Chimney Sweep Festivities in England

Your Chimney Sweep

In Rochester, England, real life chimney sweeps have about as much fun as they do in Mary Poppins! Part of the traditions with the chimney sweep profession include a celebration that takes place once a year and goes on for 3 days straight.

Hundreds of years ago when chimneys were cleaned by young boys, the profession had one day off each year! This was on May 1st. To celebrate, the boys ran through the streets singing and dancing with excitement. Today, the celebration continues in a very similar fashion. The modern day festival which will mark its 32nd year in 2012 reenacts this tradition with more and more extravagance every year. Think Mardi Gras, Chimney Sweep Style.
In May of each year, over the national bank holiday, a huge festival for chimney sweeps in Rochester, England called the Rochester Sweeps Festival takes place. This year the festival will be held from Saturday, May 5th through Monday, May 7th, 2012. The festival has many attractions ranging from traditional folk music, elaborate dancing, parades, group performances and other festive entertainment.
One of the most important parts of this holiday tradition is the awakening of the Jack-in-the-Green during the festival. The Jack-in-the-Green is a 7 foot tall leafy man that starts the parade celebrations each year alongside traditional Morris dancers and the chimney sweeps. The concept came about from the elaborate costumes people used to wear during the May festival to celebrate the coming of spring. People used to dress up by layering strands of flowers and leaves all over themselves. Some people got so into the leafy costumes that they began to take on the form of a tree rather than a person. This look later became recognized as the Jack-in-the-Green at every May Festival. Now the Jack-in-the-Green has a prominent role in the Rochester Sweeps Festival.

A few songs have been written about the Jack-in-the-Green, including a track by the same name by Magpie Lane that is written in the traditional style of folk music and projects the spirit of the festivities.

The Morris dancers that take part in the parades at the festivals are traditional English folk dancers. Each group of these dancers consist of about 6-10 people dressed up in various costumes. The costumes vary greatly depending on where each group is from. Some Morris dancers wear tattered clothing and paint their faces black, while others dress up in lively colors with detailed belts. Traditional Morris dancing is performed on specific holidays, such as May Day, Whitsunday, and Christmas.
After all of the excitement during the day with the parades and dances, the festivities continue at night in the many local pubs where local beer flows and local bands play all night for the lively audience. This is a weekend filled with tradition and new things to see so it brings in a lot of tourism to the various businesses throughout town. Somehow we thought that these sweeps might end the day in the pub!
Even though the date carries much of the tradition of the festival, and the current level of tourism is already very high, this year there is controversy surrounding the May Day holiday. The English Parliament is thinking about moving the festivities to October or April to extend the tourism season and ultimately make the holiday more profitable for participating businesses. The proposal came from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) tourism who believes that the change in date will have a dramatic increase in tourism to the area. Already 3,000 people have signed a petition against this proposal, and a decision has not yet been reached.
This festival is a great way to celebrate the tradition and history of the chimney sweep profession. Tourists literally come from all over the world to be part of the excitement of the festival, celebrate the coming of Spring and of course, for the good luck kisses from all of the local sweeps and Morris men.

Who knows maybe one of these years North Carolina Chimney Sweeps Association will throw our own festival!

Amber D. is living with a young Chimney Sweep

living with a chimney sweep

It started out innocently enough last Thursday.  He wanted to be a chimney sweep.  Not just any chimney sweep.  He was very specific.  He wanted to be "Dick Van Dyke acting the part of Burt, the chimney sweep" from Mary Poppins.  Okay then.

The next day was the same.  As was the next.  He played with his little brother but "as a chimney sweep" only.  We went out to a restaurant.  We went to a few stores.  We went about our normal business except that for the last six days I have had a chimney sweep for a son.  Soot and all.


On all these outings, only one person questioned us while we were in line at a kid's clothing store exchanging something.  A woman in line next to us nearly collapsed from concern and asked me, "Did he fall down?  What are all the bruises on his face from?"  I swear she was reaching for her cell phone, ready to call Child Protective Services.  "Uh, what?"  I'm so completely used to life with a chimney sweep that I was confused and actually looked at my other(clean as a whistle) child first, thinking he probably did have a bruise or two from falling down.  Then finally I explain, "Oh, he is dressed up like a chimney sweep.  That is soot."  The woman laughs with relief.
The best part of living with a chimney sweep though is...

That sometimes just looking at him makes me laugh so hard that I can't even take proper photos and half of my photos wind up like this one below:


But that is okay because he is too busy laughing too.


And laughing...

And laughing...


He makes a mean batch of molasses cookies, which we now have dubbed "Soot Cookies" forever.


We're going on day SIX today and we are even going on a vacation soon.  Will the chimney sweep be joining us?  I wonder how long this will last.  It sure has been fun.

Do you let your kids dress up and go places?  What was the wildest outfit that was paraded in public?

The Chimney Sweeping Log: Does It Work?

Nothing like a crackling fire for the winter season.

But before you fire up the fireplace, ask yourself, how clean is my chimney? Give it a sweep with the Chimney Sweeping Log! This product is supposed to prevent chimney fires by cleaning it as it burns.

But Does It Work? "From what we've read, it says it will work in masonry fireplaces. This is Butch Weber, his chimney business is named after him. He says the fire hazard come when your chimney builds up a residue called creosote.

The makers say this product is easy to use. All you do is light the log. Sounds easy enough.

This fire gives off a chemical that is supposed to dry out the creosote. Eventually, it will breakaway from the walls' of your fireplace. "We need to let this burn for 90 minutes," we said.

We revisited the log the next day. Butch says the log, if it worked, should show us some results. But we did not see any proof. What we saw was a log that did not burn all the way. "Here are the three previous marks we made. Here's a good creosote spot. Obviously none of it has fallen like the product said it would," says Butch.

So much for the easy way out to cleaning your chimney. "It still needs to be done the old fashioned way with the steel brushes and a vacuum. No miracle cure here yet," said Butch.

Save your $16. Don't let it go up in smoke like we did. The Chimney Sweeping Log doesn't work!

Wedding Services

Thinking of hiring a chimney sweep for

 your wedding service?

Chimney sweeps are a traditional accompaniment to a wedding and are said to bring good luck, fertility and fortune to the bride and groom.The tradition of a chimney sweep bringing the bride and groom luck on their wedding day is one that goes back many years to the reign of King George II.

 The history of the Chimney Sweep

The story goes that as King George II was travelling in his carriage the horse attached to the carriage suddenly became wild and frenzied. The only person brave enough to take action and stop the horse from bolting with the carriage containing King George on it was a local chimney sweep who courageously stepped in and saved the day.

King George was so grateful to the chimney sweep for saving his life that he issued a Royal Decree that all chimney sweeps were to be regarded as bearers of good luck and that chimney sweeps were to be treated with the greatest of respect.

From that day forth the tradition of chimney sweeps being regarded as omens of good luck was established and this is why many couples make the choice to hire a chimney sweep to attend their wedding day.

 What does a chimney sweep do on the Wedding Day?

On you’re wedding day I will arrive in traditional Victorian Style your chimney sweepsweep costume, including the customary chimney sweeps brush, top hat, coat with tails and soot blackened face.

I will allow plenty of time for the bride and groom and also any guests who wish to have a photo opportunity with me.

In order to bestow the Chimney Sweeps good luck I will have a handshake for the groom and a good luck kiss for the bride.

With the power given by the Royal Decree of King George II I will then recite a message of good luck for the future to the bride and groom. I will then present the bride and groom with a personalized certificate and a special gift.

In order to ensure good luck make sure to hire a genuine chimney sweep.

Woman Extracts Raccoon From Chimney With Pole

This is the Second Raccoon Michelle Heyer has found in chimney!

Michelle Heyer was surprised that police responded to her call about a raccoon in her chimney, but they did.
It was the second time a raccoon had been trapped in the chimney of her Bryden Road home, and the first was big enough to crawl out, she said.
But this one could not stretch its arms and legs across the length of the inside of the chimney, where she spotted him Saturday, April 7.
Beachwood Police officers referred her to the animal warden, but she was worried they would kill the animal. So she took matters into her own hands.
Heyer took a long pole and stuck it in her chimney from above, hoping he would crawl out. Then she had to leave for a week on business.
While she was gone, she said, she worried that she would come home to a dead animal.
But the raccoon made it out safely. And now, she said, she plans to get the chimney cover installed. More stories at http://chimneyinfo.net/technobabble/

I’m Meeeeelting – The Wicked Witch and Your Chimney

How to Keep your Chimney out of Water’s Destructive Grasp

Just like it is to the “Wicked Witch of the West”, water is the biggest contributing factor in the death a chimney. Rather than melting like the Evil “Wizard of Oz” character, a chimney shows its demise in other ways, but both can easily be overcome by this threat if they aren’t able to stay out of harm’s way.

The winter’s freezing and thawing cycles may have opened a path for moisture and water to enter during spring and summer storms. Now is the time to make sure your chimney systems is water tight and protected against the warm moist seasons that are coming.

A chimney has many different ways of showing signs of water damage and it is important to learn how to spot them so that the problem can be taken care of before it amounts to costly repairs. The key to preventing major problems with a chimney is to keep on top of minor repairs and regular maintenance. Water damage can be extensive and only noticeable in the late stages, so as a homeowner, knowing what to look for in terms of the early signs is the best way to catch problems the beginning stages, along with an annual chimney inspection by a professional. Listed below are some common water related problems and how to find the water source and prevent it from creating lasting harm.

Problem: Broken or Damaged Brick Surface

Brick material absorbs moisture and during the winter the water trapped inside of the brick freezes and thaws along with the changing outside temperatures. One of the results of this freeze then thaw pattern is spalling. Spalling is when the surface of the brick breaks off or becomes damaged. A telltale sign of this taking place are brick pieces on the ground around the chimney base. Also, if the damage is near the bottom, you may be able to see the broken bricks up close. Besides the aesthetic issues, spalling can cause major problems because once the surface of the brick is missing, the brick is now useless as a structural component of the chimney because it no longer offers any support. For this reason, it is important to keep an eye out for exterior damage to the chimney structure to catch problems before they amount to costly masonry repairs.

Solution: “Waterproofing” your Chimney

The most common solution for preventing future spalling is by “waterproofing” the exterior of the structure. It is virtually impossible to actually waterproof a chimney, but the solutions used to coat the outside of your chimney are “water resistant” and add an important layer of protection against moisture. A special type of water repellant treatment is used for this job as the material requires unique features. The solution must keep out moisture, but at the same time it must also allow moisture from inside the chimney to escape. As mentioned before, bricks are porous and absorb and pull water to the interior of the chimney. This is not good for the chimney system, so weather proofing prevents this from happening while still being “vapor permeable” or allowing inside moisture to exit. This way the material is still allowed to breathe, it just will not allow water that will cause problems to the interior of the chimney.

Problem: Rust and Liner Deterioration

It is common knowledge that where there is rust there is also water, so rust in a chimney can only mean one thing. A rusty firebox or damper is a sign that there must be some moisture getting into the interior of the chimney from somewhere. There could also be more damage that is not visible, such as the weakening or destruction of the metal parts within the chimney. Due to the wide range of problems moisture can cause a chimney, it is a good idea to quickly find the source of this unwanted water to ensure more problems do not develop and the current ones do not continue.

Clay Tile Chimney Liners can also be hurt by water that is able to make it through the brick and mortar exterior of your chimney. The smallest crack in your tile liner will open the door to extensive damage that can lead to costly liner replacement costs.

Solution: Chimney Cap, Flashing and Crown Checks

As a problem within the chimney, there are a few different factors that may have had an effect on how the moisture entered the structure. The first place to check in a situation like this should be at the top of the chimney to make sure there is a chimney cap. If a cap is missing, one should be installed as soon as possible as these fixtures are put in place to prevent rainwater, animals, or sticks and leaves from falling into the chimney. After this option is explored, have a professional check the condition of the chimney flashing and crown. Both of these parts of the chimney are in place to block moisture from entering areas of the chimney and one may be damaged or deteriorated and in need of repair. Leaking around the flashing may show up in the attic or on the ceilings adjacent to the chimney.

Problem: Cracked or Missing Mortar

Another chimney issue that can be blamed on water happens when the mortar between the bricks begins to deteriorate. This is a serious concern for the integrity of the structure as missing or damaged mortar will allow water to get behind the bricks and cause structural damage. This is also not a good look for the chimney and may result in missing bricks and large cracks as well. This destruction, like the spalling, is caused by the repeated freezing and thawing of water during those long Connecticut winters.

Solution: Tuckpointing

To repair this damage, chimney professionals replace the missing and damaged parts with fresh mortar. This is done by using special tools to secure the loose bricks once again after removing the crumbling pieces of mortar from the joints. During this process damaged bricks are also removed and replaced. Tuckpointing will not only repair the damage that has recently occurred, but it will also prevent further damage to the surrounding bricks. This process also prevents more water from seeping into the area and causing more problems.

Tuckpointing is done with care to blend in well with the areas that do not need replacing. This way the end result looks more like a new chimney than an incongruous spot replacement. Tuckpointing is an important repair as it will ensure strong and water-resistant joints between the bricks that will increase the life of the chimney and also prevent against future chimney repairs.

Prevention = Keeping a Close Eye on Your Chimney

With an informed, astute homeowner keeping an eye on these signals, a chimney’s fate does not have to be as drastic or final as the one the “Wicked Witch of the West” faced. Instead, the early indicators of water damage will lead to problems being caught in time and preventative steps being taken to put a stop to the damage. Troubles with water can be prevented and caught early if the warning signs are noted in advance. Keep this guide handy and you will always be prepared to take on the moisture!
Website – http://www.affordablesweep.com

A History of Chimney Sweeping

The chimney sweep has been around for hundreds of years and still today is a necessary and important profession. The early Romans first made the switch from a single fire in the center of a room to an isolated fireplace to heat buildings and cook indoors, but it was not until 16th century England that the trend of fireplaces and chimneys really caught on. It was not long before people built fireplaces in each room of their home to use as a heat source. In 17th century England, along with all of the new fireplaces came a hearth tax, based on the size of the house and the number of chimneys the house had. To avoid these high taxes, builders would connect the flues of new fireplaces with those of an existing chimney, creating a complex maze of pitch black narrow tunnels inside the home.

In this same time period, coal became a popular substitute for burning wood in fireplaces. As a result of this switch from wood to coal, the need for regular cleaning became increasingly necessary. The use of coal left large sticky soot deposits on the walls of the fireplace that had to be cleaned off regularly for the chimney to remain cleared. If the fireplace was left uncared for, the coal residue would cause the chimney to back up and pollute the home with harmful fumes. At this point the profession of the chimney grew rapidly. With the rise in coal use, regular chimney sweep visits became a safety necessity. In London at this time, Queen Victoria mandated that all chimneys be cleaned regularly. At this time, chimney sweeps became known for bringing clean and fresh air back to the home and they became associated with good hearth and good health.

Many times in literature, movies and artwork child sweeps were portrayed as having fun and the cheerful young apprentices of accomplished older sweeps. The truth was a bit different of course. Many orphans were forced into child labor and treated poorly as they worked long, hard hours as chimney boys.

Cleaning the inside of the soot-filled chimney flues was a difficult and dangerous job because of the narrow chimney flues and the amount of soot the sweepers were exposed to. For this reason, the job was left to poor orphan boys brought in by the chimney master or children sold by their parents into the trade. The children served as indentured servants to their master; in exchange for a home and food and water the children were taught the trade. The children climbed into the chimneys to scrape off the coal deposits and brush the walls with little scrubber brushes. The conditions were harsh and the work was hard. Children were often scared to climb into the narrow passageways, so to give them a little extra encouragement the chimney masters would light a small fire under the child to coax him up the interior walls, hence the start of the expression, “to light a fire under you”. The life of a ‘climbing boy’ was not just undesirable but dangerous as well. Because they worked and lived in the soot and grime of the chimneys, the children often developed respiratory problems and other related issues. Fatal falls from rotting chimneys were not uncommon either. William Blake, an English poet, illustrates the difficult life of a chimney sweep boy in his poem, “The Chimney Sweeper”.

Finally, in 1864, Parliament passed the “Act for the Regulation of Chimney Sweepers” which ended the use of young boys to clean the chimneys. At this time, various cleaning devices were invented to aid the chimney sweep in cleaning and bushing the walls from one end of the chimney. One method of chimney cleaning invented around this time used a heavy lead or iron ball and rope system used to clean the chimney from the top all the way down to the fireplace. And, in the 18th century, a man named Joseph Glass invented chimney cleaning equipment consisting of a set of canes and brushes that could be used from the fireplace to clean all the way up to the top of the chimney. More modern variations of both of these inventions are still used today.

In the 1960s, gas and electricity have replaced coal and fireplaces as the main heating source for homes. This change in fuel type has mandated a revision to the role of the chimney sweep. In the 1970s though, when the price of fossil fuels rose dramatically, people went back to burning wood in their fireplaces rather than to use other more costly methods of heating. But when people used fireplaces that had been left unused for a long period of time without proper cleaning and care, house fires and carbon monoxide poisonings from clogged chimneys became commonplace. This switch back to the use of fireplaces after years of non-use was very dangerous if the proper provisions were not taken care of beforehand. Presently, the professional chimney sweep has made a comeback with fireplaces getting regular use rather than just used for a decoration and this old profession is still growing today.

Although the life of the early chimney sweeps including children has often been dramatized and romanticized as being cheery and fun in stories, movies and artwork, the reality was quite different and the sweep’s life many times was one of toil and hardship.

One of the most famous literary works about Chimney Sweeps is William Blake’s poem, “The Chimney Sweeper.”

The chimney sweep today has come a long way from sending children armed with brushes up the chimney flues. Professional chimney sweeps are educated in the codes and science behind chimneys and fireplaces. Chimney sweeps now do more than simply clean a chimney; they diagnose and service problems, repair all types of chimneys and install fireplaces and hearths. Through it all, the chimney sweep remains an important profession that will continue to grow and bring good health and good hearth to every home they service.

Today, the chimney sweep is a well respected professional that helps to provide homeowners and businesses to maintain safe operation of heating systems, fireplaces, stoves, flues and chimneys of all kinds. Organizations like the North Carolina Chimney Sweeps Association  hold members to very high ethical and educational standards of performance as well

Calif. Teen Gets Stuck In Chimney

The California teenager who got stuck in the chimney of his family’s home was no Santa Claus trying to deliver holiday gifts.

Instead, 18-year-old Jorge Herrera was trying to get around his parents’ curfew, authorities say, by entering his home through the fireplace in his bedroom.

“He was going to miss his curfew, and then he had climbed down the chimney in an attempt to avoid the wrath of his parents,” said Van Riviere, battalion chief with the Stockton Fire Department.

Fire department officials responded to a call for help placed by Herrera’s family around 10 a.m. Thursday after they heard sounds coming from the chimney of their Stockton, Calif., home.

Firefighters found Herrera stuck inside.  An hour later, Herrera was freed from the chimney, but not before firefighters had to first break the chimney apart and then use ropes, and a little soap, to pull him out of the narrow chimney.  He was not hurt.

“He’s dirty and embarrassed and it remains to be seen what his parents will do with him,” said Battalion Chief Van Riviere.

Wood Burning and the Carbon Footprint

How can you help save the environment, save money and still heat your home completely all winter long? Wood burning stoves use a replenishable and inexpensive fuel that is extremely efficient especially when modern appliances are used. Wood burning stoves may seem old fashioned, but the rustic, old fashioned look and feel comes with modern efficiency and capabilities these days. You don’t have to choose one or the other, the romantic blaze from a woodburnig stove or fireplace insert can also heat your home and save you money.

Is burning wood really a “greener” way to heat or supplement the heating of your home? Well, to begin with burning wood for heat does not add to your individual carbon footprint. Wood gives off the same amount of carbon whether it is burned up or decays naturally and is considered Carbon Neutral. Next point to consider is that wood is a “renewable” resource. Unlike oil, coal, or gas – when we run out of those fuel sources, they’ll be gone for good. Wood harvesting techniques are based on a sustainable model, so wood will be there for us in the future. We can’t grow oil, but we can (and do) grow more trees. Another point to consider is the cost of production and transportation associated with the non-renewables. Over all, wood comes out looking good from a “green” perspective.

As compared with fossil fuels and other energy sources, the benefits of wood far surpass its competition. New wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts are engineered with fuel economy in mind and health and environmental concerns kept as the highest priority. While fossil fuels contaminate the environment and then are used up and cannot be replaced, wood burning has made drastic improvements in burning efficiency and without emissions and can be easily used sustainably.

Still need more convincing?

Low Cost – Wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts are the most cost effective source of energy. Wood is abundantly available and homeowners can often find a source of wood to burn for free! Even without the extra effort of finding wood for free, wood is still a relatively inexpensive option. Wood costs roughly a third the cost of natural gas, electricity or oil. Coal, gas and oil are fossil-based, non-renewable resources. And in the last year, costs for these commodities have soared along with the electricity prices. Don’t get caught in these traps. A wood burning stove is your way out.

Low Emissions – Today, high efficiency wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts can maximize the heat dispersed from a burning log and these stoves leave behind little evidence of the wood burning as it is almost completely burned besides minor amounts of ash. The new stoves produce only about 2-5 grams of smoke per hour of burning. And even less ash. For this reason, some modern stoves are so completely clean burning that they are approved for use in smokeless areas indoors. A wood burning stove is designed to burn at much higher temperatures. This means gases present in the smoke are fully burned and not released back into the atmosphere. This results in a thermal efficiency of around 80%. Which means that a log burnt in a modern wood stove can get around 4 times more heat than one log in an open fire.

Carbon Neutral - The process of burning wood also does not emit any additional carbon dioxide than the natural biodegradation of the wood if it were left to rot on the forest floor. Over the course of a tree’s life it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then releases this carbon dioxide when it either decomposes naturally or is burned. For this reason, no CO2 is added to the atmosphere, it simply releases the carbon dioxide that was previously accumulated back into the environment. Wood is a very environmentally friendly source of fuel because it is carbon neutral. Fossil fuels on the other hand, are not carbon neutral. Fossil fuels have stored and accumulated carbon over hundreds of years and then, all at once, this carbon is released in its entirety when the fossil fuels are burned. This process adds substantial amounts of carbon dioxide to the environment.

Sustainable – Wood is an abundant resource in North America and unlike many of the alternatives, a renewable one too. Today we have more wooded acres than we did 100 years ago and the balance is carefully managed to preserve our wooded lands. To keep the wood supply at a sustainable state, there needs to be some maintenance that goes along with the wood harvesting.

Sustainable forests are the key to wood as a heat resource. The days where clear cutting was acceptable are over and the concept of planting more than you harvest is alive and well. Wood is an entirely renewable source of energy only when handled correctly, but the great news is that it is very simple to maintain a sustainable forest! The US Forest Service helps control the excess timber that is harvested and they work to ensure the companies are utilizing sustainable cutting practices. Another important factor in eco-friendly wood burning is using local wood. The costs associated with preparing wood to burn goes up when transportation is involved, so the best way to receive wood is from a local forest or producer. This local purchasing reduces the pollution emitted during the transportation process and ensures the entire process is sustainable.

With the energy crisis always on the upswing, any and every use of fuel is under high scrutiny. Overall, a timber-fueled system provides a great all around solution to a home heating fuel source. Avoid the stress. Go green and reduce energy costs at the same time!

Give me a call if you have any questions at Affordable Chimney Service / 704.526.6348.

Why Should I Care About Chimney Liners

What you Need to Know About Liners

It may seem like just a part of the chimney that you don’t really need to understand, but a liner is actually a very critical part of every chimney. In fireplaces that burn gas, oil, or solid fuels, a liner helps guide the combustion by-products out and away from the chimney. Every chimney needs a working liner and during your annual chimney cleaning, your chimney professional may tell you that you need a new one or that you need to repair the existing one.

There are a few reasons why you may need a new liner; if your chimney currently has no liner, if it was installed improperly or if it is deteriorating or defective in some way. Before the 1940s, homes were typically built without a chimney liner and as a result, before this time, chimney and house fires were much more commonplace. A liner provides extra protection to the interior of the chimney and helps guide the gases and particles up and out of the structure.

There are three main types of chimney liners. These include clay tile liners, cast-in-place liners, and metal liners. While all 3 options provide adequate protection for your chimney flue, there are different circumstances when each variety may be the best option for you.

Clay Tile Liners – Usually Built During Home Construction

In many older homes you will find clay tile liners in the chimney. This method has been around since the 1900s and there is good reason why it is still used today. Clay tiles can withstand extremely high temperatures without damaging or hindering the performance of the liner. Clay tiles also hold up against the corrosive materials that are burned in and pass through the flue to leave the chimney. In addition, the clay tile material itself is relatively inexpensive to purchase and once installed, these tile liners last for about 50 years.

While there are many benefits to using clay tiles, it also has some drawbacks. The materials to create the clay tile liner are inexpensive, but the work that must go along with the installation can be rather costly if it is not built along with the home. Today, for the most part tile liners are installed during the home building process. To replace a tile liner that is falling apart is a more difficult task. Even with the simplest straight chimney, the old tiles must be chipped and broken out from the top of the chimney using special tools your chimney professional will have. Sometimes the chimney walls must be broken through every few feet to take out the old flue and install the new one. And when the chimney is crooked or contains “offsets”, it makes the process much more difficult. To reline the chimney effectively, the tiles need to be cut precisely to fit together within the flue. The installation process is tedious, especially for flues that are not simply perfectly straight. The tile shape is also not really the best shape to line a chimney. The tiles don’t create a smooth interior as each tile is in a square or rectangular shape. For this reason, air gets caught in the spaces between tiles and it may also affect the draft in your chimney. And the tiles can crack with age or if they are damaged. A round liner can eliminate these problems. Due to the difficulty of this job, it is recommended not to take this on as a home repair job. It definitely requires the skills of a chimney sweep professional.

Cast-in-Place Liner – To Reinforce an Existing Chimney

This option is perfect for creating a new flue inside of a chimney that is in poor shape. It works to reinforce the existing chimney and provides a sturdy and effective liner. Similar to the clay flues, cast-in-place liners are not affected by the heat or harmful gases put off from the fire below. For this reason, they are very durable. Cast-in-place liners provide good insulation value and higher temperatures within the chimney. This makes the fires burn cleaner and acquire less creosote buildup as a result. These liners also last a long time (up to 50 years in some cases), just like the clay liners.

The process for installing a cast in place liner, while less invasive than the clay liner, is still a difficult task to take on. One way this liner is created is by a certain mortar mix being pumped into the chimney around an inflated rubber bladder to create a smooth rounded surface within the chimney. Once the mortar has set, the bladder is then removed with the liner still intact. There are other proprietary methods used by chimney professionals to create this type of liner as well. One uses a bell shaped form that vibrates as it is pulled up through the chimney at the same time mortar is poured into the chimney. The mortar forms around the bell as it is raised the distance of the chimney forming a round flue opening in the mortar.

Metal Flue Liner – Liners that Works in Most Every Chimney

There are many different shapes and varieties of metal flue liners. Typically a stainless steel alloy is used. The metal flue liners come in two different forms; rigid and flexible. The type your chimney professional will choose to use depends on the shape of your chimney. Rigid liners are used in chimneys that are completely straight with no off-sets or bends. While both liners provide proper protection, one advantage of the flexible liner is that it may hold less buildup because it expands and contracts with the temperatures of the chimney which then knocks off any creosote or other buildup when it moves. Corrosion is the most common problem that occurs with metal flue liners. But by using the correct alloy to go with the type of fuel burned the corrosion problem can be addressed. Insulation can also be used with metal liners. Insulation material around the metal liner helps to keep higher heat in the chimney and also helps to get rid of condensation that may cause corrosion over time in the chimney. It also prevents heat from moving into the pipes within the home structure. Metal liners are the perfect option for already existing chimneys that do not have a liner or need a liner replacement. They are a relatively simple installation with almost all of the benefits of the other types of liners. Chimneys without bends and twists are the simplest to install a metal liner into but it can work in all chimneys with the flexible metal liner.

There are a few different types of chimney liners and they all have their benefits, the important thing is to have a chimney liner in the first place. Hire a chimney professional to take a look to make sure your chimney lining is doing it’s job – and if there are deficiencies, to determine the best option for you!

Chimney Sweep History

Chimney Sweep History
By Theresa Leschmann, eHow Contributor

Chimney Sweep History
Chimney sweeps are often associated with England, particularly the Victorian period. Our popular collective perception of chimney sweeps compares favorably with Dick Van Dyke's portrayal of Burt the chimney sweep in the classic Disney film "Mary Poppins." Chimney sweeps have been around much longer than that and are still with us today. Most of the work was done by children, until child labor laws came into being.
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Woman Chimney Sweepers

Growing up, Gina Somerton, 42, of Wells-Next-the-Sea, Norfolk, had dreamed of becoming a hairdresser and went on to work as a shop assistant and in restaurants.

But a conversation about possible alternative careers with her partner's mother got the mum-of-three thinking that chimneys might be an ideal source of income; six years on, her business, Lady Sweep, is thriving.

"I wanted to be my own boss, I wanted to be able to spend time with my children during the summer," she says. "It might sound strange to some people, but to me it's perfect.

"It's true that I get dirty. But I can come home and have a shower afterwards, can't I?"

Photograph by Horace Nicholls of a woman chimney sweep in wartime Kent, undated.

Horace Nicholls was one of two professional photographers who were commissioned in 1917 by the Women's Work Committee of the newly founded Imperial War Museum to take photographs of women at work during the First World War. This photograph shows a woman chimney sweep in Kent, 'carrying on the business of her husband who was a sweep before the war' - one of the many examples of women stepping into previously male-dominated professions during the period between 1914 and 1918.

FORMER call center worker Dawn Peters gave her old job the brush off — to become one of only three women chimney sweeps in Britain.

She started last October and now cleans up to four chimneys a day.

The ex-BT worker said: "I had to change careers because I can't use a computer after I developed medical problems.

"My partner said I could do a better job than our sweep so I gave it a go. It's a fantastic business if you don't mind getting a bit dirty."

Dawn, 36, of Exeter, Devon, added: "There are only three women registered with the Institute of Chimney Sweeps.

"You have to be fit — but there's no reason why a woman can't do it."

Chimney Sweeps Are Lucky!

LUCKY LOVE

Did you know that it's good luck to see a chimney sweep on your wedding day, and most especially to shake his hand or be kissed by him? Many chimney sweeps today are still invited to weddings to help assure a good start to a happy marriage. The tradition goes back, so it is said, to a chimney sweep who lost his footing and fell from a roof. He was caught on the gutter and hanging by his foot when a young lass, whose hand was intended for another, reached through the window and pulled him in, saving his life. They fell in love and the two were later married

THE KINGS LUCK

A Chimney Sweep is a sign of good luck, wealth and happiness. There are several legends why a Chimney Sweep is said to be "The" harbinger of good luck. One version of the legend has it's origins in old England, where King George was riding horseback in a royal procession. A dogran from the crowd, barking and nipping at the King's horse. The horse reared, and to the horror of the crowd, almost threw the King! A lone figure, shabbily dressed and filthy, stepped into the road. He caught the horse's halter and calmed the animal.

As quickly as he appeared, the man faded back into crowd. The King, wanting to reward the man, asked his name. No-one knew the man's name, but many told the King that he is just a Chimney Sweep.The King declared that from that day that chimney sweeps should be regarded as Lucky!

A ROMAN CHIMNEY CAP

The chimney has been a part of family life since the early Romans first realized that it was better to live in a nice, fire-warmed home than in a chilly one. They needed a way to funnel off the smoke the fires caused. Centuries later, in medieval times, fireplaces were invented to heat individual rooms and provide a safe place for indoor cooking. They soon learned that fireplaces and their chimneys needed a cleaning as a house full of soot and fumes is unhealthy. And so, chimney sweeping developed into a necessary profession. People liked having the chimney sweep pay a visit as he brought clean, fresh air back to the home. Sweeps are associated with hearth and home, and thus domestic bliss. Chimney Sweeps became a sign of good health and prosperity

Vented vs. Vent-Free Gas Logs

When shopping for gas logs,  you'll be asked to choose whether you want vented or vent-free logs. This decision comes down to several factors including looks vs. efficiency, local building codes and placement of the fireplace.

With vented logs, you'll enjoy a large, realistic-looking flame that operates with an open chimney flue, or damper. These logs, which simulate a wood-burning fire, are more decorative than they are efficient as a heat source because much of the generated heat goes up the chimney.

Vent-free logs, which operate with the chimney flue closed, will not give you that roaring fire effect—the flame is not as realistic or as high as you'll find with vented logs. But, vent-free logs are an efficient heat source because 100% of the heat generated stays in your home. You'll often see vent-free logs referred to as "vent-free heaters" because that is essentially what they are. They consist of U-shaped burners with cement logs stacked on top of the heating element. Most sets have a thermostatic control that helps maintain a consistent room temperature. Vent-free heaters add moisture to the air, so it's important to install them in a room with proper ventilation to avoid formation of mildew.

The convince of a remote control.

Before installing any gas log system, visit Hearth and Patio on Monroe Rd in Matthews NC.  In some localities, vent-free heaters are not permitted. Vent-free heaters are not permitted in bedrooms, bathrooms or recreational vehicles, and must be installed in an area where curtains, furniture, clothing or other flammable objects are at least 36 inches away from the perimeter of the heater. Vent-free heater installation also is not recommended in high traffic, windy or drafty areas.