize in both the automated and ther- “Conducting rigorous and transpar- grams or below,” John said, “but that moelectric categories. The manufac- ent field testing of thirteen stoves in five only gets you so far. Then it is up to the turer describes the E-Stove as “a living- High Density Rigid Lock Wool Insulation Creates days is a feat that is unheard of in the operator to use it well. Most operators room-based combined heat and power NO HEAT BRIDGE Between Pipes! wood stove community,” John Ackerly are not getting optimal performance unit developed for the production of noted. “The goals were also unique: to from their stoves. Many are not using electricity, heat and hot water.” fairly test stoves against one another dry enough wood,” he observed. Stove Builders International (SBI) with cordwood; help each team to im- Development of automation that won the Innovation prize for the sim- prove their units and help educate a would add only a few hundred dollars plicity of its automated stove design. wider public about novel stove technol- to the cost of a wood stove “would be a The 509 Fabrications pressed log stove Exclusive U.S. Distributor ogies that challenge how we think about huge success!” John exclaimed. won the People’s’ Choice Award. Call Us at 800.247.3305 26 January-February 2019 TheJanuary-February Nation’s Leading 2019 Supplier of Chimney And Hearth Products7 Fire Department in the mid-80s, “as a tough to get everybody together – we Masterbrands Update way to drum up business,” he recounts. have five different people with five dif- Still at it cleaning Masterbrands’ finish booth stacks in Grants “I thought that would be a good way ferent lifestyles. The great thing is that it Pass, Oregon [see the March 2010 issue]. to educate people — call me now or is a family get-together.” This is the eleventh year. That’s Bryan Paul inside of the stack and call me later,” he quips. He became an hooked up to the hoist. The bottom photo features Jeptha Stricklin. Emergency Medical Technician and the Oregon Chimney Sweeps Energy-Saving Dampers fire department’s investigator, which he Association He’s the son of our Grants Pass manager and head tech Lisa. enjoyed. Scott served with the Silverton Scott joined the Oregon Chimney Love bloomed at Home Comfort Hearth/Chim-Chiminey Fire Department for twenty years. Sweeps Association (OCSA) in 1983. He Sweepers. Lisa married our head sweep, Brian Stivers, this summer. Liz works as a bookkeeper and does has served as president, vice-president, The males in the wedding party wore top hats, of course. And one of Quality = Confidence. the books for Silver Creek Chimney secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor our installers is the groom’s nephew! Sweep. “Thank God she likes doing it!” and is currently a regional representa- —Mike Kohn, Home Comfort Hearth/Chim-Chiminey Sweepers, Gain Peace-Of-Mind Knowing Scott exclaims gratefully. “When we first tive. “I think I have held all the posi- Scott Hess Grants Pass, OR started she helped in the field, but she tions,” Scott laughs. You Installed the Best. quickly found out that she does not like meeting since 1983. He brings his OCSA heights.” photo albums to the conferences so other members can learn of the asso- Family Band ciation’s history, and marvel at how the The Crying Omas is a family band old-timers once looked. composed of Scott, Liz, Hillary, Emily and her son Matthew. They specialize in Chimney Sweep News the kind of tight vocal harmonies that Scott has subscribed to The Chimney only a family band can pull off. They play Sweep News since the early 80s, shortly a selection of tunes from bands known after freelance writer Jay Hensley bought for their harmonies such as Crosby, Stills Heading home after a long day. the publication from Oregon sweep & Nash, The Beatles, and Dan Hicks & Dave Lamb. Scott touts it as “an invalu- Superior Design The Hot Licks. Hillary joined the association in able resource. When I want Hillary or • Permanent Cast-Aluminum Construction “We have playing together for about 2008. “They made me secretary,” she Matthew to learn something, I give them • Easily Mounts Atop a Flue Tile four years,” Scott says. “We have about recalls. “I was secretary for three years, an article in SNEWS to read,” he says. “I • Silicone Rubber Prevents Energy Loss three gigs per year,” he laughs. “It is vice-president for three years and now just wish you had an index!” • Less Fraying Due to Larger Diameter Cables treasurer.” “We need SNEWS,” Hillary affirmed. • Low Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look Membership in trade associations “is “Keep doing it. You should feature one of the Chimney really good for any sweep,” Scott insists. of my dogs [Sept-Oct 2014] again on the “I have learned so much with OCSA – cover,” she added. techniques, tools, from administration [Editor’s Note: Scott introduced The to field work and keeping up with codes. Chimney Sweep News to me when he was It is a great bunch of people. OCSA has president of OCSA and I was a new mem- Call your favorite Lock-Top distributor today! turned out to be a family. ber. It changed my life!] “Whatever educational group you can get into is going to be better than Joy of Sweeping sitting at home,” he reasons. “You aren’t “I really like our customers,” Hill- going learn anything that way.” He ary says. “It’s nice to be out and about. I laments that more sweeps do not avail enjoy sweeping.” themselves of educational opportuni- ties. AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR OVER 25 YEARS Scott is an avid photographer. He Hillary’s rottweiler, Ginger, was on the has photographed each annual OCSA cover of the Sept-Oct 2014 issue.

8 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 25 PATENTED INSULATION SYSTEM

Go to www.copperfield.com/HomeSaver-UltraPro-Pre-Insulated

Positive Pressure Respirators Busy season is more than half OF OTHER LINERS over. Hooray! Quality & Strength Always look forward to the SNEWS coming out. The story on respirators got me thinking. INSTALLS IN HALF THE TIME The Superior Features I have been using positive pres- You Expect From Gelco: sure respirators since starting as a Embossed or cross-braced lid for more strength & stability. business. Wouldn’t dream of using a regular one. Much better protection (still alive), much more comfortable and much less fatiguing. Keeping the thing clean is certainly important but frankly, the lungs count more than the face. Especially if it’s ugly like mine!

Swing tabs allow for an I have been getting government surplus full face 3M Breatheasy Multi-Flue inside/outside mount ones on eBay for years. Way, way cheaper and work great. Reinforced & hemmed lid. —Dan Bortolan, The Chimney Sweep Co LLC • NEW Reinforced hinges for easier assembly on knock-down versions. Rocky Hill, CT Cross-braced for more strength & stability. The Belize Connection • Aluminum Outer Cover I loved the • Foil-Face FlexWrap™ article about the Ceramic Insulation chimneys in Be- lize! • UltraPro™ Stainless Steel MADE IN USA Inner Liner Single-Flue I have been Deep double channel base for superior durability. to Belize over Lifetime two dozen times MADE IN USA Transferable and have a Belize Warranty drivers license in my wallet. We have been a part of an orphanage for over 20 years there called the King’s Children’s Home, located in Cotton Tree Village, near Belmopan, the capital of Belize. Stock Orders of $499 or More Ship Free. MADE IN USA Custom I have taken over 100 college and high school students there to FREE FREIGHT All hinges & screens run the full height to add stability & expand their worldviews and serve the orphanage, plus a crew of 20+ eliminate gaps between lid & mesh. construction guys to build the orphanage home. We took a 700 square @$499 foot home and expanded it to over 2800 sq.ft. in two weeks time. Call your favorite Gelco distributor today! Barb and I love going to Caye Caulker and have spent too much time on the island. Thanks for a great article. Call Us at 800.247.3305 II —Marshall Peters The Nation’s Leading Supplier of Chimney And Hearth Products ULTRA-PROTECTION CHIMNEY CAPS Certified Chimney Professionals, We are happy to serve you from these five locations: Lemont, PA Sacramento, CA • Cleveland, OH • Auburn, MA • Bridgeport, NJ • Aberdeen, NC 24 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 9 those dandy sweeps from Ireland and much longer than WD-40® and does not Using Expanded Stainless Steel Mesh for Poland.” swell or drip or overspray.” “Eight of every ten people will suf- John Wisnewski (Let There Be Light fer some kind of back problem during Chimney Sweep, West Chester, PA) dis- Spark and Animal Protection their lifetimes,” stated Dr. Robert Rein- cussed how to provide fair, adequate hart (Reinhart Chiropractic Clinic, St. and legally defensible warnings to your By Jeff Gitlin Nonesuch, Kentucky Catherines, Ontario) at the Northeast customer. “It is important to understand Regional Expo. “It is a significant cause that there are three (3) levels of legal of disability.” warnings,” John wrote, “depending on Expanded stainless steel mesh is I preferred to make the finished I also To avoid injury, “Practice good body their sense of urgency and the potential available from several of the leading outside dimensions of the panels about used this mechanics, especially when lifting. Lift degree of injury or loss, arranged minor chimney supply companies [see the ½-ich higher than the opening and material to twice,” Dr. Reinhart recommended, to severe. They are listed as (1) Caution, Advertisers Index on page 2]. It is espe- about three inches wider. screen the “once with your head and once with (2) Warning and (3) Danger.” cially useful for providing spark and ani- To install, I took my dad’s Roper cooling-air your body!” Appropriate exercise is a John continued, “The key ingredient mal protection to chimneys with raised Whitney hand punch (two feet long, intake on key component to recovering from back that is missing in most chimney sweeps’ stone or concrete caps. (I refer to them capable of punching up to ¼-inch older pre- injuries. warnings that fall short of a legal warn- as “elevated slabs.”) holes through quarter-inch steel) and fab fireplace Also at the Northeast Expo, CPA ing, which are in the category of ‘failure Some skill and technique are punched holes through the U-strip flues. (How Susanne Dombrowski offered tips on you are, there will come a time when one to warn’: You need to tell the customer required to utilize this material prop- frame. I secured the mesh panel to the did they ever Jeff Gitlin selling your business. “Your goal is to of your customers, maybe even a long- what will happen if they disregard your erly. I have seen too many “tin-knocker” supporting bricks with Tapcon masonry pass U.L. create a business that works beyond you. standing one, loses his temper with you admonishing. Assume that the public is chimney covers with hardware cloth or fasteners. I put two Tapcons on each without providing the means to keep To this end, you need a company man- over work you’ve done. Instead of get- dumb and that you have to interpret the other screening attached only at the cor- end of the panel, going either into the nesting birds out of this channel? Nest- ual that tells how you do what you do.” ting defensive,” Greg suggested, “let the warning,” he advised. ners, which did not keep out starlings, mortar joint if solid or directly into the ing in this area creates both a fire hazard Genevieve Bures revisited her cau- customer rant for a few minutes, with pigeons, squirrels or raccoons! This brick. In some cases with rough stone, and a health hazard.) tionary articles about sweeps’ and you just saying, ‘uh huh,’ or, ‘I see’ — material cannot span several feet with- I had the panels made with 90-degree I used this mesh backed by window installers’ liability from ten years previ- something for him out the top or bottom sagging. flanges and mounted the panels within screen to provide protection at fireplace ously. She reiterated, “In order to protect to know you are not My method was to have my friendly the openings. outside-combustion air intakes against your own business, and to reduce your only listening, you are listening with local sheet metal shop fabricate a stain- Alternatively, you could drill the the entry of birds, squirrels, bees, wasps, liability, I am suggesting that you inves- tigate the history of every product that an open mind. Then less steel U-strip frame welded to the holes into the masonry and put the Tap- and flies. you handle to in order to determine if immediately take mesh to form a rigid panel. I carried a cons through the mesh. Use stainless I have used this mesh on chimney what you thought about that product the side of your cus- sample section on my truck to show to steel “fender” washers to affix the mesh pots to keep out critters. On pots with is, in actuality, how that product exists tomer.” customers. to the masonry. round openings, I had the sheet-metal today.” When you do The finished product looks attrac- shop fabricate what looks like a stove- that, Greg explained, tive, does not allow a critter to pass pipe tee cover made out of the stainless Jan-Feb 2009 “you will take the through, and will not rust and stain the mesh. I slipped this into the opening, We featured Jim Brewer on our Jan- wind out of your chimney. All of the homeowners for wrapped stainless steel wire around the Feb 2009 cover and in an in-depth six- customer’s sails whom I did this were very pleased. outside of the pot and then secured sev- page article about his business, Magic almost instantly. . . . This is custom work and I charged eral wires from the wire on the outside Sweep Corporation in Chesapeake, It’s pretty hard to be accordingly, the same formula you may to the mesh. This prevents the mesh Virginia. “Unlike many companies in angry for long with use for custom chimney covers or chase from either slipping into the pot or pull- our trade that are overwhelmed with an ally.” covers. ing out of the pot. Construction adhe- business in autumn and not so busy the Nick Miloslavich I also found this mesh useful for fab- sive may be used instead of wire if the rest of the year, Magic Sweeps’ work- (New World Chim- ricating spark arrestors / animal guards homeowner might object to the glint of load is ‘very evenly divided’ throughout ney Sweep, San Jose, for chimney covers without screens and the stainless steel wire in the sunlight. the year, Jim says. ‘Two words: forward CA) offered this Tip for replacement screens for prefab flues I left the mesh cylinder protrud- scheduling’ he explains concisely,” wrote for the Trade: “Use where the original galvanized screen ing two or three inches so that in the Editor/Publisher Jim Gillam. Vaseline® on the curtain rod type fire- Stainless steel mesh used to screen an has corroded. I attached the mesh with event that the top became blocked, there Greg Polakow wrote about Avoiding elevated slab chimney cap. stainless-steel wire. would still be an open area around the the Meltdown. “No matter how good place screens. It lasts continued on page 12

10 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 23 30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in SNEWS

January 1989 Committee subsequently stated, “Flue- Mina and Larry Holland from liner tiles can crack if subjected to chim- Buford, Georgia graced the front and ney fires, hot fires, the rapid heating of a back covers of the January 1989 issue. cold flue or abusive maintenance. Once Their “Chim-Clean company in Buford, liner tiles are cracked, they must be Georgia is a Mom and Pop business, replaced by new tiles or other approved but Pop also works the night shift at the lining material.” General Motors plant,” wrote Editor/ Genevieve Bures, certified fire inves- Publisher Jay Hensley. “When he gets tigator and former chimney sweep, home to the 5-acre spread their town wrote about the increased liability expo- has grown up around, Mom has revved sure relining contractors faced due to up the motor to the Chim-Clean truck the recently released UL 1777 standard. and is ready to go sweeping.” “Before there was a UL 1777 Standard, a reliner could defend himself by stat- ing, and correctly so, that he/she was improving a bad situation by lining or relining the chimney,” she stated. “The put your mind and energy toward a par- specific wording in UL 1777 removes ticular goal, you will achieve success.” any defense the installer once had. . . . It is time for the industry to make a defini- Jan-Feb 1999 tive statement concerning UL 1777 Soon-to-be Editor/Publisher Jim which can be utilized as a defense in Gillam appeared on the cover in a pose future litigation.” that his daughter said reminded her of the Titanic movie. Fortunately, The February 1989 Chimney Sweep News has remained John Foster of New Hampshire afloat for twenty years since. exposed condominium developments Jay Hensley packed her final issue with defective fireplace systems. “In the as Editor/Publisher with useful infor- past three years I have labeled over 200 mation. She reported from the “upbeat, condominium fireplaces and chimneys record-breaking” Northeast Regional All-Fuels Expo, “Over 500 sweeps, kids, Larry and Mina were founding mem- or hearth stoves and chimneys unsafe for spouses, vendors, seminar presenters bers of the Georgia Guild of Professional use,” John wrote. “All 200 units had been and assorted others gathered to soak up Chimney Sweeps in 1982. “Georgia went inspected and approved for use when more savvy, swap stories, practice new from being the fourth worst state in fire they were built.” His article described his ways of doing things, re-attach to old deaths in 1985 to ranking 11th in 1987,” struggle to get some of them repaired friends and make new ones, including Mina said with pride, “and our Guild properly. “When the contractors respon- has been part of the team that made that sible for unsafe chimneys are made to happen. . . . Solid fuel was the number pay for the relining or replacement, they one cause of house fires in Georgia in will learn a valuable lesson,” John con- 1985, even surpassing smoking in bed, cluded. and that is no longer true.” Erik Olsen, The Flue Bug in Roch- Sweep Walter Cochran of Port ester, NY was profiled in an article by Arthur, Texas pressed the National Jay Hensley. “I thoroughly enjoy my Chimney Sweep Guild to take a stance part-time status,” Erik said. “Becoming a on cracked flue tiles. NCSG’s Technical sweep has proven to me that when you

22 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 11 January2019 (Bleeds).pdf 1 11/15/18 1:37 PM

freezing rain, ice, snow, leaves or nests. The times that I have installed mesh that was less than four times the area of the flue I had the customer sign a disclaimer EPA to Extend Wood that states the code, the reasoning behind Heater Sales Window it, any possible code compliant remedy, and that this work is being done per the The U.S. Environmental Protec- owner’s request and with full knowledge. tion Agency (EPA) has announced its intention to allow the sale of EPA Stainless steel mesh is a useful mate- Freshly manufactured chimney pots at W.T. certified stoves that meet the Step 1 Knowles & Sons Ltd. in Halifax, England rial to solve customers’ problems and standard through May 2022. This Photo by Charlie Dunn generate additional income. It is easy to will extend the sale window for Step sides equivalent to the cross-sectional cut with tin snips and easy to store in the 1 compliant wood heaters by two area of the opening in the pot. I always truck. I kept some under the carpet in years. cautioned the homeowner that the chim- the back of the truck and some I rolled, The proposal would not change Don’t on our ney pot has reduced the area of the flue secured with a staple from a cardboard the May 2020 effective date of tighter and offered the option of removing the carton, and stored between or inside emissions limits; however, it would sleep chimney pot and installing a non-restric- chimney covers. allow retailers to sell existing inven- tive chimney cover. (This is how I added Be careful and always wear cut-resis- tory of heaters meeting current to my collection of chimney pots!) Unless tant gloves, as this stuff can cut skin like a emissions limits through May 2022. Early Buy Program the pot had caused a smoking problem, scalpel! “Extending the sale of new, Step 1-compliant wood heaters will pro- C the homeowners usually preferred to vide manufacturers and retailers M keep the pot and just have me add the Jeff Gitlin, now retired, ran a success- with much-needed certainty and protective mesh. Y ful chimney sweep business for thirty years, will incentivize more Americans CM I must caution you about using this serving Lexington, Kentucky and the sur- to purchase newer, cleaner heaters, MY mesh across the top of a flue, with or rounding area. He was Technical Advisor which supports rural economies and without an elevated slab. Remember the to The Chimney Sweep News from 1983 improves air quality,” said EPA Act- CY NFPA-211 requirement for the spark until 1999 and now serves as Special Cor- ing Administrator Andrew Wheeler. CMY arrestor to be four times the cross sec- respondent. An earlier version of this arti- The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue K tional area of the flue? The reasoning cle appeared in the January-February 1999 Association (HPBA) advocated for behind this is to prevent clogging by soot, issue. this rule change.

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National Chimney 2147C Fletcher Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203 800.897.8481 • www.nationalchimney.com 12 January-February 2019 on your profile coming in through Google Local To stay up to date as Google rolls out • The call was accidental (wrong Services Ads Local Services Ads in more markets and number), a sales call, a bot, or spam • How many serious complaints have verticals, visit www.tomwaddington. Registration • You received a charge for the same been filed against you since you com/current-google-local-services- lead more than once in 15 days enrolled in the Google Local Ser- ads-markets-verticals/ • You were messaged or called but vices Ads program To get ready for the rollout, head to is now open! have no way of reaching out to the lead www.adwords.google.com/homeser- (their email address wasn’t valid or What are some of vices/signup/eligibility. Here, you can their phone number didn’t show up) the obvious benefits sign up to be notified once Google Local to applying once the Services Ads rolls out in your vertical How much does a lead cost program rolls out in your and market. through Google Local Ser- area and vertical? When the time comes, you will need vices Ads? • You will show up at the very top of to submit your license and insurance Because Google Local Services search results, even above Google information for validation and provide Ads haven’t yet rolled out for chimney Ads. the paperwork needed for background sweeps, we cannot provide an accurate • The Google Guarantee could checks. You will also need to create a average cost for your vertical yet. How- increase trust with potential business profile, where you’ll list your ever, the average cost per lead across customers. services, your weekly budget, your current verticals sits somewhere around • Unlike Google Ads, Local Services hours, your service area, and highlights, $21, with the highest being around $80 Ads will be featured in voice search like “locally owned and operated,” or (Water Damage Restoration) and the queries, so if you are concerned “military discounts available.” lowest being around $6 (auto glass).* about staying relevant as voice We hope you found this guide help- *Average costs provided by Tom Wad- search becomes more and more ful, even though Google Local Services dington. popular, this is an easy way to do it. Ads aren’t yet available for chimney • When a customer books a service sweeps. Once chimney sweeps are added How is budget/ad through Google Local Services to the list of verticals and you enroll, let spending controlled? Ads, Google will automatically ask us know what your experience is. We Everything you do with Google them to review your business. If would love to hear it! Local Services Ads can be managed you are providing great service, this in the app. This is where you will set a could help you bring in more 5-star Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins are weekly budget, answer messages, etc. reviews for your business with no the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Google will simply show your ad (when added effort on your part. Nashville-based digital marketing com- appropriate) until you run out of spend, The app makes it easy to manage and pany that works primarily with service so you don’t have to keep watching it track everything having to do with your businesses. They’re also the co-hosts of the and worrying about going over budget. ad, your leads, and your budget. You can Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the pod- reply to leads, call, or decline jobs easily, cast that’s all about having and living the Picture yourself here What are some of the and you can even pause your ad if you blue collar dream, and the co-authors of factors considered in ad have more business than you can handle. the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles ranking? for Building a Kickass Business You Love. While Google is never 100% trans- How do you get started? Both regularly speak at service industry parent when it comes to rankings, some Google Local Services Ads are avail- trade shows and conferences across the things that can impact your ad ranking able in nearly 80 cities. Verticals are nation. @sparkmarketer, @bcpshow, @ include: available in numerous trades including taylorkhill, @carterharkins, facebook. • How close you are to the searcher appliance repair, carpet cleaning, electri- com/sparkmarketer, facebook.com/bcp- • How many reviews you have and cian HVAC, house cleaning, plumbing show/, facebook.com/groups/bluecollar- NCSG 2019 National Convention how good those reviews are and roofing. However so far, chimney proudnation/ • How responsive you are to leads sweeping is on not on the list. Waterside Marriott - Norfolk, VA April 17- 20, 2019 20 January-February 2019 www.ncsgconvention.orgJanuary-February 2019 13 sages from potential customers, your ad can dispute the charge. Stay tuned for tions, and customer satisfaction ratings. You Want Your Family Business to Last? ranking will suffer. Something to keep in more on what qualifies as a “valid” lead. mind! When you participate in Google What is considered a Five Tips for Getting There! Local Services Ads, customer searches “valid” lead? How are Google Local for terms relevant to the work you do Valid leads are searchers who: By Mitzi Perdue Services Ads different automatically trigger your ad. With • Message or email you from Google Ads Google Ads, you do need to set aside • Call you (this includes those who time for keyword research and ad test- speak with a CSR and those who You may be familiar with the statis- telling these stories. The more stories, A highly (previously Google AdWords)? ing, unless you have us do all that for leave a voicemail) tic that 70% of family businesses do not legends, myths, and parables, the stron- effective anti- There are some key differences you! With Google Local Services Ads, • Call you, do not speak with a CSR or make it to the second generation. The ger your family’s culture will be and the dote to this is to between Google Local Services Ads and everything is pretty much automatic leave a voicemail, but receive a text, big question is how can you beat these more likely your family business is to leave money in Google Ads: and hands-off for the business owner. email, or phone call back (and are odds? endure. your will to pay Google Local Services Ads is only for With Google Ads, Google gets your either spoken to or left a voicemail). Family members need to learn some for a yearly get- local and home service businesses, while ad out in front of potential customers If you are charged for a lead that you basic cultural attitudes. They need to Have Family Vacations together. Some Google Ads is for just about anyone. and cuts ties there. With Google Local don’t consider valid, you can reach out know that they are part of something Your family vacation could be five families subsi- Mitzi Perdue Google Ads is a PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Services Ads, Google plays a much big- to Google for a credit if: bigger than themselves. They need to dize an annual people or 100 people, but whether it is a advertising program, while Google Local ger role and they expect more from • The job the customer needed was know that they can’t always be right. large group or a small one, having aunts dinner while others pay for a nice vaca- Services Ads are PPL (Pay-Per-Lead). you as well. Google really becomes not one you have listed on your They need to learn that being a member and uncles and cousins spend time tion. Either way, having an endowed In other words, with Google Local Ser- the intermediary between you and Google Local Services profile of a family business sometimes requires together greatly increases the chances of yearly meal or vacation can keep fami- vices Ads, Google will only charge you your customer, and they monitor and • The location of the customer was sacrifice. building a family business that lasts. lies together across the centuries. Ideally, if the lead is “valid,” and if it is not, you track your responsiveness, interac- outside of the service area provided The biggest reason that business A vacation means time set aside to money is budgeted for baby-sitters and families fall apart is that the family has share experiences and to get to know child-friendly activities. Endowed fam- not developed the kind of culture that and appreciate each other and to embed ily get-togethers can be effective tools supports keeping the family business the family’s values. It is a time for all for helping the family continue unified in the family. Families that leave this to branches and all generations to build the across the generations. chance rarely make it to the next genera- shared stories and memories that lead tion. to trust and caring. This is especially Write a Family Newsletter So, how do you create this kind of important if family members are geo- In a geographically dispersed fam- culture? graphically dispersed, because it allows ily, a newsletter can play a huge role in extended members to get to know each helping the family to maintain a strong Know Your Family Stories other. and vibrant culture. Include in it inter- We are the stories we tell ourselves, views with the older family members and high-functioning families have Subsidize a Family or employees about the early days and heard their family stories over and over Vacation after You’re some of the company’s struggles. again. How much does your extended Gone Maybe interview the matriarch or family know about where the family All too often, when the patriarch or patriarch on such issues as why it is good business came from and what made it matriarch passes on, family members to be public, or why our family should what it is today? How much do they stop seeing each other. Maybe for the never wash its dirty linen in public, or understand the sacrifices, efforts and first few years they are together at major why it’s a terrible thing to be “addicted tenacity that went into making family holidays, such as Thanksgiving. Later to being right.” business you have today? Do they know on, maybe they get together for wed- The newsletter can also help peo- stories about family members putting dings. Gradually, there is nothing left ple catch up on family news — maybe the good of the family ahead of their and family members have superficial someone became an Eagle Scout, got own interests? Be intentional about relationships or no relationship at all. into the college of his or her choice, or

14 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 19 got a promotion. It is an excellent way the pain from it can permeate every culture to chance. The Latest on Google Local Services Ads to record weddings, births, or in the case hour of every day. Not to mention that The good news is, planning is some- of an engaged couple, tell the story of it can blow up the whole family, and thing you can do, and even better, the By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins how they met. with it the family business. Fortunately, implementation can be enjoyable and Spark Marketer Other topics for your newsletter can there is an ecosystem of family advisors fulfilling. include what is going on in the company, who can help. So, just as you would get If you have been hearing a lot about Additionally, you will have to show including company milestones. Make it medical help if you if you had alarming Mitzi Perdue is a celebrated speaker, Google Local Services Ads and wonder- proof of general liability insurance and short, ideally no longer than one or two chest pains, do not put off getting pro- businesswoman, and author of How to ing, “What’s the deal?” this article is for any required state and local licenses. pages. You want people to read it, and fessional help if a conflict in the family is Make Your Family Business Last. A cum unfortunately, there is an inverse con- getting out of hand. laude graduate from Harvard Univer- you. We will cover everything from the nection between how long it is and how If you Google “family business advi- sity and holder of an MPA from George pros and cons to the current markets What does the Google many people will read it. If it’s limited sors,” you will get more than 45,000 hits Washington University, Mitzi draws from and verticals, the average cost, and how Guarantee promise to one page, your family members are in half of a second. If you have a finan- her direct experiences in two long-lasting to get started. customers who find you more likely to read it when they get it, as cial advisor, he or she is likely to be able family enterprises to assist businesses in Ready? Let’s jump in… through Google Local Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins opposed to putting it aside for later and to refer you to a professional trained in preparing for lifelong success. She is a past Services Ads? then never getting to it. family business relationships. president of the 35,000-member American First things first: what The Google Guarantee is designed to The ads themselves are simple, Family harmony is so important Agri-Women, a former syndicated colum- exactly is Google Local give searchers confidence and decrease but with each ad, the searcher will see Get Help If You Need It that anything you can do to nurture it is nist for Scripps Howard, and the founder risk. If the customer is unhappy with the the business phone number, location, Services? There is no such thing as a family a wise investment. Many families don’t of CERES Farms. For more information Google Local Services is a home ser- quality of your work, Google will cover hours, star rating, and an option to “See business that does not have conflict, and stay intact over the generations. This is on Mitzi Perdue, please visit www.Mitzi- reviews.” Below the three ads shown, vices and local services paid advertising the cost of the job (the lifetime cap for when there is a serious family conflict, likely to happen when a family leaves its Perdue.com. program run by Google. While it is not coverage is $2,000). they will also see an option to look at fully rolled out in all U.S. markets and Naturally, there are some exclusions more Google Guaranteed businesses, all verticals, you can sign up to be con- to this coverage. The services covered by simply clicking “More plumbers in sidered when it does hit your area and must have been booked through Google Seattle,” as an example. vertical. Currently, the program is rolled Local Services and claims must be sub- Once the searcher clicks the ad, they out in nearly 80 markets, but we are not mitted within 30 days of the job. If the will be prompted by Google to choose yet seeing chimney sweeps on the list of customer finds you through Google the job they are looking to have done verticals. Local Services, but then later books a and confirm their location. If both are Once approved and enrolled, you job with you directly, it’s not covered by a match with the business they have become a “Google Guaranteed” busi- the Google Guarantee. Damage to prop- clicked on, they will be able to learn ness, and with this Google Guarantee erty, dissatisfaction with price, com- more about the business, send a mes- comes a small badge next to your busi- pany responsiveness, and cancellations/ sage, or call directly. If it is not a fit (say ness name, which is essentially the stamp scheduling are excluded from coverage they are outside of the area the business of approval from Google. as well. serves or the job they need done is not a There is more to becoming “Google service the business provides), then they Guaranteed” than simply paying the How do Google Local will be directed to another, more appro- piper. You will have to pass a background Services Ads work? priate ad. check as the owner or manager of the Searchers and potential customers If they choose to send you a message business, and any employees who will be do what they are already used to doing: request, you will receive an email and a in the homes of your customers will also they go into Google and search for the notification from the Local Services Ads need to pass background checks. (These service they are looking for. Just above app (which is where you will manage all checks are run through Pinkerton and traditional pay-per-click ads, they will incoming leads and messages). Note that paid for by Google.) see Google Local Services Ads. if you do not promptly respond to mes-

18 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 15

EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS DAMAGED CHIMNEYS CAN KILL!

Hidden damage caused by an earth- Gas Leaks quake could prove fatal to you or your family. An undetected gas leak in your home A masonry chimney, woodstove, or gas could be fatal – especially at night. The line could leak toxic fumes or excessive heat earthquake may have loosened connections into your home. Small cracks or loosened on your gas furnace or hot water heater, connections may pose a threat from a previ- causing deadly natural gas to leak into your ously airtight system. home. • Turn off your gas service immediately. Woodstoves • DO NOT USE MATCHES OR OPEN Earthquakes can loosen stovepipe con- FLAME TO CHECK FOR LEAKS nections, allowing toxic fumes and extreme • Check all gas connections thoroughly heat to enter your house. This can cause for leaks, even if everything looks and poisonous smoke or deadly fires. smells all right. For woodstove safety: • If you suspect a leak – even if you do not • Be sure your woodstove has been smell anything suspicious – call a certi- installed by a certified expert. fied repairperson immediately. • Use the correctly specified stovepipe for • Replace your straight pipe connection your unit. with flexible pipe if allowed by code and the appliance manufacturer’s specifica- Falling or Cracked Masonry Chimneys tions. After an earthquake, check your chimney for damage such as: New Roof Leaks • Cracked or missing bricks. If you have any visible damage you may An earthquake can cause movement in • Hairline cracks have several repair options: your roof that is so slight that you might not • Look for cracks in the mortar joints • Take down the masonry above and notice any damage until after the first good around the brick. including the damaged area and rebuild rain. Then you may see signs of new water • Check the attic where a hot leak could it to meet current masonry construction leaks. easily start a fire in wood framing. standards. Only a very close inspection around the • Damage to terra cotta chimney liners is • Take down the masonry above and roof area and any roof elements in the vicin- difficult to detect; have an expert check including the damaged area and install ity of the leak will tell you the extent of any it with an in-the-flue video camera. an insulated flue above the remaining damage. Carefully examine: base. • Roof elements (chimneys, vents, Hard-to-see or hidden cracks in the For more information on these tech- gables) that may have shifted during the masonry wall of your chimney can cause niques, contact your chimney professional quake and cracked the flashing seals severe damage to your home long after the and your local building department. around them. earthquake is forgotten. These cracks may If damage has occurred to a masonry • If they are obviously out of alignment, or easily leak heat, flames and toxic smoke into chimney that is no longer in use the entire even if they appear properly placed, the your home. Chimneys have an airtight grout chimney should be removed from the struc- waterproof seals around them may be seal that keeps dangerous heat and smoke ture. broken. out of your home. That vital seal may have broken if the chimney shifted during the If your chimney appears undamaged but Earthquakes are most common in the earthquake. is old and built of unreinforced masonry: Pacific Coast region. New York, New Jersey, If you see or suspect damage: • Consider reinforcing the inside of your Tennessee, South Carolina and other states • Immediately have your chimney inspect- roof or attic area around the chimney are also at significant risk, according to the ed by a certified chimney sweep or with ¾" plywood so that if the chimney Federal Emergency Management Agency. masonry contractor. falls in a future earthquake the bricks will Take all possible precautions for an earth- • Consult your local building department not come through your ceiling. quake BEFORE it happens. for the safest, most up-to-date quake- • Secure the area under the chimney with resistant masonry construction tech- a fence or flower bed to keep people out Information courtesy of Federal niques. of a potentially dangerous area. Emergency Management Agency

EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS DAMAGED CHIMNEYS CAN KILL!

Reprinted, with permission, from the January-February 2019 issue of The Chimney Sweep News, an independent trade magazine for chimney service professionals. Jim Gillam, editor/publisher. 541-882-5196. ChimneySweepNews.com 16 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 17 got a promotion. It is an excellent way the pain from it can permeate every culture to chance. The Latest on Google Local Services Ads to record weddings, births, or in the case hour of every day. Not to mention that The good news is, planning is some- of an engaged couple, tell the story of it can blow up the whole family, and thing you can do, and even better, the By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins how they met. with it the family business. Fortunately, implementation can be enjoyable and Spark Marketer Other topics for your newsletter can there is an ecosystem of family advisors fulfilling. include what is going on in the company, who can help. So, just as you would get If you have been hearing a lot about Additionally, you will have to show including company milestones. Make it medical help if you if you had alarming Mitzi Perdue is a celebrated speaker, Google Local Services Ads and wonder- proof of general liability insurance and short, ideally no longer than one or two chest pains, do not put off getting pro- businesswoman, and author of How to ing, “What’s the deal?” this article is for any required state and local licenses. pages. You want people to read it, and fessional help if a conflict in the family is Make Your Family Business Last. A cum unfortunately, there is an inverse con- getting out of hand. laude graduate from Harvard Univer- you. We will cover everything from the nection between how long it is and how If you Google “family business advi- sity and holder of an MPA from George pros and cons to the current markets What does the Google many people will read it. If it’s limited sors,” you will get more than 45,000 hits Washington University, Mitzi draws from and verticals, the average cost, and how Guarantee promise to one page, your family members are in half of a second. If you have a finan- her direct experiences in two long-lasting to get started. customers who find you more likely to read it when they get it, as cial advisor, he or she is likely to be able family enterprises to assist businesses in Ready? Let’s jump in… through Google Local Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins opposed to putting it aside for later and to refer you to a professional trained in preparing for lifelong success. She is a past Services Ads? then never getting to it. family business relationships. president of the 35,000-member American First things first: what The Google Guarantee is designed to The ads themselves are simple, Family harmony is so important Agri-Women, a former syndicated colum- exactly is Google Local give searchers confidence and decrease but with each ad, the searcher will see Get Help If You Need It that anything you can do to nurture it is nist for Scripps Howard, and the founder risk. If the customer is unhappy with the the business phone number, location, Services? There is no such thing as a family a wise investment. Many families don’t of CERES Farms. For more information Google Local Services is a home ser- quality of your work, Google will cover hours, star rating, and an option to “See business that does not have conflict, and stay intact over the generations. This is on Mitzi Perdue, please visit www.Mitzi- reviews.” Below the three ads shown, vices and local services paid advertising the cost of the job (the lifetime cap for when there is a serious family conflict, likely to happen when a family leaves its Perdue.com. program run by Google. While it is not coverage is $2,000). they will also see an option to look at fully rolled out in all U.S. markets and Naturally, there are some exclusions more Google Guaranteed businesses, all verticals, you can sign up to be con- to this coverage. The services covered by simply clicking “More plumbers in sidered when it does hit your area and must have been booked through Google Seattle,” as an example. vertical. Currently, the program is rolled Local Services and claims must be sub- Once the searcher clicks the ad, they out in nearly 80 markets, but we are not mitted within 30 days of the job. If the will be prompted by Google to choose yet seeing chimney sweeps on the list of customer finds you through Google the job they are looking to have done verticals. Local Services, but then later books a and confirm their location. If both are Once approved and enrolled, you job with you directly, it’s not covered by a match with the business they have become a “Google Guaranteed” busi- the Google Guarantee. Damage to prop- clicked on, they will be able to learn ness, and with this Google Guarantee erty, dissatisfaction with price, com- more about the business, send a mes- comes a small badge next to your busi- pany responsiveness, and cancellations/ sage, or call directly. If it is not a fit (say ness name, which is essentially the stamp scheduling are excluded from coverage they are outside of the area the business of approval from Google. as well. serves or the job they need done is not a There is more to becoming “Google service the business provides), then they Guaranteed” than simply paying the How do Google Local will be directed to another, more appro- piper. You will have to pass a background Services Ads work? priate ad. check as the owner or manager of the Searchers and potential customers If they choose to send you a message business, and any employees who will be do what they are already used to doing: request, you will receive an email and a in the homes of your customers will also they go into Google and search for the notification from the Local Services Ads need to pass background checks. (These service they are looking for. Just above app (which is where you will manage all checks are run through Pinkerton and traditional pay-per-click ads, they will incoming leads and messages). Note that paid for by Google.) see Google Local Services Ads. if you do not promptly respond to mes-

18 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 15 sages from potential customers, your ad can dispute the charge. Stay tuned for tions, and customer satisfaction ratings. You Want Your Family Business to Last? ranking will suffer. Something to keep in more on what qualifies as a “valid” lead. mind! When you participate in Google What is considered a Five Tips for Getting There! Local Services Ads, customer searches “valid” lead? How are Google Local for terms relevant to the work you do Valid leads are searchers who: By Mitzi Perdue Services Ads different automatically trigger your ad. With • Message or email you from Google Ads Google Ads, you do need to set aside • Call you (this includes those who time for keyword research and ad test- speak with a CSR and those who You may be familiar with the statis- telling these stories. The more stories, A highly (previously Google AdWords)? ing, unless you have us do all that for leave a voicemail) tic that 70% of family businesses do not legends, myths, and parables, the stron- effective anti- There are some key differences you! With Google Local Services Ads, • Call you, do not speak with a CSR or make it to the second generation. The ger your family’s culture will be and the dote to this is to between Google Local Services Ads and everything is pretty much automatic leave a voicemail, but receive a text, big question is how can you beat these more likely your family business is to leave money in Google Ads: and hands-off for the business owner. email, or phone call back (and are odds? endure. your will to pay Google Local Services Ads is only for With Google Ads, Google gets your either spoken to or left a voicemail). Family members need to learn some for a yearly get- local and home service businesses, while ad out in front of potential customers If you are charged for a lead that you basic cultural attitudes. They need to Have Family Vacations together. Some Google Ads is for just about anyone. and cuts ties there. With Google Local don’t consider valid, you can reach out know that they are part of something Your family vacation could be five families subsi- Mitzi Perdue Google Ads is a PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Services Ads, Google plays a much big- to Google for a credit if: bigger than themselves. They need to dize an annual people or 100 people, but whether it is a advertising program, while Google Local ger role and they expect more from • The job the customer needed was know that they can’t always be right. large group or a small one, having aunts dinner while others pay for a nice vaca- Services Ads are PPL (Pay-Per-Lead). you as well. Google really becomes not one you have listed on your They need to learn that being a member and uncles and cousins spend time tion. Either way, having an endowed In other words, with Google Local Ser- the intermediary between you and Google Local Services profile of a family business sometimes requires together greatly increases the chances of yearly meal or vacation can keep fami- vices Ads, Google will only charge you your customer, and they monitor and • The location of the customer was sacrifice. building a family business that lasts. lies together across the centuries. Ideally, if the lead is “valid,” and if it is not, you track your responsiveness, interac- outside of the service area provided The biggest reason that business A vacation means time set aside to money is budgeted for baby-sitters and families fall apart is that the family has share experiences and to get to know child-friendly activities. Endowed fam- not developed the kind of culture that and appreciate each other and to embed ily get-togethers can be effective tools supports keeping the family business the family’s values. It is a time for all for helping the family continue unified in the family. Families that leave this to branches and all generations to build the across the generations. chance rarely make it to the next genera- shared stories and memories that lead tion. to trust and caring. This is especially Write a Family Newsletter So, how do you create this kind of important if family members are geo- In a geographically dispersed fam- culture? graphically dispersed, because it allows ily, a newsletter can play a huge role in extended members to get to know each helping the family to maintain a strong Know Your Family Stories other. and vibrant culture. Include in it inter- We are the stories we tell ourselves, views with the older family members and high-functioning families have Subsidize a Family or employees about the early days and heard their family stories over and over Vacation after You’re some of the company’s struggles. again. How much does your extended Gone Maybe interview the matriarch or family know about where the family All too often, when the patriarch or patriarch on such issues as why it is good business came from and what made it matriarch passes on, family members to be public, or why our family should what it is today? How much do they stop seeing each other. Maybe for the never wash its dirty linen in public, or understand the sacrifices, efforts and first few years they are together at major why it’s a terrible thing to be “addicted tenacity that went into making family holidays, such as Thanksgiving. Later to being right.” business you have today? Do they know on, maybe they get together for wed- The newsletter can also help peo- stories about family members putting dings. Gradually, there is nothing left ple catch up on family news — maybe the good of the family ahead of their and family members have superficial someone became an Eagle Scout, got own interests? Be intentional about relationships or no relationship at all. into the college of his or her choice, or

14 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 19 on your profile coming in through Google Local To stay up to date as Google rolls out • The call was accidental (wrong Services Ads Local Services Ads in more markets and number), a sales call, a bot, or spam • How many serious complaints have verticals, visit www.tomwaddington. Registration • You received a charge for the same been filed against you since you com/current-google-local-services- lead more than once in 15 days enrolled in the Google Local Ser- ads-markets-verticals/ • You were messaged or called but vices Ads program To get ready for the rollout, head to is now open! have no way of reaching out to the lead www.adwords.google.com/homeser- (their email address wasn’t valid or What are some of vices/signup/eligibility. Here, you can their phone number didn’t show up) the obvious benefits sign up to be notified once Google Local to applying once the Services Ads rolls out in your vertical How much does a lead cost program rolls out in your and market. through Google Local Ser- area and vertical? When the time comes, you will need vices Ads? • You will show up at the very top of to submit your license and insurance Because Google Local Services search results, even above Google information for validation and provide Ads haven’t yet rolled out for chimney Ads. the paperwork needed for background sweeps, we cannot provide an accurate • The Google Guarantee could checks. You will also need to create a average cost for your vertical yet. How- increase trust with potential business profile, where you’ll list your ever, the average cost per lead across customers. services, your weekly budget, your current verticals sits somewhere around • Unlike Google Ads, Local Services hours, your service area, and highlights, $21, with the highest being around $80 Ads will be featured in voice search like “locally owned and operated,” or (Water Damage Restoration) and the queries, so if you are concerned “military discounts available.” lowest being around $6 (auto glass).* about staying relevant as voice We hope you found this guide help- *Average costs provided by Tom Wad- search becomes more and more ful, even though Google Local Services dington. popular, this is an easy way to do it. Ads aren’t yet available for chimney • When a customer books a service sweeps. Once chimney sweeps are added How is budget/ad through Google Local Services to the list of verticals and you enroll, let spending controlled? Ads, Google will automatically ask us know what your experience is. We Everything you do with Google them to review your business. If would love to hear it! Local Services Ads can be managed you are providing great service, this in the app. This is where you will set a could help you bring in more 5-star Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins are weekly budget, answer messages, etc. reviews for your business with no the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Google will simply show your ad (when added effort on your part. Nashville-based digital marketing com- appropriate) until you run out of spend, The app makes it easy to manage and pany that works primarily with service so you don’t have to keep watching it track everything having to do with your businesses. They’re also the co-hosts of the and worrying about going over budget. ad, your leads, and your budget. You can Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the pod- reply to leads, call, or decline jobs easily, cast that’s all about having and living the Picture yourself here What are some of the and you can even pause your ad if you blue collar dream, and the co-authors of factors considered in ad have more business than you can handle. the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles ranking? for Building a Kickass Business You Love. While Google is never 100% trans- How do you get started? Both regularly speak at service industry parent when it comes to rankings, some Google Local Services Ads are avail- trade shows and conferences across the things that can impact your ad ranking able in nearly 80 cities. Verticals are nation. @sparkmarketer, @bcpshow, @ include: available in numerous trades including taylorkhill, @carterharkins, facebook. • How close you are to the searcher appliance repair, carpet cleaning, electri- com/sparkmarketer, facebook.com/bcp- • How many reviews you have and cian HVAC, house cleaning, plumbing show/, facebook.com/groups/bluecollar- NCSG 2019 National Convention how good those reviews are and roofing. However so far, chimney proudnation/ • How responsive you are to leads sweeping is on not on the list. Waterside Marriott - Norfolk, VA April 17- 20, 2019 20 January-February 2019 www.ncsgconvention.orgJanuary-February 2019 13 January2019 (Bleeds).pdf 1 11/15/18 1:37 PM

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22 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 11 those dandy sweeps from Ireland and much longer than WD-40® and does not Using Expanded Stainless Steel Mesh for Poland.” swell or drip or overspray.” “Eight of every ten people will suf- John Wisnewski (Let There Be Light fer some kind of back problem during Chimney Sweep, West Chester, PA) dis- Spark and Animal Protection their lifetimes,” stated Dr. Robert Rein- cussed how to provide fair, adequate hart (Reinhart Chiropractic Clinic, St. and legally defensible warnings to your By Jeff Gitlin Nonesuch, Kentucky Catherines, Ontario) at the Northeast customer. “It is important to understand Regional Expo. “It is a significant cause that there are three (3) levels of legal of disability.” warnings,” John wrote, “depending on Expanded stainless steel mesh is I preferred to make the finished I also To avoid injury, “Practice good body their sense of urgency and the potential available from several of the leading outside dimensions of the panels about used this mechanics, especially when lifting. Lift degree of injury or loss, arranged minor chimney supply companies [see the ½-ich higher than the opening and material to twice,” Dr. Reinhart recommended, to severe. They are listed as (1) Caution, Advertisers Index on page 2]. It is espe- about three inches wider. screen the “once with your head and once with (2) Warning and (3) Danger.” cially useful for providing spark and ani- To install, I took my dad’s Roper cooling-air your body!” Appropriate exercise is a John continued, “The key ingredient mal protection to chimneys with raised Whitney hand punch (two feet long, intake on key component to recovering from back that is missing in most chimney sweeps’ stone or concrete caps. (I refer to them capable of punching up to ¼-inch older pre- injuries. warnings that fall short of a legal warn- as “elevated slabs.”) holes through quarter-inch steel) and fab fireplace Also at the Northeast Expo, CPA ing, which are in the category of ‘failure Some skill and technique are punched holes through the U-strip flues. (How Susanne Dombrowski offered tips on you are, there will come a time when one to warn’: You need to tell the customer required to utilize this material prop- frame. I secured the mesh panel to the did they ever Jeff Gitlin selling your business. “Your goal is to of your customers, maybe even a long- what will happen if they disregard your erly. I have seen too many “tin-knocker” supporting bricks with Tapcon masonry pass U.L. create a business that works beyond you. standing one, loses his temper with you admonishing. Assume that the public is chimney covers with hardware cloth or fasteners. I put two Tapcons on each without providing the means to keep To this end, you need a company man- over work you’ve done. Instead of get- dumb and that you have to interpret the other screening attached only at the cor- end of the panel, going either into the nesting birds out of this channel? Nest- ual that tells how you do what you do.” ting defensive,” Greg suggested, “let the warning,” he advised. ners, which did not keep out starlings, mortar joint if solid or directly into the ing in this area creates both a fire hazard Genevieve Bures revisited her cau- customer rant for a few minutes, with pigeons, squirrels or raccoons! This brick. In some cases with rough stone, and a health hazard.) tionary articles about sweeps’ and you just saying, ‘uh huh,’ or, ‘I see’ — material cannot span several feet with- I had the panels made with 90-degree I used this mesh backed by window installers’ liability from ten years previ- something for him out the top or bottom sagging. flanges and mounted the panels within screen to provide protection at fireplace ously. She reiterated, “In order to protect to know you are not My method was to have my friendly the openings. outside-combustion air intakes against your own business, and to reduce your only listening, you are listening with local sheet metal shop fabricate a stain- Alternatively, you could drill the the entry of birds, squirrels, bees, wasps, liability, I am suggesting that you inves- tigate the history of every product that an open mind. Then less steel U-strip frame welded to the holes into the masonry and put the Tap- and flies. you handle to in order to determine if immediately take mesh to form a rigid panel. I carried a cons through the mesh. Use stainless I have used this mesh on chimney what you thought about that product the side of your cus- sample section on my truck to show to steel “fender” washers to affix the mesh pots to keep out critters. On pots with is, in actuality, how that product exists tomer.” customers. to the masonry. round openings, I had the sheet-metal today.” When you do The finished product looks attrac- shop fabricate what looks like a stove- that, Greg explained, tive, does not allow a critter to pass pipe tee cover made out of the stainless Jan-Feb 2009 “you will take the through, and will not rust and stain the mesh. I slipped this into the opening, We featured Jim Brewer on our Jan- wind out of your chimney. All of the homeowners for wrapped stainless steel wire around the Feb 2009 cover and in an in-depth six- customer’s sails whom I did this were very pleased. outside of the pot and then secured sev- page article about his business, Magic almost instantly. . . . This is custom work and I charged eral wires from the wire on the outside Sweep Corporation in Chesapeake, It’s pretty hard to be accordingly, the same formula you may to the mesh. This prevents the mesh Virginia. “Unlike many companies in angry for long with use for custom chimney covers or chase from either slipping into the pot or pull- our trade that are overwhelmed with an ally.” covers. ing out of the pot. Construction adhe- business in autumn and not so busy the Nick Miloslavich I also found this mesh useful for fab- sive may be used instead of wire if the rest of the year, Magic Sweeps’ work- (New World Chim- ricating spark arrestors / animal guards homeowner might object to the glint of load is ‘very evenly divided’ throughout ney Sweep, San Jose, for chimney covers without screens and the stainless steel wire in the sunlight. the year, Jim says. ‘Two words: forward CA) offered this Tip for replacement screens for prefab flues I left the mesh cylinder protrud- scheduling’ he explains concisely,” wrote for the Trade: “Use where the original galvanized screen ing two or three inches so that in the Editor/Publisher Jim Gillam. Vaseline® on the curtain rod type fire- Stainless steel mesh used to screen an has corroded. I attached the mesh with event that the top became blocked, there Greg Polakow wrote about Avoiding elevated slab chimney cap. stainless-steel wire. would still be an open area around the the Meltdown. “No matter how good place screens. It lasts continued on page 12

10 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 23 PATENTED INSULATION SYSTEM

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Swing tabs allow for an I have been getting government surplus full face 3M Breatheasy Multi-Flue inside/outside mount ones on eBay for years. Way, way cheaper and work great. Reinforced & hemmed lid. —Dan Bortolan, The Chimney Sweep Co LLC • NEW Reinforced hinges for easier assembly on knock-down versions. Rocky Hill, CT Cross-braced for more strength & stability. The Belize Connection • Aluminum Outer Cover I loved the • Foil-Face FlexWrap™ article about the Ceramic Insulation chimneys in Be- lize! • UltraPro™ Stainless Steel MADE IN USA Inner Liner Single-Flue I have been Deep double channel base for superior durability. to Belize over Lifetime two dozen times MADE IN USA Transferable and have a Belize Warranty drivers license in my wallet. We have been a part of an orphanage for over 20 years there called the King’s Children’s Home, located in Cotton Tree Village, near Belmopan, the capital of Belize. Stock Orders of $499 or More Ship Free. MADE IN USA Custom I have taken over 100 college and high school students there to FREE FREIGHT All hinges & screens run the full height to add stability & expand their worldviews and serve the orphanage, plus a crew of 20+ eliminate gaps between lid & mesh. construction guys to build the orphanage home. We took a 700 square @$499 foot home and expanded it to over 2800 sq.ft. in two weeks time. Call your favorite Gelco distributor today! Barb and I love going to Caye Caulker and have spent too much time on the island. Thanks for a great article. Call Us at 800.247.3305 II —Marshall Peters The Nation’s Leading Supplier of Chimney And Hearth Products ULTRA-PROTECTION CHIMNEY CAPS Certified Chimney Professionals, We are happy to serve you from these five locations: Lemont, PA Sacramento, CA • Cleveland, OH • Auburn, MA • Bridgeport, NJ • Aberdeen, NC 24 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 9 Fire Department in the mid-80s, “as a tough to get everybody together – we Masterbrands Update way to drum up business,” he recounts. have five different people with five dif- Still at it cleaning Masterbrands’ finish booth stacks in Grants “I thought that would be a good way ferent lifestyles. The great thing is that it Pass, Oregon [see the March 2010 issue]. to educate people — call me now or is a family get-together.” This is the eleventh year. That’s Bryan Paul inside of the stack and call me later,” he quips. He became an hooked up to the hoist. The bottom photo features Jeptha Stricklin. Emergency Medical Technician and the Oregon Chimney Sweeps Energy-Saving Dampers fire department’s investigator, which he Association He’s the son of our Grants Pass manager and head tech Lisa. enjoyed. Scott served with the Silverton Scott joined the Oregon Chimney Love bloomed at Home Comfort Hearth/Chim-Chiminey Fire Department for twenty years. Sweeps Association (OCSA) in 1983. He Sweepers. Lisa married our head sweep, Brian Stivers, this summer. Liz works as a bookkeeper and does has served as president, vice-president, The males in the wedding party wore top hats, of course. And one of Quality = Confidence. the books for Silver Creek Chimney secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor our installers is the groom’s nephew! Sweep. “Thank God she likes doing it!” and is currently a regional representa- —Mike Kohn, Home Comfort Hearth/Chim-Chiminey Sweepers, Gain Peace-Of-Mind Knowing Scott exclaims gratefully. “When we first tive. “I think I have held all the posi- Scott Hess Grants Pass, OR started she helped in the field, but she tions,” Scott laughs. You Installed the Best. quickly found out that she does not like meeting since 1983. He brings his OCSA heights.” photo albums to the conferences so other members can learn of the asso- Family Band ciation’s history, and marvel at how the The Crying Omas is a family band old-timers once looked. composed of Scott, Liz, Hillary, Emily and her son Matthew. They specialize in Chimney Sweep News the kind of tight vocal harmonies that Scott has subscribed to The Chimney only a family band can pull off. They play Sweep News since the early 80s, shortly a selection of tunes from bands known after freelance writer Jay Hensley bought for their harmonies such as Crosby, Stills Heading home after a long day. the publication from Oregon sweep & Nash, The Beatles, and Dan Hicks & Dave Lamb. Scott touts it as “an invalu- Superior Design The Hot Licks. Hillary joined the association in able resource. When I want Hillary or • Permanent Cast-Aluminum Construction “We have playing together for about 2008. “They made me secretary,” she Matthew to learn something, I give them • Easily Mounts Atop a Flue Tile four years,” Scott says. “We have about recalls. “I was secretary for three years, an article in SNEWS to read,” he says. “I • Silicone Rubber Prevents Energy Loss three gigs per year,” he laughs. “It is vice-president for three years and now just wish you had an index!” • Less Fraying Due to Larger Diameter Cables treasurer.” “We need SNEWS,” Hillary affirmed. • Low Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look Membership in trade associations “is “Keep doing it. You should feature one of the Chimney really good for any sweep,” Scott insists. of my dogs [Sept-Oct 2014] again on the “I have learned so much with OCSA – cover,” she added. techniques, tools, from administration [Editor’s Note: Scott introduced The to field work and keeping up with codes. Chimney Sweep News to me when he was It is a great bunch of people. OCSA has president of OCSA and I was a new mem- Call your favorite Lock-Top distributor today! turned out to be a family. ber. It changed my life!] “Whatever educational group you can get into is going to be better than Joy of Sweeping sitting at home,” he reasons. “You aren’t “I really like our customers,” Hill- going learn anything that way.” He ary says. “It’s nice to be out and about. I laments that more sweeps do not avail enjoy sweeping.” themselves of educational opportuni- ties. AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR OVER 25 YEARS Scott is an avid photographer. He Hillary’s rottweiler, Ginger, was on the has photographed each annual OCSA cover of the Sept-Oct 2014 issue.

8 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 25 Reinventing the Wood Stove : The 2018 Wood Stove Design Challenge Chimney Like You’ve

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It’s nice to The 37th Raduno internazionale dello you travel through the backyards and recharge the batteries during the winter Spazzacamino (international gathering main streets of the region, the gardens, Vacations when we are not busy.” of chimney sweeps) was my first par- orchards, vineyards and beehives of the Scott and Liz make a point to take a To make such travel possible, “We ticipation at this annual three-day festi- citizenry are laid out for your enjoy- nice vacation every year. They have vis- have a travel budget,” Scott notes. “We val in Santa Maria Maggiore, VB, Italy. ment. ited France, Mexico, Jamaica and Belize set a goal of having so much in the fund, It is sponsored by the Chimney Sweep among many other places. Their first and by the time we go we have reached Museum (Museo dello Spazzacamino) Engaging order of business when Scott retires is to it. Liz is really good at lining out our and the Italian National Chimney Sweep I arrived in SMM about 5pm on the visit his brother in Australia. travel arrangements,” he adds. Association (Associazione Nazionale Thursday before the festival and walked “We usually go somewhere when Hillary has operated the business Spazzacamini). up the hill to my hotel. As I crossed the business is slow here,” Scott says. “We during their absences. “That has given The children of this region were pre- threshold of the hotel, I entered the just go – somewhere. We got the travel her good experience to run it by herself,” ferred for their lean body build and then International world of chimney sweeps Ridgid vac modified with two HEPA filters bug in the mid-80s when we went to Scott says. malnourished to keep them not only from Austria, Germany, Scotland, Brit- and vented to the outside. Sweeping Hawaii with Sooty Bob. We small in order to climb into chimneys, ain, Romania, and Belgium as well as but to prevent them from running away. the USA. English is the international said, ‘This is awesome! We’ve got to do Marketing not aggressively seek business. “I don’t Grant Darrow in the chimney sweep pa- This festival, in part, honors these kids language of business, so slow down and this again!’ The other factor is Liz’s dad Silver Creek Chimney Sweep does advertise much,” Scott shrugs. “I have rade at Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy. with parades that re-enact their leav- someone will engage you. ing the region after their folks had sold My partner in crime for this adven- Early morning treks up the narrow them. Spazzacamino is actually the word ture was Tedd Cuttitta (NY Fireplace roads above the Vigezzo Valley reward Engineered for for the young boys that where sold into Designs, New City, NY), who had you with clear and scenic vistas of human Maximum Efficiency slavery by their parents and sent off to rented a car and arrived well before me. habitation going back 1000 years. Loose clean chimneys all around Europe. To Although Tedd prefers to drive, we did a laid rock shingled roofs hundreds of the parents it was one less mouth to feed lot of walking. His shouts of “New York years old. Church bells are ringing every Triple Lock® Smoothcore™ Suitable For and a little money in their pocket. is in the room!” were always met with hour and people going about their daily All Fuels cheers. routines like every other human on the All Fuels Chimney Liner Trains The itinerary allowed a lot of time to planet. And top hats everywhere. • Eliminates turbulence. Improves draft. Having traveled the trains of Europe tour, engage and interact with the locals • Resists corrosive attack. Does not Pellet Wood before, I elected to get to SMM by train and other sweeps. The Hotel La Scheg- Communicating with impede ow of condensate. Less soot accumulation. so I could enjoy the countryside. There gia served up a bountiful breakfast each Sweeps Speaking Other Gas Oil is a train station in the Malpensa airport, morning, fireworks Thursday night and Languages so the first leg of my journey was a pleas- a free banquet Sunday night. SMM has Thursday night and most of Friday ant 40-minute trip to the Central train quiet cafés tucked away in every nook was spent schmoozing, wading into station in Milan. There I boarded a train and cranny that are best to explore dur- groups of sweeps speaking another lan- to Bellinzona, Switzerland. ing the day and book reservations for guage and in the end communicating. I This leg of the trip takes you up into nighttime meals. Pizza, beer and wine had been sitting with a small group of PROTECT YOUR NEW Z-LOK TEE the Alps. From Bellinzona, a short ride were plentiful at several street cafes in sweeps from Holland, listening to their INVESTMENTS, QUICK ASSEMBLY. got me to Locarno where I boarded a the main plaza, the epicenter of most conversation when the one that spoke ® NO TOOLS Z-FLEX QUALITY REQUIRED series of mountain trains to Santa Maria activities and close to the museum and good English asked me if I understood WHERE IT COUNTS. Maggiore. Many sweeps will take these park. Most shops shut down early after- anything they were saying. I told him trains as a day excursion, winding along noon for siesta and believe me I always that I had figured out they were talk- USA the northern side of the valley, laced take any opportunity I can to grab an ing about fishing, bass in particular, but T . 1.800.654.5600 F . 1.888.889.3539 [email protected] www.z-flex.com with narrow roads and footpaths. As afternoon nap. I could not figure out if the conversa-

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28 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 5 tion was about catching bass or cooking Posing at the Statue them. They had a great laugh over that. Saturday at 10:30 was our first gath- Dear Readers, What type of rig you are working ering of every chimney sweep attending Woodstoves may have a resurgence reminiscent of the out of is always a topic, and several had the festival. Donning our sweeps uni- boom in the 1970s if climate consciousness becomes more driven their new VW diesel Transit type forms, we all drove or walked the short widespread in North America. rigs to the event. distance upriver to the neighboring As I mentioned in this space in the last issue, efficient Late Friday afternoon was a meeting combustion of biomass is considered a neutral contributor town of Malesco and the monument of to greenhouse gases since the carbon released is of relatively at the museum and a concert in the park. the chimney sweep. Each country took current origin. In contrast, the carbon released by burning I was amazed to learn at the museum turns having group photos taken with natural gas and petroleum fuels was sequestered by plant life that the first Tour de France was won by the monument. millions of years ago. Burning those products releases an- a chimney sweep on his work bike and A lot of serious trading begins dur- cient carbon into the atmosphere and is considered the ma- without steroids. I took this opportunity jor contributor to human induced climate change. ing this meeting in Malesco. Hot trade to present the museum with a set of lim- Grant with two German sweeps at the The Alliance for Green Heat is prodding woodstove items are USA neck scarves and the ited edition OCSA coins engraved with Chimney Sweep Museum. manufacturers to reduce emissions further and increase con- American eagle uniform buttons. Sweep venience by automating some aspects of stove operation. The this year’s festival. buttons are easily removed and universal by country paraded through the streets annual Wood Stove Design Challenge [see page 26] is their of Santa Maria Maggiore. primary venue for this effort. While using a foam plug to contain the soot, Scott sweeps while Hillary in their design and attachment. Every- Presently, regulatory authorities in the U.S. are more catches any stray dust with the vacuum. one has lapel pins to trade. My supply Thousands of people come to watch this parade. Families pull you aside for concerned with particulate pollution in local areas than get the rope over the roof to tie it off sometimes. Or you have to quickly disappeared, including the two they are with sources of greenhouse gases that may affect photos with them. Open windows on climb a crazy steep roof to put in an anchor. There has to be a bet- bags of little chimney sweep figurines I the global climate. However, that may change surprisingly the parade route drew you into the liv- quickly if the association between extreme weather events ter way of doing it, but I haven’t figured it out yet.” brought to give to the kids. Refreshing ing rooms of residents as their kids and human activity becomes more widely accepted, as it is Hillary is not comfortable getting on and off tall, steep roofs. rain showers made me thankful I always perched on the windowsills. I thought already in Europe. Advanced technology woodstoves and Scott is confident that their client base has enough single-story travel with a collapsible umbrella. pellet stoves may be part of the solution. of the US GI’s that walked these very houses that she will be able to continue a good business even if she The day’s planned events ended with Chimney Jim streets as they swept through this town chooses not service houses with steep roofs and/or multiple sto- a Holy Mass in the parish church fol- while liberating it during WWII. It was ries. “I’ve done the math and looked at our customer base. There lowed by a concert in the park, and of humbling to have the crowd start chant- is plenty of work there if she wants to concentrate on single story course beer and pizza in the square. ing, “USA, USA, USA!” as we Americans houses and sweeping from the bottom up.” The Main Event paraded by. At one point, a nun pulled Ashley Retirement Plan Sunday was the main event with the international parade at 10:30. After Eldridge (former NCSG/CSIA Educa- Hillary is poised to take the reins of the business as of Janu- a historical re-enactment of cleaning tion Director) out of the parade for a ary 1. Scott’s plan is to semi-retire. “I will work for Hillary for a Tedd Cuttitta with Andreas Gartner of chimneys on the roofs of Piazza Risor- photo, but unfortunately, none of us got year part-time, maybe two or three days per week with a lot of Germany. Tedd is holding a newspaper gimento and Piazza Gennari by the Fan- a picture for posterity. slack time in between,” he projects. “We considered breaking the supplement with himself and his father on fara Alphini, chimney sweeps organized chain and selling the business to her outright, with having Hillary the cover. get her own federal ID and Oregon Contractors Board number. It looked like it would increase our tax liability and we did not want to spend that kind of money. So, we Wohler VIS 700 HD Chimney Camera, PN: 7459 will keep the busi- *Chimney Scaffolds *Roof Ladders and Hooks • ness name and she will run it,” Scott *Steel Scaffolding • *Truck and Van Racks explains. • LYNN LADDER & SCAFFOLDING CO., INC. • While Scott is looking forward to semi-retirement, he 1-800-225-2510 www.wohlerusa.com is also a bit wistful. “I Checking the flue with a mirror from inside www.lynnladder.com do enjoy the work,” the stove.

4 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 29 by Iraq war vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Upcoming Events Kozlansky. $199/person. For more info or to register, Unclassified Ads call or text 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney. Information subject to change. Please remote vision equipment Silver Creek Chimney Sweep: com. confirm dates and locations of any has been providing interior chimney and Jan 23-25: Warrior Leadership Conference, Shreve- ductwork images since 1984. For more events! port, LA. Hilton Shreveport, 104 Market St, 70111. info with training videos, check out our Jan 16-17: Olympia Academy, Scranton, PA. Hilton The ultimate business and motivational experience. Sponsored by National Chimney and Lindemann website at www.chimscan.net or ChimS- Passing the Torch Scranton, 100 Adams Ave, 570-343-3000. Simulta- neous business and technical classes. Instructors Chimney Co. $349/first attendee, $199/additional at- can1643 YouTube channel. Call our help- include Michael Segerstrom, Bill Ryan, Cam Ar- tendees per company. Call 800-897-8481 to sign up. ful and friendly staff at the Estoban Cor- By Jim Gillam nold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian Cline, Colin Jan 30-31: Olympia Academy, Denver, CO. Double- poration at 641-472-7643 or send photos Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech by Iraq war tree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St, 80207. 303-321-3333. Si- or texts to 641-919-4896 or e-mail us at “Making homes safer,” is the goal of “Cleaning is about 70-75% percent vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Kozlansky. multaneous business and technical classes. Instruc- $199/person. For more info or to register, call or text tors include Michael Segerstrom, Bill Ryan, Cam [email protected] for more information. Silver Creek Chimney Sweep, declares of the business,” Scott says. “Relining, 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney.com. Arnold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian Cline, Co- co-owner Hillary Hess. lin Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech by Iraq Extensive Sweep Figurine & Memorabilia caps and stove sales are minor parts of Jan 18-19: PA Guild Training, Winter Meeting and war vet Bryan Anderson. Reception with Wil Kozlan- Collection, 425 pieces. Selling all togeth- Scott and Hillary Hess are a father- the business. We concentrate on sweep- Holiday Party, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Marriott sky. $199/person. For more info or to register, call er. Photos on request. Inquire at tvs809@ North, 100 Cranberry Woods Dr. Cranberry, PA or text 570-504-7177, or visit olympiachimney.com. daughter team doing business as Silver ing and the other stuff falls into place.” 16066, 724-772-3700. Growing Your Business and gmail.com Feb 7-8: CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Creek Chimney Sweep. Scott named Silver Creek sells and installs Regency Office with instructor Brandi Biswell on the 18th. Review & Exam, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, Looking for new Sweep / Entrepreneur: Winter meeting and party on the 19th. Contact Bill their enterprise for Silver Creek, which stoves. 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Call CSIA at 317-837- small eccentric sweep business, idyllic New Thornton at 215-540-9787 for more info. flows down from the Cascade Moun- 5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info. England setting, 30 year history of soot, Jan 23: CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Feb 14-16: Certified Chimney Professionals Chim- sweat, smiles and treating folks fairly. Or- tains through their hometown of Silver- On the Job Exams, Oreland, PA. Jamison Home Services, 1429 ney Expo, King of Prussia, PA. Valley Forge Casino ganized and expandable. Will work with ton, Oregon into the Pudding River. Scott started the business 40 years Ulmer Ave, 19075. Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit & Resort, 1160 1st Ave, 19406. 610-354-8118. Trade www.csia.org for more info. show and training. Contact Certified Chimney Pro- right person to make the dream come true. They serve a 25-mile radius around ago. Hillary joined the business 18 years fessionals, 814-689-1576, for more info. Contact [email protected] Jan 23-24: Olympia Academy, Brentwood, TN. Silverton, from the foot of the Cascade ago. “My sister, Emily, and I used to work Scott and Hillary Hess, the Silver Creek Hilton Brentwood, 9000 Overlook Blvd, 37027. Feb 25 – Mar 1: CSIA National Chimney Sweep The Chimney Sweep News is seeking a new Mountains down to the Willamette Val- Chimney Sweeps. 615-370-0111. Simultaneous business and technical Training School, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center, with Dad during the summer when we classes. Instructors include Michael Segerstrom, Bill 2155 Commercial Dr, 46168. Six-day course includes owner. Contact ChimneySweepNews@aol. ley. It includes the state capital, Salem. were younger,” she notes. Hillary has com. as well as smoke. A sweep on the roof Ryan, Cam Arnold, Andy Raycroft, Will Omlor, Brian classroom and field instruction. Contact CSIA at Aside from the urban area, most of their Cline, Colin Healey and Bob Harper. Keynote speech www.csia.org or call 317-837-5362 for more info. worked full time since graduating high may “overhear” a conversation inside region is a bucolic landscape of nurser- school. After training with Scott in all the house. “When I am on the roof and ies, Christmas tree farms, woodland and aspects of the job for about a year, she customers ask Hillary questions, she pasture with a scattering of small towns. began to specialize in the inside work. knows all the answers,” Scott reports. CrownGuard The customers are a mostly middle Severe weather crown repair & protection When Scott and Hillary arrive at “She is very forthcoming. She has a good class assortment with woodstoves, fire- a job, after greeting the customer they rapport with the customers.” If Hillary places and pellet stoves. “We have a large wordlessly move into their own areas of is not on the job for some reason, “cus- Centering system for metal chimney liners senior citizen clientele,” Scott notes. expertise. Hillary brings in a tarp, vac- tomers always ask about her,” he says. uum and other gear and sets up next to FireGuard the stove or fireplace. “She is really good On the Roof ® with the inside work, taking stoves apart Scott’s grandson, Matthew, 19, has and putting them back together,” Scott been teaming up with Hillary during the Patented The most advanced chimney liner in the world says. summer when not in school. Like Scott, They use a Ridgid vac modified with Matthew generally attends to the roof “I wanted to write in and tell you how much I appreciate the quality of your products. We inspect approximately 20 to 30 chimneys every week and we run into every product there is on the market. I can tell you with absolute certainty that your two HEPA filters. Nevertheless, they work. FireGuard and Guardian products have no equals. I can say this because I've tried the other products and had to deal with exhaust the vacuum outside through a Scott has recently introduced climb- 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 hose. “That way we have no dust wor- ing ropes and fall protection harnesses 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 ries,” says Scott. “I tell our customers that to the Silver Creek system. Matthew par- your products. Thank you Jay!” it is double filtered but we still exhaust it ticularly appreciates the extra security of Dave Laverdiere - Owner of Boston Brick & Stone - Pasadena California outside in case we pick up a nail.” an anchored harness. “He is somewhat Scott sets up a ladder and checks the hesitant on the roof, but the minute he For additional information or to order products, call 800-545-6607 termination, then usually proceeds to gets the harness on he is much more sweep from above. confident,” Scott observes. [email protected] www.firesafeinc.com As sweeps know, chimneys – espe- Tying off the rope initially is the big- Scott rotary sweeping a pellet stove chimney. cially metal chimneys – convey sound gest challenge, Scott says. “It is hard to

30 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 3 IN THIS ISSUE 2019 Silver Creek Chimney Sweep: Passing the Torch, Voice of the Sweep since 1979 Article and Photos by Jim Gillam ...... 3 Editor/PublishEr Jim Gillam Using Expanded Stainless Steel Mesh, By Jeff Gitlin ...... 10 ManagEr ExtraordinairE SNEWS Briefs ...... 11 Harriet Gillam graPhic dEsign Five Tips for Making Your Small Business Last, By Mitzi Perdue...... 14 Jill Beddoe KOKO Graphix, Inc. Freebie Public Service Article: Earthquake Preparedness ...... 16 ALL STAR SEMINAR sPEcial corrEsPondEnts The Latest on Google Local Services Ads, Toby Brown, Charlie Dunn, Jeff Gitlin, Marge Padgitt, Steve Snyder, John Wisnewski By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins...... 18 illustrators 30, 20 and 10 Years Ago in SNEWS ...... 22 TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS CLASSES RUNNING Laura Eaton Jones, Kyle McQueen SIMULTANEOUSLY — BRING YOUR WHOLE CREW! PhotograPhy Dear SNEWS...... 24 Grant Darrow, Charlie Dunn, Harriet & Jim Gillam The Wood Stove Design Challenge...... 26

2 January-February 2019 January-February 2019 31 BY SWEEPS, FOR SWEEPS

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