How Does a Chimney Sweep Spend a Workday?
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Assessment
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Before a chimney sweep gets down to the actual servicing of fuel burning appliances, he must assess the needs of his client. An inspection is made of any of the following: wood burning fireplaces, wood burning stoves, chimneys, water heaters, furnace flues, chimneys and vented gas apparatuses, such as gas fire places, gas inserts, gas logs and gas freestanding stoves. A chimney sweep company will have basic charges, but will give a written estimate on additional work needed. An appointment is made for a future time when a technician will come back and service the appliance.
Servicing Wood Burners
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A chimney sweep will clean fireplaces and chimneys (or connector pipes) of the wood smoke and soot that has collected. Chemical-based flammable particles, called creosote, from the burning wood stick to the inside of the chimney. The creosote builds up after a period of time and can cause a fire when a spark from the fireplace or wood stove ignites it. A chimney fire can heat up to 2000 degrees F, melting brick and mortar as well as spreading to other parts of the house. Wearing appropriate gloves, eye protection and dust mask, a chimney sweep will clean out the creosote with stiff wire chimney brushes. He may use pipes or rods--sometimes ropes and pull rings--to push or pull the brushes through the chimney. A soot sweeper is used during the cleaning to pull particles and dust from the air. He may also use a cleanser containing sodium chloride.
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Servicing Oil or Gas Burners
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Oil or gas burners, such as furnaces and gas fireplaces, produce dangerous chemical byproducts. A chimney sweep performs services other than just cleaning out pipes and vents. He is always looking for signs of a problem that may not be noticed by the undiscerning eye. For example, if there is visible soot in the house, it's a good sign of a problem. The chimney or pipes are designed to move smoke and soot away from the living area, not into it. The house soot is a definite sign of a venting problem, but it could also be a problem with the furnace. Oil soot needs to be removed with a special chemical cleaner by a certified chimney sweeper who has the knowledge to use it safely.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Linda6769 at Flickr
