sweeping magazine- april 2016
DESCRIPTION
The 2016 Convention Recap IssueTRANSCRIPT
SweepingApril 2016 VOLUME 40 3
The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology
Are You Chicken Little Or the Little Engine That Could
Swedes Sweep New York
Why Crown Coatings Fail
Closing Thoughts About the Convention
Convention2016 Recap
New infestations of insects and diseases can start if you take firewood with you when you travel
Keep your trees safe by following these tips
middotDonrsquottakefirewoodwithyouwhenyougo campinghikingortraveling
middotBuylocallyharvestedfirewood
middotTellyourfriendsnottomovefirewood
FacebookcomDontMoveFirewood
TwittercomDntMoveFirewood
YoutubecomDontMoveFirewood
PROTECT TREESFORESTS AND OUR COMMUNITYFROMTHETHREATOFINVASIVESPECIES
org
April 2016
Table of Contents
Departments
FeaturesSweeping April 2016 Volume 40 Issue 3
Presidentrsquos Letter 3Editorrsquos Letter 5Coachrsquos Corner 10Sweeps Advantage 16Progressive Perks 17Technical QampA 18Date and Events 33New Members 34Classifieds 35Darwin Award 40
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine That Could
Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Swedes Sweep New York
Convention Recap
Why Crown Coatings Fail
6 14 19 24 30
Cover Photo For the April issue of Sweeping we did something special with the cover photo and put it up on the auction block at the 2016 CSIA Annual Auction The winner was Jim Pritchett of Certified Sweeps of Brookston Ind Thank you Jim for your donation to CSIA and its programs Featured in the picture is Jimrsquos employee Ron Moser along with auction volunteers Lauren Pilger and Erin Dawson
April 2016
TECH
NIC
AL
AD
VISO
RY C
OU
NCI
L Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x 2
Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 (317) 203-0088 x 3
John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing Relining or NFPA 31 (317) 203-0088 x 4
Randy Brooks IRC NFPA 211 or Customer Communications (317) 203-0088 x 5
Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x 6
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (317) 203-0088 x 7
Jay Walker Dryer Vents (317) 203-0088 x 8
Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls (317) 203-0088 x 9
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry (317) 203-0088 x
Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining (317) 203-0088 x 0
BylawsJasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01yahoocom
Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andyrooftopchimneysweepscon
GovernanceJay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJaolcom
Government AffairsMike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
International RelationsJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bobflueseasoncom
NFPA 211 RepresentativeJim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
NFPA 31 RepresentativeJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
Technical Advisory CouncilMichael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweepsoptonlinenet
Scholarship Committee Greg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping The Journal of Chimney amp Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingadsmecom Layout and design by David Bruce Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry Submissions should not contain direct solicitations prices or a call to action on the part of our readers Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a jpg format In all cases NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations keep the release and publish at a later date or refuse to publish the release for any reason Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSGrsquos opinion regarding the release NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publicationrsquos standards Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers copy 2016 National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
President At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Vice President Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01gmailcom
Treasurer Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswpaolcom
Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masonschimney-ductcom
Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 infochimneycarecocom
Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bobflueseasoncom
Secretary At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 nopnotchchimneygmailcom
At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 infofireplaceservicecentercom
Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartksaversystemscom
NAT
ION
AL
CHIM
NEY
SW
EEP
GUIL
D
BO
ARD
OF
DIRE
CTO
RS 2
015-
2016
STA
FF
Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkellyncsgorg
Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahonncsgorg
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcorneliusncsgorg
Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmercsiaorg
Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledgencsgorg
Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlettncsgorg
Jordan Whitt CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing jwhittcsiaorg
Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashleycsiaorg
Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichtingncsgorg
2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax (317) 837-5365
Be advised that advice given by NCSGrsquos Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry However we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace andor chimney Additionally local laws and ordinances may govern andor supersede the information and any recommendations provided Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms
To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question
Resources
COM
MIT
TEE
CHA
IRS
and
TASK
FO
RCES
201
5 ndash 2
016
3
SWEEPING
April 2016
Convention tried to kill mehellipagain But I wouldnrsquot miss it for the world
Anyone close to me knows of my interesting experiences with attending convention The first convention I attended was in Colorado It was my first real year I had attended convention My business was new and funds were not abundant but I knew the investment in the trip would pay off many times over (and it has) To save money Bart Ogden set me up with some roommates Two crazy guys from Ireland you may remember them as the 2 Davids from Ireland A day or two into the convention I woke up in the middle of the night and spent a restless night praying to the porcelain God (you know what I mean) I determined that I had gotten food poisoning from Dave and Busters that night
During the Hershey Pennsylvania convention we got stuck in Detroit for a couple days due to a horrible snow storm plaguing the area At the Indianapolis convention I ended up in the hospital with a rare skin infection Where was that rare skin infection you ask Of all placesin my belly button Deep deep in there About 9 pm in the evening went to the hospital and got checked in because they were worried about the skin infection moving to my bloodstream Had a consult with a surgeon the next morning That afternoon I was in surgery (throat tube and all) then with a belly packed full of gauze back to my hospital bed I knew I had to get up and moving if I wanted to get back to convention From my nursing background I knew that if a
patient is up and moving after surgery they would rush to get you out of the hospital because they need the space and you are more likely to get an infection in a hospital than at home So several hours after surgery and after the morphine had wore off I was walking the hallways of the surgical rehab unit The next morning the surgeon visited me yanked the gauze out of my reconstructed belly button (one of the most painful experiences I have EVER experienced) and discharged me I was checked in had surgery and back to convention in approx 34 hours No one really believed me except for Marge and Gene Padgitt who actually came and visited me in the hospital
This year I found myself exhausted Thursday before convention I got home from work and went straight to bed I managed to go to work Friday and made it through the day to only come home that evening and straight back to bed Saturday I spent the entire day in bed My kids packed me for the convention trip
I have a 3-day rule when I get sick (which typically I only get sick once or twice a year) Of course Sunday morning Brandi and I had to jump a plane for Orlando We arrived in Orlando and I was like a zombie It took everything I had to walk through the airport collect our bags and search (yes search) for our rental car We arrived at the Rosen hotel and after a chair nap in the lobby our room was ready I crawled into bed (3 pm in the afternoon) and stayed there until the next morning
The next morning we found a
Presidentrsquos
LetterJeremy Biswell
President
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
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Engineered Excellence 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom copy2016
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
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ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
Tommy Nelms Sweeps amp Ladders
PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
That Could
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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PRODUCTS
16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
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SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
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SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
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Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
New infestations of insects and diseases can start if you take firewood with you when you travel
Keep your trees safe by following these tips
middotDonrsquottakefirewoodwithyouwhenyougo campinghikingortraveling
middotBuylocallyharvestedfirewood
middotTellyourfriendsnottomovefirewood
FacebookcomDontMoveFirewood
TwittercomDntMoveFirewood
YoutubecomDontMoveFirewood
PROTECT TREESFORESTS AND OUR COMMUNITYFROMTHETHREATOFINVASIVESPECIES
org
April 2016
Table of Contents
Departments
FeaturesSweeping April 2016 Volume 40 Issue 3
Presidentrsquos Letter 3Editorrsquos Letter 5Coachrsquos Corner 10Sweeps Advantage 16Progressive Perks 17Technical QampA 18Date and Events 33New Members 34Classifieds 35Darwin Award 40
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine That Could
Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Swedes Sweep New York
Convention Recap
Why Crown Coatings Fail
6 14 19 24 30
Cover Photo For the April issue of Sweeping we did something special with the cover photo and put it up on the auction block at the 2016 CSIA Annual Auction The winner was Jim Pritchett of Certified Sweeps of Brookston Ind Thank you Jim for your donation to CSIA and its programs Featured in the picture is Jimrsquos employee Ron Moser along with auction volunteers Lauren Pilger and Erin Dawson
April 2016
TECH
NIC
AL
AD
VISO
RY C
OU
NCI
L Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x 2
Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 (317) 203-0088 x 3
John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing Relining or NFPA 31 (317) 203-0088 x 4
Randy Brooks IRC NFPA 211 or Customer Communications (317) 203-0088 x 5
Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x 6
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (317) 203-0088 x 7
Jay Walker Dryer Vents (317) 203-0088 x 8
Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls (317) 203-0088 x 9
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry (317) 203-0088 x
Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining (317) 203-0088 x 0
BylawsJasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01yahoocom
Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andyrooftopchimneysweepscon
GovernanceJay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJaolcom
Government AffairsMike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
International RelationsJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bobflueseasoncom
NFPA 211 RepresentativeJim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
NFPA 31 RepresentativeJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
Technical Advisory CouncilMichael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweepsoptonlinenet
Scholarship Committee Greg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping The Journal of Chimney amp Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingadsmecom Layout and design by David Bruce Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry Submissions should not contain direct solicitations prices or a call to action on the part of our readers Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a jpg format In all cases NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations keep the release and publish at a later date or refuse to publish the release for any reason Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSGrsquos opinion regarding the release NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publicationrsquos standards Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers copy 2016 National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
President At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Vice President Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01gmailcom
Treasurer Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswpaolcom
Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masonschimney-ductcom
Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 infochimneycarecocom
Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bobflueseasoncom
Secretary At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 nopnotchchimneygmailcom
At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 infofireplaceservicecentercom
Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartksaversystemscom
NAT
ION
AL
CHIM
NEY
SW
EEP
GUIL
D
BO
ARD
OF
DIRE
CTO
RS 2
015-
2016
STA
FF
Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkellyncsgorg
Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahonncsgorg
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcorneliusncsgorg
Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmercsiaorg
Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledgencsgorg
Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlettncsgorg
Jordan Whitt CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing jwhittcsiaorg
Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashleycsiaorg
Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichtingncsgorg
2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax (317) 837-5365
Be advised that advice given by NCSGrsquos Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry However we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace andor chimney Additionally local laws and ordinances may govern andor supersede the information and any recommendations provided Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms
To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question
Resources
COM
MIT
TEE
CHA
IRS
and
TASK
FO
RCES
201
5 ndash 2
016
3
SWEEPING
April 2016
Convention tried to kill mehellipagain But I wouldnrsquot miss it for the world
Anyone close to me knows of my interesting experiences with attending convention The first convention I attended was in Colorado It was my first real year I had attended convention My business was new and funds were not abundant but I knew the investment in the trip would pay off many times over (and it has) To save money Bart Ogden set me up with some roommates Two crazy guys from Ireland you may remember them as the 2 Davids from Ireland A day or two into the convention I woke up in the middle of the night and spent a restless night praying to the porcelain God (you know what I mean) I determined that I had gotten food poisoning from Dave and Busters that night
During the Hershey Pennsylvania convention we got stuck in Detroit for a couple days due to a horrible snow storm plaguing the area At the Indianapolis convention I ended up in the hospital with a rare skin infection Where was that rare skin infection you ask Of all placesin my belly button Deep deep in there About 9 pm in the evening went to the hospital and got checked in because they were worried about the skin infection moving to my bloodstream Had a consult with a surgeon the next morning That afternoon I was in surgery (throat tube and all) then with a belly packed full of gauze back to my hospital bed I knew I had to get up and moving if I wanted to get back to convention From my nursing background I knew that if a
patient is up and moving after surgery they would rush to get you out of the hospital because they need the space and you are more likely to get an infection in a hospital than at home So several hours after surgery and after the morphine had wore off I was walking the hallways of the surgical rehab unit The next morning the surgeon visited me yanked the gauze out of my reconstructed belly button (one of the most painful experiences I have EVER experienced) and discharged me I was checked in had surgery and back to convention in approx 34 hours No one really believed me except for Marge and Gene Padgitt who actually came and visited me in the hospital
This year I found myself exhausted Thursday before convention I got home from work and went straight to bed I managed to go to work Friday and made it through the day to only come home that evening and straight back to bed Saturday I spent the entire day in bed My kids packed me for the convention trip
I have a 3-day rule when I get sick (which typically I only get sick once or twice a year) Of course Sunday morning Brandi and I had to jump a plane for Orlando We arrived in Orlando and I was like a zombie It took everything I had to walk through the airport collect our bags and search (yes search) for our rental car We arrived at the Rosen hotel and after a chair nap in the lobby our room was ready I crawled into bed (3 pm in the afternoon) and stayed there until the next morning
The next morning we found a
Presidentrsquos
LetterJeremy Biswell
President
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
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Engineered Excellence 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom copy2016
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
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ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
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PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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Subject to credit approvalGood for qualified orders from
March 1 through September 30 2016
Same day shipping for orders placed before 300PM Eastern Time
FIREPLACE WOOD
AND GAS HEATING
PRODUCTS
16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016
Table of Contents
Departments
FeaturesSweeping April 2016 Volume 40 Issue 3
Presidentrsquos Letter 3Editorrsquos Letter 5Coachrsquos Corner 10Sweeps Advantage 16Progressive Perks 17Technical QampA 18Date and Events 33New Members 34Classifieds 35Darwin Award 40
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine That Could
Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Swedes Sweep New York
Convention Recap
Why Crown Coatings Fail
6 14 19 24 30
Cover Photo For the April issue of Sweeping we did something special with the cover photo and put it up on the auction block at the 2016 CSIA Annual Auction The winner was Jim Pritchett of Certified Sweeps of Brookston Ind Thank you Jim for your donation to CSIA and its programs Featured in the picture is Jimrsquos employee Ron Moser along with auction volunteers Lauren Pilger and Erin Dawson
April 2016
TECH
NIC
AL
AD
VISO
RY C
OU
NCI
L Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x 2
Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 (317) 203-0088 x 3
John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing Relining or NFPA 31 (317) 203-0088 x 4
Randy Brooks IRC NFPA 211 or Customer Communications (317) 203-0088 x 5
Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x 6
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (317) 203-0088 x 7
Jay Walker Dryer Vents (317) 203-0088 x 8
Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls (317) 203-0088 x 9
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry (317) 203-0088 x
Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining (317) 203-0088 x 0
BylawsJasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01yahoocom
Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andyrooftopchimneysweepscon
GovernanceJay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJaolcom
Government AffairsMike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
International RelationsJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bobflueseasoncom
NFPA 211 RepresentativeJim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
NFPA 31 RepresentativeJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
Technical Advisory CouncilMichael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweepsoptonlinenet
Scholarship Committee Greg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping The Journal of Chimney amp Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingadsmecom Layout and design by David Bruce Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry Submissions should not contain direct solicitations prices or a call to action on the part of our readers Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a jpg format In all cases NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations keep the release and publish at a later date or refuse to publish the release for any reason Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSGrsquos opinion regarding the release NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publicationrsquos standards Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers copy 2016 National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
President At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Vice President Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01gmailcom
Treasurer Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswpaolcom
Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masonschimney-ductcom
Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 infochimneycarecocom
Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bobflueseasoncom
Secretary At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 nopnotchchimneygmailcom
At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 infofireplaceservicecentercom
Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartksaversystemscom
NAT
ION
AL
CHIM
NEY
SW
EEP
GUIL
D
BO
ARD
OF
DIRE
CTO
RS 2
015-
2016
STA
FF
Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkellyncsgorg
Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahonncsgorg
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcorneliusncsgorg
Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmercsiaorg
Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledgencsgorg
Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlettncsgorg
Jordan Whitt CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing jwhittcsiaorg
Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashleycsiaorg
Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichtingncsgorg
2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax (317) 837-5365
Be advised that advice given by NCSGrsquos Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry However we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace andor chimney Additionally local laws and ordinances may govern andor supersede the information and any recommendations provided Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms
To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question
Resources
COM
MIT
TEE
CHA
IRS
and
TASK
FO
RCES
201
5 ndash 2
016
3
SWEEPING
April 2016
Convention tried to kill mehellipagain But I wouldnrsquot miss it for the world
Anyone close to me knows of my interesting experiences with attending convention The first convention I attended was in Colorado It was my first real year I had attended convention My business was new and funds were not abundant but I knew the investment in the trip would pay off many times over (and it has) To save money Bart Ogden set me up with some roommates Two crazy guys from Ireland you may remember them as the 2 Davids from Ireland A day or two into the convention I woke up in the middle of the night and spent a restless night praying to the porcelain God (you know what I mean) I determined that I had gotten food poisoning from Dave and Busters that night
During the Hershey Pennsylvania convention we got stuck in Detroit for a couple days due to a horrible snow storm plaguing the area At the Indianapolis convention I ended up in the hospital with a rare skin infection Where was that rare skin infection you ask Of all placesin my belly button Deep deep in there About 9 pm in the evening went to the hospital and got checked in because they were worried about the skin infection moving to my bloodstream Had a consult with a surgeon the next morning That afternoon I was in surgery (throat tube and all) then with a belly packed full of gauze back to my hospital bed I knew I had to get up and moving if I wanted to get back to convention From my nursing background I knew that if a
patient is up and moving after surgery they would rush to get you out of the hospital because they need the space and you are more likely to get an infection in a hospital than at home So several hours after surgery and after the morphine had wore off I was walking the hallways of the surgical rehab unit The next morning the surgeon visited me yanked the gauze out of my reconstructed belly button (one of the most painful experiences I have EVER experienced) and discharged me I was checked in had surgery and back to convention in approx 34 hours No one really believed me except for Marge and Gene Padgitt who actually came and visited me in the hospital
This year I found myself exhausted Thursday before convention I got home from work and went straight to bed I managed to go to work Friday and made it through the day to only come home that evening and straight back to bed Saturday I spent the entire day in bed My kids packed me for the convention trip
I have a 3-day rule when I get sick (which typically I only get sick once or twice a year) Of course Sunday morning Brandi and I had to jump a plane for Orlando We arrived in Orlando and I was like a zombie It took everything I had to walk through the airport collect our bags and search (yes search) for our rental car We arrived at the Rosen hotel and after a chair nap in the lobby our room was ready I crawled into bed (3 pm in the afternoon) and stayed there until the next morning
The next morning we found a
Presidentrsquos
LetterJeremy Biswell
President
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
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Engineered Excellence 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom copy2016
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
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ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
Tommy Nelms Sweeps amp Ladders
PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
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ENERVEX
MY FIREPLACE PRODUCTS
INC
SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016
TECH
NIC
AL
AD
VISO
RY C
OU
NCI
L Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x 2
Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 (317) 203-0088 x 3
John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing Relining or NFPA 31 (317) 203-0088 x 4
Randy Brooks IRC NFPA 211 or Customer Communications (317) 203-0088 x 5
Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x 6
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (317) 203-0088 x 7
Jay Walker Dryer Vents (317) 203-0088 x 8
Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls (317) 203-0088 x 9
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry (317) 203-0088 x
Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining (317) 203-0088 x 0
BylawsJasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01yahoocom
Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andyrooftopchimneysweepscon
GovernanceJay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJaolcom
Government AffairsMike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
International RelationsJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bobflueseasoncom
NFPA 211 RepresentativeJim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
NFPA 31 RepresentativeJohn Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneymanaolcom
NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewermagic-sweepcom
Technical Advisory CouncilMichael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweepsoptonlinenet
Scholarship Committee Greg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping The Journal of Chimney amp Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingadsmecom Layout and design by David Bruce Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry Submissions should not contain direct solicitations prices or a call to action on the part of our readers Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a jpg format In all cases NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations keep the release and publish at a later date or refuse to publish the release for any reason Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSGrsquos opinion regarding the release NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publicationrsquos standards Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers copy 2016 National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
President At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothersyahoocom
Vice President Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01gmailcom
Treasurer Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswpaolcom
Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguyaolcom
Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masonschimney-ductcom
Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 infochimneycarecocom
Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bobflueseasoncom
Secretary At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweepattnet
At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 nopnotchchimneygmailcom
At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 infofireplaceservicecentercom
Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartksaversystemscom
NAT
ION
AL
CHIM
NEY
SW
EEP
GUIL
D
BO
ARD
OF
DIRE
CTO
RS 2
015-
2016
STA
FF
Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkellyncsgorg
Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahonncsgorg
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcorneliusncsgorg
Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmercsiaorg
Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledgencsgorg
Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlettncsgorg
Jordan Whitt CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing jwhittcsiaorg
Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashleycsiaorg
Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichtingncsgorg
2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax (317) 837-5365
Be advised that advice given by NCSGrsquos Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry However we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace andor chimney Additionally local laws and ordinances may govern andor supersede the information and any recommendations provided Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms
To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question
Resources
COM
MIT
TEE
CHA
IRS
and
TASK
FO
RCES
201
5 ndash 2
016
3
SWEEPING
April 2016
Convention tried to kill mehellipagain But I wouldnrsquot miss it for the world
Anyone close to me knows of my interesting experiences with attending convention The first convention I attended was in Colorado It was my first real year I had attended convention My business was new and funds were not abundant but I knew the investment in the trip would pay off many times over (and it has) To save money Bart Ogden set me up with some roommates Two crazy guys from Ireland you may remember them as the 2 Davids from Ireland A day or two into the convention I woke up in the middle of the night and spent a restless night praying to the porcelain God (you know what I mean) I determined that I had gotten food poisoning from Dave and Busters that night
During the Hershey Pennsylvania convention we got stuck in Detroit for a couple days due to a horrible snow storm plaguing the area At the Indianapolis convention I ended up in the hospital with a rare skin infection Where was that rare skin infection you ask Of all placesin my belly button Deep deep in there About 9 pm in the evening went to the hospital and got checked in because they were worried about the skin infection moving to my bloodstream Had a consult with a surgeon the next morning That afternoon I was in surgery (throat tube and all) then with a belly packed full of gauze back to my hospital bed I knew I had to get up and moving if I wanted to get back to convention From my nursing background I knew that if a
patient is up and moving after surgery they would rush to get you out of the hospital because they need the space and you are more likely to get an infection in a hospital than at home So several hours after surgery and after the morphine had wore off I was walking the hallways of the surgical rehab unit The next morning the surgeon visited me yanked the gauze out of my reconstructed belly button (one of the most painful experiences I have EVER experienced) and discharged me I was checked in had surgery and back to convention in approx 34 hours No one really believed me except for Marge and Gene Padgitt who actually came and visited me in the hospital
This year I found myself exhausted Thursday before convention I got home from work and went straight to bed I managed to go to work Friday and made it through the day to only come home that evening and straight back to bed Saturday I spent the entire day in bed My kids packed me for the convention trip
I have a 3-day rule when I get sick (which typically I only get sick once or twice a year) Of course Sunday morning Brandi and I had to jump a plane for Orlando We arrived in Orlando and I was like a zombie It took everything I had to walk through the airport collect our bags and search (yes search) for our rental car We arrived at the Rosen hotel and after a chair nap in the lobby our room was ready I crawled into bed (3 pm in the afternoon) and stayed there until the next morning
The next morning we found a
Presidentrsquos
LetterJeremy Biswell
President
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
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5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
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PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Contact your local distributor
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
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The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
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Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
3
SWEEPING
April 2016
Convention tried to kill mehellipagain But I wouldnrsquot miss it for the world
Anyone close to me knows of my interesting experiences with attending convention The first convention I attended was in Colorado It was my first real year I had attended convention My business was new and funds were not abundant but I knew the investment in the trip would pay off many times over (and it has) To save money Bart Ogden set me up with some roommates Two crazy guys from Ireland you may remember them as the 2 Davids from Ireland A day or two into the convention I woke up in the middle of the night and spent a restless night praying to the porcelain God (you know what I mean) I determined that I had gotten food poisoning from Dave and Busters that night
During the Hershey Pennsylvania convention we got stuck in Detroit for a couple days due to a horrible snow storm plaguing the area At the Indianapolis convention I ended up in the hospital with a rare skin infection Where was that rare skin infection you ask Of all placesin my belly button Deep deep in there About 9 pm in the evening went to the hospital and got checked in because they were worried about the skin infection moving to my bloodstream Had a consult with a surgeon the next morning That afternoon I was in surgery (throat tube and all) then with a belly packed full of gauze back to my hospital bed I knew I had to get up and moving if I wanted to get back to convention From my nursing background I knew that if a
patient is up and moving after surgery they would rush to get you out of the hospital because they need the space and you are more likely to get an infection in a hospital than at home So several hours after surgery and after the morphine had wore off I was walking the hallways of the surgical rehab unit The next morning the surgeon visited me yanked the gauze out of my reconstructed belly button (one of the most painful experiences I have EVER experienced) and discharged me I was checked in had surgery and back to convention in approx 34 hours No one really believed me except for Marge and Gene Padgitt who actually came and visited me in the hospital
This year I found myself exhausted Thursday before convention I got home from work and went straight to bed I managed to go to work Friday and made it through the day to only come home that evening and straight back to bed Saturday I spent the entire day in bed My kids packed me for the convention trip
I have a 3-day rule when I get sick (which typically I only get sick once or twice a year) Of course Sunday morning Brandi and I had to jump a plane for Orlando We arrived in Orlando and I was like a zombie It took everything I had to walk through the airport collect our bags and search (yes search) for our rental car We arrived at the Rosen hotel and after a chair nap in the lobby our room was ready I crawled into bed (3 pm in the afternoon) and stayed there until the next morning
The next morning we found a
Presidentrsquos
LetterJeremy Biswell
President
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
Safely Reline A Factory-Built Chimney DuraVent Has A SolutionThe UL Listed patent pending lining system designed and tested to be installed in a Factory Built Chimney for wood coal oil gas or pellet burning appliances When an insert is installed into an existing UL 127 listed fireplace relining the existing chimney is critical for proper performance and safety
Find out more at wwwduraventcom
Engineered Excellence 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom copy2016
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800--545545--66076607
infofiresafeinccom infofiresafeinccom wwwfiresafeinccomwwwfiresafeinccom
FireFireGuardGuard Ceramic mortar jointCeramic mortar jointCeramic mortar joint amp resurfacing systemamp resurfacing systemamp resurfacing system
PatentedPatented The most advanced chimney liner in the world
reg
CrownGuardCrownGuard Severe weather crown repair amp protectionSevere weather crown repair amp protection
Centering system for metal chimney liners
ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
Tommy Nelms Sweeps amp Ladders
PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
That Could
Taylor Hill Spark Marketer
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
A Division Of Fireside Distributors ~ Raleigh NC1-866-880-3473
Call For Your FREE Catalog TODAY
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SCHEDULE
DAY ONE 830AM ndash 5PM (LUNCH PROVIDED)
Metal Chimney Liner Installations
by Mike Segerstrom
CSIA CEUrsquos - 275 Technical175 Codes amp
Standards100 Health amp Safety50
DAY TWO 8AM ndash NOONEverything You need to know about sizing liners
by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
Register Online Today at
OLYMPIACHIMNEYCOM
or Call 570-504-7177
This Educational Summit is being brought to you by
CHIMNEY AND VENTING SEMINARS
the 2016 seminar everyone is talking about
10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
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The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
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bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
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CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
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Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
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Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
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Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
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Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016
healthcare clinic at a Walgreens They did a flu test and it came back negative They determined that I likely had the flu (yes I had gotten a flu shot this year as I do every year) and I was on the tail end of it Since there isnrsquot much you can do for a virus they gave me a pill to help with my cough and strong Tylenol to help me rest and my fever
The next day I was not getting better I was still feeling miserable and hadnrsquot eaten anything for days I was going through a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water every hour and still felt dehydrated The morning of the membership meeting and kickoff of convention I could not get out of bed I had to text staff and Guild Vice President Jasper Drengler to take over for me
I wasnrsquot going to be able to make it to our rental car to go see another doctor so we had a doctor visit me in the hotel room After several tests and another flu test (negative again) she determined that I had a very severe case of bronchitis and if left treated any longer would have become pneumonia and I would be admitted into the hospital The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and ordered 2 IV bags to my room Yup you can get IVrsquos via room service
Brandi ran to fill my prescriptions Keep in mind bronchitis is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics but if left untreated can lead to serious hospitalization The healthcare clinic had misdiagnosed me Not good Not good at all Brandi returned as the IV nurse had showed up The IV nurse stuck me in
2 different places looking for a vein I was so dehydrated that my veins were not showing up Luckily Brandi has a gift for finding veins and successfully hooking up IVrsquos The IV nurse let Brandi give it a try and she got it first try I did notice a smile on her face as she was sticking me with the needle and she did admit she always enjoyed finding veins and administering IVrsquos in the hospital Thank God for my wife With a very heavy dose of antibiotics and some fresh fluids running into my veins I was starting to feel better than I had for 6 days
The very next day I was back in action What an experience I was excited to finally see and talk with my beloved colleagues and convention attendees
All of life is an experience Even when bad things happen they can be solved I had a great time at convention I am blessed to be your president of the NCSG
The classes were well attended and the trade show was fantastic I had the honor of presenting the Friendship award to Bonnie Bowser and the Presidentrsquos Award to Jay Walker two very deserving people on our industry
I am very excited for next yearrsquos convention in Louisville Kentucky The National Chimney Sweep Guild will be celebrating 40 years This yearrsquos convention gave me another good story to tell I cherish every moment this wonderful industry provides me
Jeremy Biswell NCSG President
Safely Reline A Factory-Built Chimney DuraVent Has A SolutionThe UL Listed patent pending lining system designed and tested to be installed in a Factory Built Chimney for wood coal oil gas or pellet burning appliances When an insert is installed into an existing UL 127 listed fireplace relining the existing chimney is critical for proper performance and safety
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Engineered Excellence 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom copy2016
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800--545545--66076607
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ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
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PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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FIREPLACE WOOD
AND GAS HEATING
PRODUCTS
16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
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SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
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Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
5
SWEEPING
April 2016
Happy Spring Sweeps
Here at the Tech Center we are putting away
convention stuff and gearing up to for summer education classes This issue is our annual wrap up for of our annual convention and it is packed
First of all I would like to thank our volunteer convention reporter Justin Bailey of Baileyrsquos Chimney Cleaning and Repair in Taos NM For the past two conventions Justin has volunteered to write all the articles in the convention recap section You will also find throughout the issue many of our regular contributors wrote about their convention experiences as well
In addition to all the convention content this issue also features
a great article on why crown coatings fail written by Stuart Karanovich from SaverSystems
Sweeping Magazine would also like to extend a huge congratulations to monthly contributor Mike Segerstrom on his CSIA Don Leavitt Education Award win at this yearrsquos convention for his contributions to industry education Along with answering your questions in his monthly Tech Q and A column Mike also is the chair of the NCSG Technical Advisory Council a member of the CSIA Board of Directors and a CSIA instructor
We hope you enjoy this convention recap issue and make plans to join us in Louisville in 2017
Cheers
EditorrsquosLetter
Darcy Marlett Editor
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call 800--545545--66076607
infofiresafeinccom infofiresafeinccom wwwfiresafeinccomwwwfiresafeinccom
FireFireGuardGuard Ceramic mortar jointCeramic mortar jointCeramic mortar joint amp resurfacing systemamp resurfacing systemamp resurfacing system
PatentedPatented The most advanced chimney liner in the world
reg
CrownGuardCrownGuard Severe weather crown repair amp protectionSevere weather crown repair amp protection
Centering system for metal chimney liners
ldquoThanks again for both you and Dan following up with me about the training I received at your facility Dan and Steve were great teachers and they were both very knowledgeable about the products that you sell We looked at many different resurfacing products that are out in the market and I did not find anything that I was excited about until I heard about your product Fire-Guard It hands down blows the competition away The ease of use corporate technical support and the unbelievable quality of the product itself truly sets it apart form the rest It is a game changer for our business Please keep up the good work and I look forward to working with you and your staff for a long timerdquo
Tommy Nelms Sweeps amp Ladders
PS Looking for more convention photos Head to the National Chimney Sweep Guild Facebook page for 100 photos taken by our volunteer photographer Blume
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
That Could
Taylor Hill Spark Marketer
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
A Division Of Fireside Distributors ~ Raleigh NC1-866-880-3473
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DAY ONE 830AM ndash 5PM (LUNCH PROVIDED)
Metal Chimney Liner Installations
by Mike Segerstrom
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Standards100 Health amp Safety50
DAY TWO 8AM ndash NOONEverything You need to know about sizing liners
by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
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OLYMPIACHIMNEYCOM
or Call 570-504-7177
This Educational Summit is being brought to you by
CHIMNEY AND VENTING SEMINARS
the 2016 seminar everyone is talking about
10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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of the Chimney
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
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Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
6
SWEEPING
April 2016
Have you ever spent time around someone who seems to live under a dark cloud You know who Irsquom talking
about mdash everything bad is always happening to them and they never have anything good to say What about someone who seems to have sunshine and rainbows everywhere they go with the Popersquos blessing on everything they do Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the two Why does one person have all the luck while another gets kicked around Irsquom here to tell you that itrsquos largely attitude
Attitude is one of the most powerful and influential things no matter what yoursquore doing but it can be especially powerful when it comes to how you approach marketing for your business
Are you going into every email campaign every social interaction every strategy with the mindset that itrsquos all just a waste of time and money and nothing good will ever come from
it Or are you investing time and resources into things that have potential to get you closer to your goals even if it takes some time
If you belong to the former camp you can expect to get exactly what yoursquore putting out nothing but disappointment If you belong to the latter that wonrsquot be the case In the latter camp even if a certain marketing strategy doesnrsquot yield great results yoursquoll have an open mindset and the determination to take a step back look at what worked and what didnrsquot and adjust your path accordingly mdash all while keeping your eyes on the prize
Someone in the former camp will give it a quick try and give up The fear of failing again or being disappointed again will cast a negative light on every other possible marketing strategy and leave you fearful and cynical thinking ldquoWhy botherrdquo But what are you really distancing yourself from when you react this way Is it success or failure
Are You Chicken Little Or The Little Engine
That Could
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
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DAY ONE 830AM ndash 5PM (LUNCH PROVIDED)
Metal Chimney Liner Installations
by Mike Segerstrom
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DAY TWO 8AM ndash NOONEverything You need to know about sizing liners
by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
SAVE 25 Become a PRO on MyFireplaceProductscom and get 25 off your purchases over $1000 Your order is below $1000donrsquot worry - you get an automatic 15 rebate Moreover if there is more than 1 item on your order you get a combined items discount of $10 on each additional item
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ENERVEX
MY FIREPLACE PRODUCTS
INC
SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
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Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
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April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
A Division Of Fireside Distributors ~ Raleigh NC1-866-880-3473
Call For Your FREE Catalog TODAY
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Headquarters
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COST $139 per person
SCHEDULE
DAY ONE 830AM ndash 5PM (LUNCH PROVIDED)
Metal Chimney Liner Installations
by Mike Segerstrom
CSIA CEUrsquos - 275 Technical175 Codes amp
Standards100 Health amp Safety50
DAY TWO 8AM ndash NOONEverything You need to know about sizing liners
by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
Register Online Today at
OLYMPIACHIMNEYCOM
or Call 570-504-7177
This Educational Summit is being brought to you by
CHIMNEY AND VENTING SEMINARS
the 2016 seminar everyone is talking about
10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
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the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
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the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
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Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016
Is The Sky Really Falling Or Have You Just Decided SoRemember Chicken Little One little acorn fell and she thought it was the end of the world She was so consumed by her imagined fear and by her fatalistic ldquothe sky is fallingrdquo mentality that she couldnrsquot make any sort of rational or well thought out decisions The only outcome in her mind was total disaster so she ran around like a chicken with her head cut off and followed the fox right to her literal death
When it comes to marketing decisions and strategies we see this all the time Yes stepping out and taking risks for your business can be scary especially if yoursquove been let down before mdash but is your
fear real or imagined Just because one thing didnrsquot work doesnrsquot mean nothing will
You have to keep at it and figure out what works for you your business and your clients No two businesses are alike and there isnrsquot a one-size-fits-all solution But how will you know what will work if you stop trying after one disappointment
Do You Think You CanNow take The Little Engine That Could He was faced with the same obstacles that every other engine was facing and he had no advantages over the others except that his mentality was different Every other engine that was asked to pull the heavy load simply refused because it was too heavy The Little Engine on the other hand had a different attitude
ldquoI think I canrdquo he repeated as he made efforts to reach his goal And you know what He did
When it comes to investing in marketing and trying new things so many business owners either donrsquot want to put in the work because it seems like too daunting of a task or they just donrsquot believe anything will work for them But you wonrsquot know if you donrsquot try Although the statistics vary a large percentage of small businesses fail within the first five years Extenuating circumstances aside Irsquod be willing to bet that the biggest difference between those that fail and those that survive is attitude
Mindset matters in everything including marketing But Irsquom just Taylor Hill Herersquos Thomas Jefferson
ldquoNothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attituderdquo Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates sparkmarketer facebookcomsparkmarketer taylorkhill
Serving Sweeps for 35+ Years
A Division Of Fireside Distributors ~ Raleigh NC1-866-880-3473
Call For Your FREE Catalog TODAY
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Metal Chimney Liner Installations
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by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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of the Chimney
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
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COST $139 per person
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DAY ONE 830AM ndash 5PM (LUNCH PROVIDED)
Metal Chimney Liner Installations
by Mike Segerstrom
CSIA CEUrsquos - 275 Technical175 Codes amp
Standards100 Health amp Safety50
DAY TWO 8AM ndash NOONEverything You need to know about sizing liners
by Bill RyanCEUrsquos - TBD
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10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
SAVE 25 Become a PRO on MyFireplaceProductscom and get 25 off your purchases over $1000 Your order is below $1000donrsquot worry - you get an automatic 15 rebate Moreover if there is more than 1 item on your order you get a combined items discount of $10 on each additional item
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ENERVEX
MY FIREPLACE PRODUCTS
INC
SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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of the Chimney
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
10
SWEEPING
April 2016
Coachrsquos Corner
Greg Polokow
When you consider the vast array of possible classroom
settings Irsquom guessing the inside of a work service truck might come up on the bottom of most peoplersquos list Whereas what wersquove discovered while working with chimney technicians in the field suggests just the opposite Giving instruction coaching suggestions and ideas while driving around with a tech in the field turns out to be far more effective than offering the same training in a classroom It also builds a rapport that further supports the teaching experience
Why Itrsquos simple because when you instruct in the field following contact with real homeowners in their places of residence the information becomes far more relevant and immediate
Think about it Yoursquove just finished a home visit Itrsquos fresh in your mind Any suggestions or observations you make while driving to the next appointment are going to be far more meaningful because they relate to a very real and very recent situation Therersquos nothing hypothetical here We are talking about reviewing and discussing something that just happened
Thatrsquos why when you are one on one with a technician driving from one appointment to another the exchange of ideas answers to questions flow of information etc becomes far more interesting and lively Which is to say both the chimney technician and the instructor are way more engaged in the process Itrsquos
the difference between a good reality TV show and almost any other dramatized version of life
All of that adds up to a very important educational outcome the material is much more likely to be heard accepted digested and retained And that means it is also more likely to be applied once the training is over Because no matter how profound the knowledge passed on in training if it never gets applied in the field itrsquos simply useless
The other very cool benefit of teaching observing and training this way is obvious It does not require any interruption to the flow of business Therersquos simply no need to pull your technicians out of the field for a day when the ideal setting for this kind of training is IN the field and ON the job
It is in fact as valuable as any on the job training you can imagine Because at the end of the day the instructor has not only conveyed the information in the most relevant and immediate setting possible the workplace He is also very well prepared to give the kind of objective evaluation of the technicianrsquos level of skill and areas where more training may be needed that can only be discovered by observing the technician in the actual work setting
Because letrsquos face it observing key areas of performance in the field is where it matters most These areas include customer communication customer service work efficiency core values ability to troubleshoot technical competence clarity of explanations
Tech Check ndash The Value of the Ride
Along
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
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The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016
sales strengthsweaknesses closing ability and attitude In other words all the areas of competence every sweep business needs in the team that represents them in the field
The reality is most sweep business owners just donrsquot have the time for this all important task In fact given all the other things needed keep their business running smoothly and profitably taking time to do this is probably not even advisable
And even if they did have time it seems unlikely the owner of a business will be as objective and thorough as someone outside the business One must be able to do this free of emotion free of prejudgement and preconceived opinions of any kind Otherwise it can quickly break down into a fault finding session where
nothing is accomplished except creating bad feelings That would be totally counterproductive
People learn best in environments that are non-threatening Thatrsquos equally true of adults as it is of children Scolding does not lead to learning because the person on the receiving end of the scolding shuts down I wish more teachers understood this
The beauty of the ride along allows for real time teaching coaching and objective evaluation of a home service businessrsquo most important assets the technicians that represent them every single day in the homes of their customers And while this may be a task difficult for you to find time for it doesnrsquot in any way diminish the value of doing it
Itrsquos also important to remember that like all efforts to pass on new information and new behaviors it requires repetition Very few people learn anything in a way they can utilize on the first pass It has to be repeated followed up on reviewed and reinforced If that were not the case we could probably shorten the school year dramatically
Clearly this approach to teaching would be inappropriate for the initial phase of instruction for highly technical tasks Learning the basics of gas servicing for instance is much better suited to a classroom But for the kinds of skills listed above as someone who has taught in a variety of settings I have enormous confidence in the ride along approach
But thatrsquos not just my opinion Service industry experts like Ellen Rohr also strongly recommend this teaching approach The fact is this training approach is used in many other home service industries very simply because it works
Like so many things in business and life the proof is in the pudding You simply have to try it to see its value
Give it a shot I think yoursquoll be pleasantly surprised how ideal this approach can beGreg is an industry educator and coach He served for many years as the Vice President of Sales amp Marketing at Copperfield Chimney Supply Greg is a member of the CVC Coaching Team For more information about Greg and how the CVC team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level take a look at wwwcvccoachingcom Greg can be contacted at gregcvccoachingcom Follow Greg on Twitter at Greg-cvccoachTtrader108
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
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extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
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17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
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14
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos A Wrap Closing Thoughts On The 2016 NCSG Convention
Another NCSG Convention has come and gone
and I had the honor to co-present twice in Orlando with Chris Van Leeuwen from Veracity Insurance For those of you that attended one of
our seminars you may think we painted a pretty bleak picture of the sweep industryrsquos insurance and litigation risks While certainly the industry has its risks the main point of our presentation and one I hope one that we conveyed was to drive home that there are a number of activities sweeps can take to limit the inherent industry risks
Unfortunately one cannot ever eliminate risk This is true for all industries and businesses the chimney and hearth industry certainly included In fact this is even true in your personal life For example think about the risk you accept every time you drive your vehicle The risk can range from someone else harming you by causing
property damage injury or death or inversely you causing the same outcomes by your driving While most people manage that risk by purchasing auto insurance such insurance never fully eliminates the risk of operating a vehicle One can also limit the inherent risks of driving through their own activities such as obeying traffic laws paying full attention to the road and utilizing the vehicle safety devices (ie seat belts air bags etc)
The same situation is true in business and there are inherent risks within each industry For the chimney and hearth industry the most glaring risk is that onersquos work or service could cause or contribute to a fire If a fire occurs it certainly will cause property damage and in some unfortunate situations can also cause injury or death These are factors sweeps should keep in mind when deciding what type of insurance coverage to purchase and with what limits
In that regard much like purchasing auto insurance it is important that sweeps obtain the proper liability insurance coverage with appropriate policy limits To do that sweeps
Eugene M LaFlamme
15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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PRODUCTS
16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
SAVE 25 Become a PRO on MyFireplaceProductscom and get 25 off your purchases over $1000 Your order is below $1000donrsquot worry - you get an automatic 15 rebate Moreover if there is more than 1 item on your order you get a combined items discount of $10 on each additional item
SAVE $200 $200 on 1st month services that include custom web and mobile web design amp maintenance site design amp hosting email design and more Pricing and availability based on your area
ENERVEX
MY FIREPLACE PRODUCTS
INC
SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
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- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
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15
SWEEPING
April 2016
should work closely with their insurance agent or broker and make sure the agentbroker fully understands the size nature and activities of the business It is also worth considering purchasing an excess policy which comparatively speaking is not too expensive for the additional coverage it provides
We also discussed during our presentation that risk can be further managed through various in-house programs such as education training and thorough documentation While the CSIA and NFI certifications certainly have value from a marketing perspective and they should be utilized as such these certifications also help sweeps manage risk through the continuing education requirements Education and training should be ongoing endeavors that sweeps continually engage in throughout the year Sweeps that actively engage in education and training generally make less mistakes than sweeps that shirk these activities The less mistakes that are made the lower the chance a claim will be made against onersquos company
Thorough documentation also should not be limited to just written documents While it is vitally important to maintain thorough and complete written records it is also important to incorporate site and work photographs into a sweeprsquos documentation program These days most people walk around with a high quality digital camera on their smart phone Consequently taking photographs before during and after a sweeprsquos work is not as difficult or time consuming as it used to be I always recommend taking a picture before starting your work take some photographs during the work and then take final photographs when the job is completed Those photographs could become invaluable if someone subsequently attempts to make a claim against youEugene M LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases Eugenersquos practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries He can be contacted at elaflammeMLLlawcom or (262) 522-7000
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PRODUCTS
16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
SAVE 25 Become a PRO on MyFireplaceProductscom and get 25 off your purchases over $1000 Your order is below $1000donrsquot worry - you get an automatic 15 rebate Moreover if there is more than 1 item on your order you get a combined items discount of $10 on each additional item
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SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
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16
SWEEPING
April 2016
䄀搀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀漀 礀漀甀爀 戀漀琀琀漀洀 氀椀渀攀吀栀攀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 猀礀猀琀攀洀 椀猀 愀 渀漀渀ⴀ搀攀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀瘀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 爀攀瀀愀椀爀 挀栀椀洀渀攀礀 椀渀琀攀爀椀漀爀猀 琀栀愀琀 猀愀瘀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀椀洀攀 愀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 洀漀渀攀礀
嘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀挀攀挀甀爀攀挀栀椀洀渀攀礀挀漀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 洀漀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀漀眀 䠀攀愀琀匀栀椀攀氀搀 眀漀爀欀猀
㠀 ⴀ㜀ⴀ㜀 㠀 ⴀ㔀㘀㤀ⴀ㐀㔀
㠀 ⴀ㠀㤀㜀ⴀ㠀㐀㠀 㠀 ⴀ㐀㜀ⴀ 㔀
The 2015 ndash 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo section of the NCSG website at wwwNCSGorg
These coupons will be good until June 30 2016 unless otherwise noted
Copperfield Chimney Supply | ENERVEX Inc | Fireside Distributors | HY-C Company LLC | My Fireplace Products Inc | National Chimney | Spark Marketer | The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) | Z-Flex | Wakefield Brush
These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Visit wwwNCSGorg ldquoMembers Onlyrdquo to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem Add your company name to the list of participating supplier membersContact Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator at dcorneliusncsgorg
Featured Coupons of the Month
AdvAntAgeSweeps
SAVE $$ FREE ndash Chimney Fan Display on loan for any home show in your area
SAVE $200 Save $200 towards a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS 12 or RS 14 with handle and 3-prong plug)
SAVE 25 Become a PRO on MyFireplaceProductscom and get 25 off your purchases over $1000 Your order is below $1000donrsquot worry - you get an automatic 15 rebate Moreover if there is more than 1 item on your order you get a combined items discount of $10 on each additional item
SAVE $200 $200 on 1st month services that include custom web and mobile web design amp maintenance site design amp hosting email design and more Pricing and availability based on your area
ENERVEX
MY FIREPLACE PRODUCTS
INC
SPARK MARKETER
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
17
SWEEPING
April 2016
Each year during my tenure I have had the opportunity to recruit
volunteers for various jobs at the NCSG Convention and Trade show I use the word opportunity because it not only gives me a chance to meet new attendees but I also have some time to visit with those I have worked with in the pastEach year organizing and assigning volunteer support has gotten easier and easier as I think many have found that this can be a lot of fun and gives them a chance to see many of their old friends and meet new ones when working at convention registration and scanning We are also fortunate to have those that assume the same role each year again as a volunteer Special thanks to Joe Sauter and John Click for driving the truck with all the necessary equipment to setup our off site office and for so many other
jobs they did throughout the week To the official convention photographer Blume who pops up when you least expect it and usually with a smile on his face Renee (Ron too) Brigman for efforts in raising money for ldquoSweeps Weekrdquo by organizing the Silent Auction And finally Judd Berg for his organization of the donations roadies and runners and working closely with Randy Atkinson to raise the $$ at the CSIA Auction Yes it takes a village of wonderful and willing volunteers to help the NCSG staff and Board of Directors (volunteers themselves) in making sure it all gets done Thank you for making one of my convention responsibilities so easy and enjoyable
Yes the NCSG Convention Takes a Village Too
Progressive
PerksDebbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
18
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos a really special time when chimney sweeps from across the country and
around the world get together in the same location This year was no exception with record-setting attendance 28 international guests and over 100 first time attendees
When I see sweeps gathered together I think about many of the great things that happen in our industry I get insights on the different markets across the country and feedback from the smallest of companies to the largest
One common theme is that many companies in the same market often work together and call themselves friends The Guild taught me this when I joined over 11 years ago That when you operate and work to a higher standard there is no competition Only friends and then everybody else Taking this attitude improves things all around
Itrsquos great to be able to share ideas and experiences with other companies in our market This makes each company better and gives them the edge over the companies that isolate themselves Having friendships with other local companies also gives us resources if we need to borrow a part if we need a helping hand or have a tough job we need advice to get through
Working together and being friends with other companies also gives the homeowner better options If companies are working together to constantly improve adopt new technology and methods and operate at a higher standard
homeowners in that market have a greater chance of getting top notch service
Companies that isolate themselves and treat everyone else as competition could be hurting themselves in the long run In addition to missing out on friendships and the benefit of local resources these companies might miss out on current changes in the codes and standards innovative new products and tools or methods and tips that help us to perform a better service more efficiently
Whether or not it was your first time at convention this year if you met someone thatrsquos in your market think about staying in touch We are in a very unique trade a very unique industry Therersquos no reason we should feel alone in it Whether we are an employee a manager or an owner networking with other chimney sweeps in our area is just a win-win
On a personal note I have made many friends in this industry across the country One of my best friends owns and operates a chimney service company that could literally be working next door to me on any given day Hersquos not my competition hersquos not the enemy He is my friend Together we have raised the bar locally improved each otherrsquos bottom lines and enriched each otherrsquos lives
So if you are coming back from convention thinking about the guy or the people you met from a company in your neighborhood reach out to them You never know what great things can happen when doors are open
ampTechnical
AMicheal Segerstrom NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Around convention we
usually take a break from the
normal technical questions amp
answers It gives us a chance to
look at and talk about things that
are important but not necessarily
technical
Q
19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
Contact your local distributor
Wohler Trade-In Program
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
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We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
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19
SWEEPING
April 2016
John Pilger NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
So Irsquom sitting in front of my computer reading the post on the NCSG and CSIA Facebook pages and I get an instant message ldquoHello
mister We ara 8 chimney sweeper from sweden we are going to New York 20-24 of january We wouuld like to visit you than if it is ok with you Maybe we could ser your work and Perhaps a dinner with us later Hope to hear from you kind regards Haringkan Melin head chief of 2 district of sweeping in Swedenrdquo I clearly understood his English which is much better than my Swedish I turned to Diane and said with a smile we are going to have company in January The Swedes were coming to New York City for five days and wanted to spend a day watching American Chimney Sweepers work Because of European Union rules they will eventually be going to free market Now Sweden has different districts in which they work in each district had a Master who is the boss or as they say ldquoThe Chiefrdquo
They were staying in the Times Square area and an easy walk to Penn Station to the Long Island Rail Road I met Haringkan about five or six years ago at Spazzacamini the International
Chimney Sweep festival His face looked familiar to me but Irsquom bad with remembering names Irsquove met thousands of sweeps over the last 10 years attending the festival Haringkan is also the Chief in charge of technical advice (Director of Education) and an Instructor in the Swedish Chimney Sweep School Through more correspondence he let me know that there are going to be nine sweeps I gave him directions to the LIRR from NY City to the last stop on the line Ronkonkoma I knew I couldnrsquot fit nine people in my two work vehicles so I enlisted my competitor friend and fellow CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Steven Chiappetta to drive my van while Diane drove her car which holds five and I drove my pick-up which holds five I knew I just couldnrsquot show up at a customerrsquos house with twelve sweeps so I had to let them know in advance and ask permission We collected the Swedes at the train station and they said the hour twenty minute ride from NY City was good
Our first stop of the day was an open Tech Spec III fireplace which had a sudden occurrence IE Chimney Fire We were lucky the room was large and could accommodate all of us We use
Swedes Sweep New York
20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
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978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
Perlon Brush Set PN 5529bull 1- 8 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 10 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 12 inch M10 thread brushbull 1- 14 inch M10 thread brush
Star PEK Brush Set PN 3710bull 2- 6 inch star brushesbull 4- 8 inch star brushsbull 2- 10 inch star brushes
Star Stainless Steel Brush Set PN 3709bull 2- 8 inch star brushesbull 4- 10 inch star brushesbull 4- 12 inch star brushes
Contact your local distributor to learn more
Made in Germany
Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
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the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
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National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
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20
SWEEPING
April 2016
978-750-9876wwwwohlerusacomThe Measure of Technology
middot $600 credit towards a Wohler VIS 400 monitormiddot Pan and tilt color cameramiddot Mini USB for easy data transfermiddot Store photos and video footagemiddot Voice recording for verbal note takingmiddot Power lighting
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Contact your local distributor to learn more
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Wohler Brush Setsavailable in different materials and sizesWohler Brush Sets
extra floor protection and had everyone put booties on This put the homeowner at ease Diane explained that we were going to rotary power sweep the chimney so we could video scan it as part of our NFPA 211 Lever II inspection In Sweden sweeping is generally done from the roof top using a weighted ball and brush on a rope and lower down the flue They were intrigued with the way we took our time and the extra effort we took to sweep the chimney It was time to video scan the chimney A few weeks back I had ordered a new lighthouse combo camera from Estoban Corp and it arrived late afternoon the day before the sweeps arrived I stated to Diane ldquoI hope therersquos no learning curverdquo The last thing I wanted was to look foolish fumbling around with a new camera I then explained the three levels of inspections in NFPA 211 and what triggers each level We called the homeowner in to watch the video scan Using the Lighthouse combo camera and button lock rods we were able to show the homeowners and our fellow chimney sweeps the deficiencies in the smoke chamber the missing mortar joints between the flue tiles and the fractures in the tiles from the chimney fire The Swedes were very impressed on how we interacted with the homeowner and our explaining to him the interior flue damage in plain English I let the homeowner know that we would write up a narrative report with photos of the damage for their insurance company Next I ascended to the chimney top to inspect the chimney for exterior damage Diane then did
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
21
SWEEPING
April 2016
Model VSA-TDWfor air cooled chimney
the authenticAvailable from leading distributors nationwide
The premier chimney cap for keeping smoke out of living spaces
bull Vacu-Stackreg works with single wall double wall triple wall or masonry
bull Solves draft problems related to hills and mountains tall trees and tall buildings near the chimney
bull Sizes available from 3rdquo to 30rdquo+ custom and oversize available Air cooled and non-air cooled
bull Standard construction is 100 austenitic stainless steel also available in other alloys including copper and Type 316 for marinecoal appliances
Improved Consumer Products IncPO Box B Attleboro Falls MA 02763(508) 695-7000 Fax (508) 695-4209wwwchimneycapscom
Although there have been many attempts to copy it over the last 40+ years there is only one Vacu-Stackreg
Always ask for it by name and look for the seal of authenticity on top of the cap
100 made in USA
the customer review with the homeowners as I left our little plastic chimney sweep on the mantle Off to the next job
In Sweden chimney sweeps mostly sweep chimneys and perform little or no repairs
(government rules)
Our next job was to install a very large chimney cap This chimney cap was approximally 3rsquo x 5rsquo outside mount stainless steel hip cap They were very impressed with the quality of
the custom made cap I was a little worried about how it was going to fit because I had assumed that the manufacturer was going to add frac14rdquo to my measurements Well they sent me the cap exactly to the
22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
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CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
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RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
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22
SWEEPING
April 2016
measurements I sent them It was a relief when Steven and I installed the cap and it fit like a glove The Swedes gave us a huge ovation
Our final job of the day was an inspection of a factory built fireplace Another sweep scared the elderly lady stating your whole house is going to burn down if a spark hits the chase top which had been repaired with some tar years ago They also installed a new 5rdquo solid packed chimney cap on an 8rdquo air cooled Superior chimney We advised the homeowner to call back the installing company to fix the problem We even wrote down the information off the fireplace data plate so they could order the proper cap I explained to the sweeps that in America anyone can go to the hardware store buy a brush and vacuum and call themselves a Chimney Sweep They were amazed in Sweden you must have education before you can just go out and sweep chimneys
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
23
SWEEPING
April 2016
When we were finished with our daysrsquo work we came back to my home for some adult refreshments (none for Diane and myself we were driving) until it was time for a late lunchearly dinner One thing that I made them do as I always do with any guest visiting our home is sign my guest book The book is getting very full with sweeps from 25 different States and 11 different countries Diane and I feel very blessed to have such a large chimney sweep family I chose Famous Daversquos Barbeque since it was close by and I figured it was something different for them Well I must say it was a big hit with them best hamburger they ever had best ribs best pulled pork etc When we finished dinner it was back to my house we had about an hour and a half before I had to take them back to the train station We had great conversations on how they do things in Sweden and how we work in the USA I must say they couldnrsquot thank us enough for a great time and we had just as good of a time Of course I was invited to Sweden to visit their training center and work with them and I think Irsquoll take them up on their offer
John Pilger
NCSG and CSIA International Relations Committee
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
24
SWEEPING
April 2016
752 chimney sweeps gathered at the Rosen Plaza Inn in Orlando Fla in late February of 2016 for the annual
convention of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild The Guild set new attendance records with 108 first time attendees and 28 international attendees from 6 countries according to Claire Rutledge CSIA Program Director Rutledge said Chimney sweeps travelled to Orlando from Germany Finland Canada France Scotland and DenmarkEveryone seemed to have a great time at the Rosen Plaza Inn which provided a great selection of restaurants cafes and bars for chimney sweeps to congregate catch up with old friends and make new ones After a rainy first day the sun came out and quite a few sweeps hung around the pool in between seminars The staff of the Rosen was really friendly and helpful they all seemed glad to be working thereThe opening keynote speech on Wednesday by Story Musgrave was entertaining Musgrave had to speak very quickly to cram all of his accomplishments into a ninety minute talk called ldquoFrom Farm Kid to Rocket Man Design a Life for Yourself One Little Step at a Timerdquo Musgraversquos underlying message seemed to be to apply everything yoursquove learned in your life to deal
with whatrsquos in front of you in the present moment to the very best of your ability ldquoIrsquom simply going to be the best I can every second of the dayrdquo he said His story was astounding taking him from the farm where he grew up and became a high school dropout through his careers as military mechanic a college wrestler a pilot a neurosurgeon an astronaut a designer and mechanic for the Hubble Space Telescope and a landscape architect and grandpa He didnrsquot tell us much about the fatherhood or husband part of his life If he didnrsquot have photos to validate his claims I wouldnrsquot have believed a word of his story But he did have photos and the audience seemed to enjoy his presentation rewarding him with a standing ovation After Musgroversquos talk the assembly attempted to take a group photo out by the pool but the weather didnrsquot feel like cooperating rain came down in buckets sending the crowd of chimney sweeps running back to the safety of the Rosen Plaza After lunch the schedule of educational seminars began Wednesday evening the opening reception featured Mary Poppins herself along with her chimney sweep Bert dressed in full chimney sweeping regalia available for photo opportunities
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
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I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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of the Chimney
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Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
25
SWEEPING
April 2016
There were 108 first time attendees at the 2016 NCSG National Convention according to NCSG Program Director Claire Rutledge I decided to speak with a few of them Two of them were Javen Martinez and Nicholas Graham certified sweeps with my chimney service business in New Mexico We got a photo of all three of us with NCSG President Jeremy Biswell taken by the NCSG First Lady Biswell Martinez and Graham really enjoyed Chris Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters and CSIA Mark Stonerrsquos closing keynote inspired both of themldquoI like meeting the other sweepsrdquo said Martinez ldquoSeeing all these people who are totally into itrdquo During the trade show I went looking for other first time attendees and I found a couple of them
The first one I sat down with Chris Bevan of Chimney Doctors in Bailey CO Chimney Doctors paid for his trip to the convention along with four other members of the company I was glad to meet someone from Colorado because there are so few of us from
west of the Mississippi who attend NCSG conferences Bevan 27 He said he thought the conference was ldquopretty awesomerdquo ldquoEverybody is trying to help out the other guyrdquo he said ldquoIt is a brotherhood hererdquoHe says he likes his chimney sweeping job ldquobecause I feel like Irsquom making a difference helping people heat their home My office is amazing my view is hundreds of miles I canrsquot complain about sweeping chimneys at allrdquo After that I spoke with David Steward of Claremore OK He works for a company called Chimney Man He paid his own expenses to come to the conventionldquoThe trade show has been amazingrdquo said Steward ldquoItrsquos great to be able to come in and see all the products as opposed to just seeing the catalogues The best part is meeting all the other sweeps Network learn form relationships And coming to Florida in February is never a bad ideardquo
New Attendees
The following three days were packed with business building and technical seminars networking opportunities and of course the NCSG trade show As always there were endless opportunities for chimney sweeps and business owners to grow their knowledge in and out of the classes The CSIA auction as always was a blast The theme was Hawai and Stoner was dressed as a Tiki Warrior whatever that is But you could tell it was him because he was wearing the best costume The Auction was a big success and raised a lot of money for the CSIA
The closing keynote by CSIA President Mark Stoner was inspiring Stonerrsquos new book Blue Collar Gold How to Build A Service Business From the Ground Up went to everyone in attendance The publication of his book is only the latest in a long list of Stonerrsquos impressive accomplishments The final event was the banquet and awards ceremony which is like the Oscars of the Chimney Industry Everyone dressed up and ate a really good dinner and clapped for all the award winners
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
26
SWEEPING
April 2016
One of the most beloved and admired members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild isnrsquot actually a chimney sweep
Legendary mason Chris Prior inventor of the Prior Fire masonry fireplace donates time and energy every year to Sweeprsquos Week at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield IN constructing incredible things out of bricks and mortar His homestead in Upstate New York serves as the domicile of the New York State Chimney Sweeprsquos Guild Annual Summer Workshop His Santa Claus beard and the twinkle in his eye have been familiar reassuring sights at Guild conventions for many years He serves as sort of an unofficial liaison between the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and the Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA) At the NCSG he and Steve Bushway manned the MHA booth at the NCSG trade show I asked Prior about his role as ambassador between chimney and masonry trades ldquoItrsquos a perfect marriagerdquo he said of the strengthening bond He said each group has knowledge that benefits the other group Priorrsquos seminar on masonry heaters at the 2016 NCSG convention represented a new high point in the relationship between sweeps and masons A giant room at the Rosen Plaza was filled to the brim with chimney sweeps eager to learn anything Prior has to teach Although Prior could be seen working on his PowerPoint in the main foyer of the hotel until a few minutes before he presented it his seminar couldnrsquot have been better It was clean streamlined informative educational and entertaining and it established him as perhaps the worldrsquos foremost expert on masonry heatersPrior began by discussing humankindrsquos earliest use of fire to stay warm and to cook food In Western Europe he said people were mostly intrigued by the flames themselves and they enjoyed looking at the fire and getting warmth directly from the flames In Eastern and Northern Europe however people became fascinated with how the heat from the flames could be stored in the rocks around the fire pit Thatrsquos why Prior explained as centuries went by Western Europe turned into more of a fireplace culture where folks liked to sit around the fire looking at the flames while Eastern Europe developed the technology of the masonry heater The colonial United States was primarily settled by Western
Europeans he said which is one of the reasons masonry heaters are not very well known in the US He then launched into the most concise complete and informative discussion of masonry heaters I have ever seen or heard His talk covered the five basic designs of masonry heaters (Finnish Contraflow Swedish 5 Run GermanAustrian Grundofen Russian Heaters and the newest type called Bell Heaters) He covered strategies for servicing each kind of heater and he covered the principles of heat transfer including conduction radiation and convection and how they relate to masonry heatersAs any chimney sweep who has passed the CSIA exam should know radiant energy emitted from a hot surface travels through the air in radiation waves What many of us may not know though is that radiation waves emitted from a hot metal surface has a short wavelength whereas radiation from a masonry surface has a much longer wavelength Longer wavelengths of heat radiation are more comfortable to live with Prior said Thatrsquos one of the reasons why heat from masonry heaters (and soapstone wood stoves) is so much steadier and more comfortable than the heat that comes from from steel or cast iron wood stoves A masonry heater is like a battery he said When you fire it you are charging it with energy Then the heater does its job and distributes the heat through the space via
Introduction to Masonry Heaters with Chris Prior
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
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Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
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of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
27
SWEEPING
April 2016
Itrsquos official the 2016 edition of NFPA 211 has been published All sweeps should obtain a copy While changes are not extensive there are some important additions How do I know this Because at the NCSG
convention I attended two seminars regarding codes and standards 1) NFPA Code Updates with Jim Brewer amp John Pilger and 2) Beyond the Codes Regulations That Affect What We do and How We do It with Rick Vlahos Both sessions were highly informative
Brewer and Pilger represent the NCSG on the committees that help develop changes to the NFPA code books They are among the most knowledgeable sweeps in the industry One major change to the new NFPA code books was the lack of a vertical line signifying which areas of the code had changed from the previous code book This is unfortunate because it makes it a lot more difficult to find the changes Thatrsquos why Irsquom going to point out some of the more important changes here While this is not a complete list Irsquove tried to point out the most notable updates to NFPA 211 here
bull Language re dryer vent length limits has been added (NFPA 211 10734 - 107343) maximum length of 35 feet with 25 ft reduction for every 45 degree elbow and a 5 ft reduction for every 90 degree elbow Dryer vent length includes the length of the transition duct
bull Attic insulation shields (NFPA 64) Factory-built chimneys installed through insulation or areas to be insulated shall be separated by a physical barrier to establish minimum air space clearance required by manufacturer
bull New language regarding aftermarket parts for UL 127 listed appliances (factory built fireplaces) allows for installation of aftermarket parts under certain conditions (see NFPA 147121)
bull If original parts are not ldquoavailablerdquo
bull If aftermarket parts are approved by the authority having jurisdiction
bull If aftermarket parts are installed by a ldquoqualified agencyrdquo
There are also a few minor changes to NFPA 31 the standard for oil heating which also has a new code book out for 2016 The changes are pretty minor according to Pilger Changed sections include
bull NFPA 31 1051 and 10511
bull NFPA 31 10512
bull NFPA 31 513
bull NFPA 31 521
bull NFPA 31 A5211 regarding depressurization Additional language has been added ldquoThe oil heating equipment installer should take action as needed to correct excessive depressurization of the appliance combustion air zone and return the flue draft and over-fire draft to the requirements of the oil heat equipment manufacturer
Other important news with regards to codes and standards was presented by Rick Vlahos of the National Fireplace Institute Vlahos spoke at length about the EPArsquos New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) which has been updated recently The new regulations released in 2015 are to take effect in two phases 1st phase will require wood stoves to emit no more than 25 grams per hour The 2nd phase will go into effect in 2020 and the emissions limit will go down to 25 grams per hour Pellet and masonry heaters are no longer exempt
The NSPS does not cover coal stoves cook stoves or fireplaces
The possible consequences of these new regulations are as follows High efficiency systems may be more draft sensitive and prone to condensation meaning chimneys will likely need to be extended and singlewall connectors will need to be replaces with doublewall to ensure adequate chimney temperatures
In other news the pellet fuels institute now has a system for grading fuel pellets
conduction and radiation over the course of the day The mass of the heater holds and distributes the heat more evenly than other types of heaters A typical masonry heater is fired once or twice a day for about an hour and keeps the house warm 247A quick google search will show you all kinds of beautiful masonry heaters including some diagrams of what the insides look like But Priorrsquos discussion gave an in-depth description of how masonry heaters work why they work so well their origins and evolution and the fairly recent development of masonry heater technology in the United States Masonry heaters have been in use for thousands of years in Europe they were even used to heat the roman bathhouses in ancient times Prior did mention that Mark Twain the great American author who lived in the 1800rsquos encountered and wrote about masonry heaters when he was traveling in Europe Somehow Prior was able to summon Twainrsquos ghost from somewhere in the darkness of the audience and the spirit of Mark Twain in a southern accent spoke Twainrsquos own words to everyone in attendanceOne firing is enough for the day the cost is next to nothing the heat produced is the same all day instead of too hot and too cold by turnsAmerica could adopt this stove but does America do it The American wood stove of whatsoever breed it is a terror There can be no tranquility of mind where it is It requires more attention than a baby It has to be fed every little while it has to be watched all the time and for all the reward you are roasted half your time and frozen the other half Many experts agree with Mr Twain and consider masonry heaters to be the most efficient way to heat with woodThe masonry heater association is a valuable resource for sweeps who need help figuring out how to service or fix masonry heaters Their annual meeting a weeklong festival of classes and workshops in the mountains of North Carolina is growing in popularity For more information about masonry heaters and the masonry heater association including a directory of members go to httpwwwmha-netorg
Two Seminars on Code Updates
28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
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CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
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28
SWEEPING
April 2016
The Industry Technological Panel discussion featured several of the leading figures in the industry As I sat down in my usual place in the front row and set
up my computer to take notes somebody asked me if the seat next to me was taken I looked up and saw that it was CSIA President Mark Stoner Sitting next to Stoner turned out to be almost as entertaining as the panel discussion itselfThe first panelist to speak was Jim Pritchett who began his presentation by saying ldquoMy wife bought me a new toyrdquoPritchett proceeded to do a show and tell presentation with his iPhone wirelessly connected to the overhead projector He was showing us the latest in 3D photographic technology available online for under $400 ldquoWhat I did last month was work on a lighting systemrdquo said Pritchett messing with his phone to change the images taken by his 3D camera on the giant screen behind him He showed us a photo of something that looked like a cross between a UFO and an IED with some LED light bulbs sticking out in different directions ldquoI have a picture of myself going through TSA with thisrdquo he said President Stoner sitting next to me immediately pulled up a couple of 360-degree cameras on amazoncom on his iPad They cost from $260 to $360 During a pause in the presentation Stoner asked Pritchet ldquoWhat brand is itrdquoldquoOh thatrsquos top secretrdquo said PritchettldquoShow them what a flash cam isrdquo said CSIA Director of Education Ashley Eldridge standing next to PritchetldquoHow many people know what a flash cam isrdquo Pritchett asked the crowdI was too busy trying to keep up with what was going on with President Stonerrsquos iPad to turn around and see how many people raised their hands At one point there was a question about how to protect the camera when it was inside the chimney Pritchard said that he had ordered something from JapanAfter a brief interlude during which panelist Sally McKnight spoke about the possibility of using mushrooms to safely compost leftover creosote Pritchett came back and showed footage of something that could prove to be a highly valuable tool for chimney sweeps a thermal imaging camera that works with an iPhone
ldquoItrsquos available at the Apple Store for $250rdquo said Elridge as Pritchett showed images taken from his thermal imaging camera on the big screen The pictures were highly psychedelic colorful photos of various objects including people A murmur went through the crowd as several hundred chimney sweeps contemplated aloud the potential applications in our trade for this device Legendary Chim-Scan Chimney Interior Inspection System inventor Tom Urban was the next panelist to speak Urban spoke for a few minutes about the challenges of keeping up with the ever increasing rate of innovation as an inventor and as a business owner who develops and manufactures highly technological chimney inspection systems ldquoWe spent close to $100000 having outside consultants helping us structure the businessrdquoThe next panelist was Kevon Binder who talked about the possibilities of interfacing various apps including Google Maps to help a service business operate He mentioned the usefulness of consumer safety apps including one called RecallManager which enables a user to find out if the product they are trying to service has been recalledThe next panelist was Rob Lindemann who introduced himself as ldquoowner of the largest chimney sweeping company on the planetrdquo He wore a cast on his hand which was from a weightlifting injury he said Lindeman spoke about the increasing pace of technological innovation and he went through several criteria he uses to decide which technology to adapt in his businessldquoThe most important thing is to use technology that other people are usingrdquo said Lindeman ldquoIf you buy a piece of software and the people arenrsquot willing to implement it it wonrsquot workrdquo
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
29
SWEEPING
April 2016
General Panel Discussion Industry Technology Panel
Lindemann said he prefers equipment that can be easily repaired and replaced ldquoI like stuff thatrsquos readily available You can go to Best Buy or Amazon and get something replaced Easy to fix easy to replace Get something thatrsquos tested and supportedrdquoAs far as apps go Lindemann said ldquoI donrsquot think wersquove ever spent more than nine bucks for an apprdquoThe final presenter on the panel was chimney sweeping legend Jim Brewer Brewer has been experimenting with the use of flying drones to help with chimney inspections In his usual deadpan style Brewer got the crowd laughing right away with his lists of things drones can do and canrsquot do with regard to chimney workDrones canrsquot carry materials repair chimneys or clean chimneys he said But drones can do some things he said They can crash they can injure people or kill people they can damage property and they can interfere with aircraft he continued Drones can also give you
good up-close look at chimneys crowns and flashings which can be practical for estimates and pre inspection that otherwise might require a bucket lift But if you can put a ladder up to see what you need to see Brewer said thatrsquos probably the best way to go Brewer said he spent over 40 hours learning to fly his own drone before he felt comfortable putting one anywhere near a chimney He also mentioned that when you program a drone to return home if the signal is lost be careful where you are Brewer said Mark Stoner was in his living room (Stonerrsquos living room) when he programmed a drone and so when the drone tried to come home it crashed into his roof trying to get inside President Stoner laughed and nodded his head and laughed some more agreeing with Brewerrsquos recommendation The president did not deny the allegation of his drone SNAFU
(Counter-clockwise from top right)
Presidentrsquos Award Jay WalkerFriendship Award Bonnie BowserDon Leavitt Education Award Michael SegerstromCSIA Unsung Hero Award Megan McMahonSweep Away Breast Cancer Fundraising Award Winstonrsquos Of Northern Virginia Inc
Congratulations to our 2016 Award Winners
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
30
SWEEPING
April 2016
Chimney fires lightning strikes and creosote are not a chimneyrsquos biggest
threat ndash water is Most experts agree that the durability of an external masonry chimney depends primarily on its ability to withstand water penetration When properly constructed the crown will protect the chimney from deterioration Unfortunately they are almost always designed incorrectly constructed of improper materials or built with poor quality workmanship Unless we are involved with the initial construction or are called upon to rebuild we are usually unable to influence these three important factors
To understand what our options are we must first understand what a proper chimney crown actually looks like I am continually amazed as I travel to regional state and local guilds just how much people disagree on the proper construction of a chimney crown
I draw my guidance from NFPA 211 the Brick Industry Association (wwwgobrickcom) and my personal experience in the industry If your views do not mesh totally with mine I will not take offense and hope that you will not either Even if we do not agree completely I hope that our opinions are at least very similar as I believe I present best practices here
A Properly Constructed CrownThere are seven properties of a properly constructed crown
1) It should be constructed of pre-cast concrete stone or cast-in-place concrete
2) It should be two inches thick at its thinnest point
3) It should extend at least two-and-one-half inches beyond the outside chimney walls in all directions
4) It should incorporate a drip edge at least one inch from the chimney on the underside of the crown
5) It should have a minimum 3frasl8 inch expansion joint around the perimeter of the flue
6) It should have a bond break between the top course of bricks and the bottom of the crown
7) It should slope downward from the flue liner to the outside edge of the crown at a rate of three inches per foot on all sides
Additionally if we are pouring a cast-in-place crown it should be reinforced with at least a half inch galvanized hardware cloth or welded wire fabric located mid-depth in the crown If all crowns were built to these specifications there would be little need to re-pour or repair them
Because these standards are rarely observed without remediation by a knowledgeable chimney professional we encounter many crowns in various stages of failure Most deterioration stems from using a mortar wash instead of concrete and from missing bond breaks between the flue tile chimney structure and the crown These dissimilar materials have different temperature coefficients causing them to expand and contract at different rates which literally causes them to tear themselves apart
Properties of a Lasting Crown Repair ProductBecause much of the damage we observe is caused by this movement applying another rigid repair ndash such as a mortar wash ndash over an
By Stuart KaranovichWhy Crown Coatings Fail
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
31
SWEEPING
April 2016
improperly constructed crown would simply crack as well probably sooner than later
A better solution would be mastic class products A mastic when cured will have a slight amount of give or elasticity to it This will allow the substrates below it to continue to move without cracking or tearing With the increasing quality of these masticsrsquo resins a technician can count on ten or more years from this type of repair However some mastic repairs fail prematurely causing the technician to wonder why
PrepPrepPrepMany failures can be traced to lack of preparation of the crown prior the application of a mastic repair The crown is often tainted with atmospheric contaminates and microbial growth These must always be removed prior to attempting a repair The preferred method is the use of a wire brush followed by a synthetic bristle brush or compressed air to remove the remnants of the wire brushing Brushing the crown will create hundreds of thousands of small fissures on the surface of the crown effectively doubling or tripling the surface area giving more area for the mastic repair to grab a hold of
Surface BondingFor a mastic repair to last it must penetrate the surface of the crown If it doesnrsquot
penetrate we risk premature failure The surface may look smooth and solid but it actually consists a series of interconnected pores and capillaries If we apply a mastic repair on a hot sunny day the mastic may lsquoflash dryrsquo on the surface Misting the crown with water will lower the surface temperature and dilute the mastic enough to allow it to flow into the pores and capillary structure of the crown On sandy mortar wash crowns the use of a concrete bonding agent such as Acryl 60 can sometimes help Check with your manufacturer for compatibility
I have had a number of technicians ask me if they can use their water repellent to mist the crown While this may sound like a good idea I highly recommend that you do not do this Most mastics
are water based attempting to put another coat down will most likely be unsuccessful as the water repellent will not allow the mastic to penetrate the pore structure If you apply a water repellent before your mastic repair and the mastic fails you have painted yourself into a corner so to speak At that point you would have little choice but to demo and rebuild
CondensationSome crown coatings may fail because of condensation in the chimney which rises and penetrates the crown from beneath I see this mainly when you have an oversized chase In the winter when the flue is hot and the chimney cavity is cold condensation can occur Conversely in the summer when the flue is cool and the cavity is warm condensation can still
occur Fortunately the remedy for this fairly simple We can vent the chimney cavity with stainless steel tubes or vents that look like bricks Both repairs are virtually invisible from the ground and will exchange air with the outside equalizing pressure and eliminating condensation
WorkmanshipThe application of crown coatings has a significant effect on their durability When repairing a crown ensure that it has a smooth surface and that it slopes away from the flue tile
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
32
SWEEPING
April 2016
(207) 439-0069 | Toll Free (866) 439-0069 | wwwsmoktitecom
Donrsquot waste any more time removing dampers and dealing with material that has you stuck inside the chamber for hours
If yoursquore not a Smoktitetrade user and want to make your day and job go smoothly give us a call Let us put a smile on your face and more importantly on your customers face
Call today
Make Smoktitetrade your No 1 Product
The Choice of Chimney Professionals
trade
I have seen many failures caused by a rough surface that allowed water to stand and freeze This can create a small crack or tear that grows each successive freezethaw cycle Misting with water and lightly going over the surface with a clean brush will go a long way to solve this problem
On mortar wash crowns run the repair down half an inch over the first course of bricks Many times there is a gap here that will let water in When the chimney freezes this gap raises slightly and allows water into and sometimes under the mastic repair which causes premature failure
The crown is an important component of a chimney Should you choose to repair rather
than replace a damaged crown following some of the guidelines above should ensure that it will be a reliable repair that will meet your customersrsquo needs and serve your company well
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
33
SWEEPING
April 2016
April 4-9 2016 CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training Schoo CSIA Technology Center - Plainfield IN For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 4-10 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 6-8 2016 Alliance for Green Heat Pellet Stove Design Challenge Brookhaven National Laboratory - Upton NY
For more information contact John Ackerly jackerlyforgreenheatorg
April 8 - 9 2016 Northeast Mid-Atlantic Chimney Expo Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia PA
For more information please email contactcertifiedchimneyprofessionalscom
April 11-17 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 15 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams Best Western Sovereign Hotel ndash Albany NY
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 18-24 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 22 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield IN
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
April 25 2016 ndash May 1 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 2-8 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
May 5-7 2016PA Guild Annual Workshop - Dedication of our new
training center -Gas Service Training -Basic Masonry Training -Crown building training -Copperfield Reline Seminar May 4th (hands on) -Finish outdoor fireplace -Many vendors attending
For more information please call Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787or visit PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps Facebook Page
May 9-15 2016 CSIA (online)- Chimney Physics
- CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health amp Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless SteelFor more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
For more information please call (317) 837-5362 or visit wwwCSIAorg
Dates and
events
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
34
SWEEPING
April 2016
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NewMeMbers
1
REGION
REGION 2
REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5REGION 6
1
REGION
REGION 2REGION 3
REGION 4REGION 5
REGION 6NEW JERSEYOscar Melian | All Seasons Air Duct Cleaning | Cliffside Park
NEW YORKMatthew Tole | Flue Bug Chimney Service | Churchville
CONNECTICUTKeith Brescia | Chimneys Plus Chimney Service | Bethel
Edwin Rojas | R amp R Chimney Sweep LLC | Westport
MARYLANDBenjamins Zonis | Handyman On Call | Reisterstown
Bran Burkholder | Survival Products | Salibury
NORTH CAROLINAWilliam Boeger | Sandhills Chimney Service Inc | Carthage
GEORGIALaszlo Hendre | All Metro Atlanta Chimney Valve amp Dryer Repair | Atlanta
Jose Rosado | Chimney Mischief | Atlanta
Alicia Brock| Swept Away Chimney | Acworth
ILLINOISSean Folino | Chicago Fireplace amp Chimney Co | Lombard
MICHIGANMatt Scheller | Smokestack Sweep LLC | Howell
MISSOURIJesse Wright | Wright American Hearth LLC | Carthage
TEXASWilliam Pigott | Pigott William | Baytown
Todd Hall | Platinum Chimney Services LLC | Forney
MINNESOTAJames Johnson | Flue Doctor | Tracy
WISCONSINKurt Wendt | Merrill Sheet Metal | Merrill
SOUTH DAKOTAScott Granville | Chimney Swift Pierre
COLORADODaniel Gross | Gross Daniel | Littleton
KANSASMike Locke | Heavenly Hearth | Wichita
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
35
SWEEPING
April 2016
Energy-Saving Dampers
Call your favorite Lyemancedistributor today
Setting The Standard For Quality amp Durability
Superior Design bullPermanent Cast-Aluminum ConstructionbullEasily Mounts Atop a Flue TilebullSilicone Rubber Prevents Energy LossbullEasy Opening with Power-level AssistbullLess Fraying Due to Larger Diameter CablesbullLow Profile to Maintain the Authentic Look
of the Chimney
Lyemance Damper Cap -fits over any Lyemance Damper
14 Lyemance indd 1 2314 134 PM
Call your favorite Lyemance distributor today
Energy-Saving Dampers
16 Lyemance_4Cindd 1 21516 431 PM
Gotta chimney question Sizing Codes Call Royal Edwards Make Royal your tech department CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support Continuing Education special bonus Ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit wwwelitesoftcom to download a free trial version
We are looking for ldquoHearth Products InstallersChimney Service Techniciansrdquo to grow with our company If you are looking for a rewarding career with great compensation and benefits then Lucersquos Chimney amp Stove Shop LLC may be the right career path for you This career entails Installations of all types of hearth appliances diagnostics and repair Complete chimney services including chimney sweepingevaluations relining and all related chimney repairs We are located in NW Ohio check us out at wwwluceschimneycom
We are looking for An excellent communicator ndash written and verbal A results driven detailed oriented individual with a winning attitude CSIA andor NFI Certifications required Please submit a resume online to jluceluceschimneycom subject linerdquo RESUMErdquo 3017 US Rte 20A Swanton Ohio 43558
Hearth RetailerChimney Service Company in York PA looking to hire an InstallerCertified Chimney Sweep Wide range of duties Please send resume to joann villagechimneysweepscom Or send to The Village Chimney Sweeps Inc 1439 South George Street York Pa Phone (717) 846-9417 wwwvillagechimneysweepscom
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year Regular classified ads are $2word or $1word for NCSG members Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid To place a classified ad please contact Sara Sichting at ssichtingncsgorg or 317-837-1500
ClAssifieds
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
CSIA UpdateApril 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
wwwCSIAorg
One of the hottest items coming out of the 2016 NCSG Convention was the announcement by CSIA President Mark Stoner of the launch of a new CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation
Stoner made the announcement during the CSIA info meeting on Tuesday morning of the convention leaving plenty of time for discussion throughout the week
The Master Sweep credential represents the highest level of educational and ethical achievement in the chimney sweeping industry
In contrast to the Certified Chimney Sweep credential which is awarded solely on meeting certain educational requirements the Master Chimney Sweep will be awarded through an application and vetting process conducted by the CSIA Board of Directors Among other requirements Master Sweep applicants must be current CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps who have held that credential for at least ten years
Stoner makes it clear that earning the Master Chimney Sweep credential is more a privilege than a right ldquoThis credential identifies the best of the
bestrdquo he said ldquothe individuals hand-selected for this honor have consistently proven themselves
in the industry and have truly gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the top of their fieldrdquo
As an even bigger surprise to those in attending the convention the first two CSIA Master Chimney Sweep badges were awarded to John Pilger of Smithtown NY and Dennis Dobbs of Ft Payne AL as part of the NCSG Convention awards banquet ||
CSIA Announces Master Chimney Sweep Designation
CSIA Treasurer Chuck Roydhouse stands with CSIArsquos first two Master Chimney Sweeps Dennis Dobbs (L) and John Pilger (R) during the 2016 NCSG Convention Awards Banquet
A detailed list of requirements for obtaining the CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation can be found at wwwcsiaorgmastersweep
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
Alaska
William Chouinard | The Woodway | Fairbanks
Arizona
Charles Golden | Goldenrsquos Good Air | Glendale
Arkansas
James Nivens| Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
California
Donoven Nichols | White Glove Chimney amp Duct | Redding
Florida
Alycia Eisenhauer | ARC Home Services Inc | Pace
Karie Knell | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
David Hildebrand | Chimney Cricket Inc | Sarasota
Indiana
Andrew Deddens | Chimney Master LLC| Carmel
Cameron Cooper | Chimney 1 Inc| Ft Wayne
Scott Stinson | Clean Sweep Chimney Service | Claypool
Kansas
Kaleb Ewell | The Fluesbrothers | Kansas City
Kentucky
Leon Tucker | All American Chimney Service | Louisville
Massachusetts
Jesse Andreson | Pilgrim Chimney Sweep | Kingston
Maryland
Zachary Lawrence | Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps | Waldorf
Michigan
Anthony Zanni | Chimney Cricket Inc | Livonia
Missouri
Tyler Scott | Aaronrsquos Alternative Energy| High Ridge
North Carolina
Steven Franke | Chimney Plus Inc | Pittsboro
Chris Brooks| Chimney Guys Inc | Waxhaw
Jeffery Osborne | Bob Davis Chimney and Fireplace | Gastonia
Oklahoma
David Steward | ChimneyMan | Claremore
Pennsylvania
Dave Eddins | Alliance Chimney and Energy| Ardmore
Ralph Butler | Blackstone Chimney Service | Linwood
Kyle Hill | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Nick Iannece | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Mike Wentzel | Jamison Chimney Service | Oreland
Rhode Island
Jeremy Osborn | Island Chimney Services | Middletown
Tennessee
Nolan Smith | Coopertown Services | Memphis
Virginia
Jon Walker | Rooftop Chimney Sweeps | Alexandria
Wisconsin
Josh Fazekas | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney Service| Waukesha
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians
Alabama
Paul Hodges | Top Hat Chimney Service| Opelika
Georgia
Joon Ko | Platinum Contracting | Johns Creek
Indiana
Ryan McAfee | VacMan Air Duct Cleaning | Granger
Minnesota
Thomas McGrath | Sweep Dreams Chimney Service | Sauk Rapids
Missouri
Bobby Ivicsics | Advanced Chimney Techniques | Jamestown
Jeffrey Johnson| Advanced Chimney Techniques| Jamestown
New Hampshire
Robert Ranalli | Ranallirsquos Duct | Dover
New Jersey
Thomas Asciolla Jr | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Steve Zanotti | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
Gage Burdge | Apex Appliance Repair amp Duct Cleaning | Monroe Township
South Carolina
Albert Rollins III | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity
Tennessee
G Robert Tubb II | A-1 Chimney Specialist | Estill Springs
Wisconsin
Dalton Nelson| Chimney Mechanix| Shawano
Jeff Coon | Chimney Mechanix | Shawano
Newly Certified CCS and C-DET
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
wwwCSIAorg
ADVERTISEMENT
CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Letter from the CSIA President As honored as I was to be asked to provide the closing keynote address at the 2016 NCSG Convention my greatest honor was being able to present our annual awards to some amazing people whose service to our industry has been immeasurable
Throughout my term as CSIArsquos President I have been privileged to work along side many industry greats as well small staff of dedicated individuals who seek very little credit (but deserve a great deal) for the gains we have made
I chose Michael Segerstrom for the Don Levitt Education Award because of his total dedication to the education process Over the past several years he has volunteered his time as a Director for the CSIA he has been the Technical Advisor for the NCSG an instructor at our National Chimney Sweep Training School as well as an instructor for industry vendors around the country Mike is committed to industry education and I could not think of someone who is more deserving of
this yearrsquos award
The Unsung Hero Award recognizes those that are many times behind the scenes in our industry They work diligently and effectively without the notice of many but their work can be felt and measured by those who know them
I named Megan McMahon this yearrsquos Unsung Hero because of her outstanding work in the finance department for both the NCSG and the CSIA
Megan was completely taken aback by the recognition and would never want to be singled out for her work but all of us on the board realize the great value she provides for us to help financially make decisions and to ldquosteer the shiprdquo
The Vendor Education is a new award this year because I wanted to recognize the outstanding work of some vendors to promote industry
education
This yearrsquos award went to Mark Calamino of Olympia Chimney
Supply Mark has been instrumental in organizing many workshops around the country for Olympia while also promoting the importance of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential
Mark is a joy to work with and a complete professional for all those that work with him Congratulations to Mark for a fantastic year of educating chimney technicians
mdashMark Stoner
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweepreg Review amp ExamApril 15 | Albany NY
April 22 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the CCS exam Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study
CSIA CEUs 45 [15-T 15-CS 15-CL]
Inspection amp Report WritingMay 12-13 | Plainield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Chimney inspections and evaluations report writing including regional and environmental influences effective photo documentation digital organization and administrative procedures
CSIA CEUs 12 [4-T 4-CS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 12-T
National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolJune 6-11 | Plainfield IN [CSIA Technology Center]
Our flagship event where yoursquo ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems equipment operation health amp safety considerations and have step-by-step instruction in codes clearances standards and practices
CSIA CEUs 16 [4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL] NFI CEUs 16-T
Contact Us
Mailing Address
2155 Commercial Drive
Plainfield IN 46168
Telephone
(317) 837-5362
Email OfficeCSIAorg
Twitter Chimney_Safety
Facebook ChimneySafety
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
April 2016 Report
ADVERTISEMENT
CCS CEU Renewals Arkansas
Neal Sizemore | Top Hat Chimney amp Roofing | Springdale
Missouri
Greg Boss | English Sweep Inc | Valley Park
New Jersey
Ed Ridgeway | Masonrsquos Chimney Service amp CADC Inc | Mickleton
New York
Dennis Anderson | Saratoga Fireplace amp Stove | Saratoga Springs
Ohio
Mark Moseley | Moseley Masonry | Troy
Matthew Simpson | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair amp Sweep | Franklin
Pennsylvania
Catlin Bowser | Bradiganrsquos Heating amp Air Conditioning | Kittanning
Tom Smail | Ash Be Gone | Kittaning
Tennessee
Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc | Nashville
Wisconsin
William Majewski | Goldenrsquos Chimney Lining| Princeton
Mike Schamens | Quality Fireplace amp Chimney | Waukesha
Ed Winship | Quality Fireplace Inc |
RE CSIA Auction
I would like to personally thank each and everyone who helped to make this yearrsquos convention auction a record-breaking suc-cess I am very grateful for the vendors and personal donations as well as the hard work that our volunteers and staff put into planning and executing this annual event Without them we would not be a success
This event is our primary fundraiser and is used to provide top-shelf education for our industry in order to hone our craft and provide a solid return on your educational investment
My sincere and heartfelt thanks
Chuck RoydhouseCSIA Treasurer
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
40
SWEEPING
April 2016
Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimneyqwestofficenet 12
CVC Coaching 704-425-0217 wwwcvccoachingcom 17
Firesafe Industries Inc 800-545-6607 wwwfiresafeinccom 5
Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473 wwwFiresideAmericacom 8
Gelcotrade Lyemancetrade and Lock-Topreg wwwgllchimneyproductscom 35
ICP 508-695-7000 wwwchimneycapscom 21
Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 wwwlindemannsupplycom 11
MampG DuraVent 800-835-4429 wwwduraventcom 4
Mongoose Metals Inc 844-358-3227 salesmongoosemetalscom 23
National Chimney 800-897-8481 wwwnationalchimneycom 7
New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 wwwnewenglandchimneysupplycom 13
Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 wwwolympiachimneycom 9
Sand Hill Wholesale amp Mfg Inc 800-258-5496 wwwsandhillwholesalecom 15
SaverSystems Inc 800-860-6327 wwwsaversystemscom 16
Smoktite 207-439-0069 infoventechindustriescom 32
Wohler USA Inc 978-750-9876 wwwwohlerusacom 20
There is a lot of Darwinism going on with these people But the size and thickness of this ivy is just awe inspiring- Joe Sauter Your Chimney Sweep Inc of Indianapolis Ind
Darwin
AwArd
Ad index
Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief
Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlettncsgorg for publication in Sweeping Or mail it to NCSG 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield IN 46168 Include a few words about the scene and location
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
Wherehas yourSweeping
beenWherehas yourSweeping
beenThomas Rhines and Stephanie Williams brought their Convention Issue of Sweeping Magazine to the Grand Canyon Where will you take your copy of Sweeping Snap a photo of you with your copy on vacation or even in front of a local landmark in your hometown and send it to marketingncsgorg to see it in the magazine
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-
National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield IN 46168
1408
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_Sweeping_Apr2016_text
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
- NCSG_SwepingApril2016_Cover
-