Sweeping Magazine- December 2015

Sweeping December 2015 VOLUME 39 #11

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

Happy Holidays — End of the Year Issue The Marketing and Selling of Character Protect Your Contractor Lien Rights What Do You Mean I’m Not Covered?

Always Follow The Code

- 27.

www.ncsgconvention.org

Registration Now Open

Departments President’s Letter 3 Editor’s Letter 5 Coach’s Corner 10 Technical Q&A 14 History Project 16 Sweeps Advantage 22 New Members 25 Progressive Perks 31 Date and Events 32 Around The Tech Center 38 Classifieds 39 Where Has Your Sweeping Been?

39 Darwin Award 40

Table of Contents Sweeping December 2015 Volume 39 Issue 11

Features The Marketing & Selling Of Character

Protect your Contractor Lien Rights

What Do You Mean I’m Not Covered?

Always Follow The Code

6 18 20 28 December 2015

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

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-2016

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes (317) 203-0088 x: 2

2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365

Frances Kelly Excecutive Director fkelly@ncsg.org Megan McMahon Director of Finance mmcmahon@ncsg.org Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcornelius@ncsg.org Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmer@csia.org Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledge@ncsg.org

December 2015

Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlett@ncsg.org Jordan Whitt CSIA Director of Communications and Marketing jwhitt@csia.org Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashley@csia.org Sara Sichting Office Manager ssichting@ncsg.org

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2015 – 2016

STAFF

Resources

Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bob@flueseason.com

Vice President, Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01@gmail.com

Secretary, At Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net

Treasurer, Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com

At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 nopnotchchimney@gmail.com

Region 1 Mike Elliott (508) 987-6348 sootguy@aol.com

At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (256) 845- 9814 info@fireplaceservicecenter. com

Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masons@chimney-duct.com

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: Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s 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 and/or chimney.

Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/ or 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.

President, At Large Director Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com

Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartk@saversystems.com

Bylaws Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drangler01@yahoo.com

Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bob@flueseason.com

Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andy@rooftopchimneysweeps.con

NFPA 211 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Governance Jay Walker (850) 562-4692 sweepingJ@aol.com

NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

Government Affairs Mike Elliot (508) 987-6348 sootguy@aol.com

NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

International Relations John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

Technical Advisory Council Michael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweeps@optonline.net

Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com

Scholarship Committee Vacant

ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingads@me.com Layout and design by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ncsg.org. 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 NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.

NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s 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. © 2015 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

F

or years, like many of you reading this letter, I worked all weekend long when I started this business.

Saturday and Sunday were just another day to make another dollar. It first started as working those days to accommodate certain customers, then the weekends became days to take more work because the weekdays were already gone and the temptation of that last minute repair call before the customer moved into their new home was SO tempting (especially with the ease of doing the repair in a house that had no furniture or personal items in it yet).

As the years went on, I found ways to scale back and increase my personal time without damaging the business. One way was hiring and training employees. This allowed me to turn 60 – 70 hour work weeks back to 40 to 50 hour work weeks.

Now, hiring employees doesn’t come easy. It does change the dynamic of a business. We won’t touch on the employment details or hiring details as much as I would like to talk about expectations. I noticed over the years training people that patience is key. Many of us are so busy and hungry for extra help that we don’t take the time to grow the individual. Growing the individual requires lots of time and patience. No one will do the tasks as fast or as quality as you will. They must also make mistakes like you did time and time again. We have a motto: make new mistakes every day, just don’t make the same mistake twice! The nice

thing is they have an in house advisor/ tech department…you!

Another thing to touch on is: employees have lives too. It is very hard to find people who will love your business and put in the time as much as you do.

You can force them to work long hours and weekends, but please don’t be surprised when they call in, are late, or simply don’t even show up! Weekends are not popular work days with people.

People need family time and rest time. Most need more rest time in one week than you choose to take in one month! Much of the world is religious and need the words and lessons learned at church on Sunday. I sometimes allow my mind to wander while sitting on Sundays. I come up with many great ideas and reflections during this time.

We always enjoy hearing what our employees have done over the weekend with their personal time. We go around the room at the Monday morning meeting and share our weekend life experiences. People love to talk about themselves!

President’s

Letter Jeremy Biswell

President

Aren’t Weekends Great?

My first goal was to not have to work weekends unless I wanted to. Eventually, my next goal was to be able to stop working around 6 pm so I could rest and enjoy the evenings at home eating a family meal, attending school events, driving to after school activities, and helping my children with homework as needed. I have found that volume doesn’t necessarily equal dollars. We try to pace ourselves. We have our techs back to 3 stops per day on average. This gave them more time to work, inspect, talk to the customer, and do some minor

3 S W E E P I N G December 2015

repairs if needed. This tactic actually increased average ticket per customer and increased technician happiness. Technicians aren’t in as much of a rush, have time to stop for breaks and lunch, and clock out at a normal time.

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As I look back at a little over 15 years in the chimney sweep industry, I have few regrets about how I got where I am. I remember the 18 hour days, working all 7 days of the week.

I was younger and had the energy. My children were babies, so I could do office work late into the night due to early bedtimes. I remember, literally, the blood, the sweat, and the tears it took to build a business to support my family and one I could be proud of. Now, I can slow down a bit or speed up depending on how I choose.

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December 2015

I am proud of the members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and how they have built their businesses with hard work and pride. I enjoy following your lives through trade articles and social media. I encourage all of you to keep living the life you have chosen. We are pioneers in a wonderful specialty industry with a great history and even greater people helping to create that history. Great people like you.

Happy Holidays, Jeremy Biswell, NCSG President

H

appy Holidays Chimney Sweeps!

It’s hard to believe we are at the end of another year.

This year was certainly a busy one for both my colleagues and I at the Technology Center. We prepared for and hosted the 2015 National Convention, had a wonderful Sweep’s Week, and hosted many classes of CSIA students. Plus of course the day to day work of supporting members and certified sweeps!

As you prepare to tackle the month of December I’m sure President Jeremy Biswell’s letter this month about taking time to slow down and spend time away from your business will resonate with many of you as you attempt to juggle the busy season with the holiday season.

Interested in how we are preserving the history of the National Chimney Sweep Guild?

Hop on over to the History Project pages where Program Coordinator Claire Rutledge walks you through all the improvements she had made to the collection in the Technology Center over the past year. These improvements will go a long way towards helping to preserve our history for future generations.

Of course this month, like every month, you’ll also find wonderful advice on running a thriving business from our wonderful monthly contributors.

We couldn’t keep the magazine going without their dedication to Sweeping Magazine.

Editor’s

Letter Darcy Marlett Editor

Contact me at marketing@ ncsg.org, we’re always looking for new writers!

Cheers,

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The Marketing & Selling Of Character Taylor Hill

Spark Marketer

6 S W E E P I N G

I

f I had told you 10 years ago that what would matter most to your clients today would be your character, would you have believed me? Probably not. This reality scares the crap out of many business owners, because it forces the issues of transparency, decency, and ethics to the forefront of every business that is online -- and we all know you have to be online to succeed. There is no place to hide.

The Consequences Of Having No Place To Hide I think the real question is why would we want it to be any other way? Growing up with parents that were teachers was both a pain in the butt and a great thing. On one hand, I always had help with my homework when I needed it and I got some great perks at my schools — great

December 2015

teachers being the best one — because of who my parents were. On the other hand, I couldn’t get away with anything at school without my parents knowing! I’m the only person I know that was disciplined at school and at home by the same person. I learned real fast the consequences of having no place to hide.

It’s a consequence that business owners today ignore to the detriment of their businesses.

You cannot perform poorly or provide poor service and think no one will find out. In time, everybody that cares to know will know. This is not a theory. It is a fact.

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biggest problem to overcome.

Fact is, 97 percent of consumers are looking at local business reviews. If you had a bunch of really good reviews online everywhere your customers went, you would love the stats!

I have sat through numerous classes and seminars where some of the larger chimney sweep companies, trusted vendors, and coaches have preached the necessity of getting great online reviews for over three years. If you don’t have reviews yet, you haven’t been paying attention.

Reviews are the quickest way for your potential customers to look and see the character of your company, and thus, your character. It may not be fair, but that’s the way it works.

The Slippery Slope Of Ethics

8 S W E E P I N G

Not too long ago, I came home from work to find my wife, Marilyn, watching a show called Madam Secretary. She told me I would appreciate the “gymnastics of ethical behavior” this particular show demonstrated, so I had to watch it. She was right. It perfectly demonstrates how we find ways to justify and make our versions sound and seem so much better than they really are, which is not exactly an ethical way to run a business, even though governments seem to be just fine with it. Are you doing the same?

Here are a few things from successful entrepreneur, author and thought leader Julio Melara that I believe help with character, so you won’t be so afraid of showing your company off and being

December 2015

transparent, decent, and ethical.

#1. Be a person of your word.

Do what you tell people you will do.Keep your promises no matter how small. If, for some reason, you can’t honor a commitment or promise, pick up the phone and personally let the other party, customer, friend, kid, or spouse know that you need to reschedule.

Then, make darn sure you do not miss it again!

Today I had to text a member of my BNI group to remind him to call my wife. She needs a bid on a remodeled kitchen and I told her she would get a call last week. It never came and I have not received an answer to my text that I sent hours ago.

Do you think this company will ever be recommended by me or my wife again? Ever?

#2. Don’t take shortcuts in quality or sweating the details.

Henry Ford was a master when it came to service. He once said, “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking”.

Preaching quality only works when you deliver quality.

You have to sweat the small stuff, even when you are busy, overworked, stressed out, and short on staff. If you don’t, then every word you say about quality will be questioned. If you or someone on your staff makes a mistake or is short on quality, eat the cost and make it right.

Here at our office, we miss the mark from time to time.

Everyone does. It’s not missing the mark that will do you in — it’s not being accountable

for the quality and not caring about making it right that will doom your business.

#3. Work constantly on improving yourself.

Jim Rohn used to teach that you should “Work harder on yourself than you do your job”. It’s true, and taking that advice is one of the best things you can do for yourself. There is no substitute for doing the work that has to be done on you. Melara also said, “Being a person of character has little or nothing to do with the position you hold or the title you carry. It’s all about the way you do your job (the attitude, energy, competency, creativity and perspective you bring to life everyday)”.

So if you are not happy with what people are saying about you and your company online and off, remember, in today’s fast and furious online world, it’s your character, and even the perception of your character that is being marketed and sold. The good news is, you have the power to change it.

The question is, do you have the will to change it? Either way, it will be online forever.

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, facebook. com/sparkmarketer, @taylorkhill

Coach’s

Corner Jerry Isenhour

Capacity Versus Demand

H

ere it is December already and likely, over the past few months, you have found the demand for your services and products may well have exceeded your capacity to deliver. I’m sure this has made your business life quite hectic. It may have even affected your personal life as well. You are probably already looking forward to the more relaxed pace of life after busy season. You know, that time when your capacity exceeds demand by a long shot.

This issue of fluctuating demand is not new. It is one that will continue to haunt you as long as you don’t learn to balance the ups and downs of consumer demand with a sensible marketing plan. And, also as long as you fail to take this into account in both the income and expense sides of your budget.

In too many of my years in this industry I had to endure the pains associated with the ongoing, year after year trauma caused by not planning around the reality of fluctuating demand. It caused me untold numbers of exhausting falls trying to keep up with the tidal wave of demand, and almost equal numbers of springs and summers trying to find enough work to keep my doors open.

To say it was frustrating would be a colossal understatement.

10 S W E E P I N G

These frustrating ups and downs also affected the lives of my team members. Why? Because most often their compensation was skewed to the work load. This resulted in times of the year when they were very well paid, and other times of year when they

December 2015

were barely scraping by.

Surveying the industry reveals that 1/3 of a technicians’ earnings come in one 6-month segment, while 2/3 comes in the other 6-month segment.

Without proper budgeting by the technician, this inevitably has an effect not only on their earning capabilities, but on their morale and their home life. Which means, every aspect of the business suffers.

So, what does this all mean? It means you must have a business plan to account for these ups and downs. You have to have a plan you build for this and for all the realities of your business. If you don’t, the result will be chaos.

The result will be a business that is continually running you because you are not running it.

This plan must contain the vision of what YOUR perfect business will look like. So, think for a minute, take some time, formulate what your perfect business will look like. How large will it be?

What services will you offer?

What infrastructure will it take? Now once you have the picture in your mind of the business you want, your next step is to assemble the marketing plan to take it there.

It will take people, so you must assemble the training program to insure you are not only providing what our customers expect, but are, in fact, exceeding those expectations.

You have to assemble an accountability chart as to who has ownership of the various phases of the business. You have to assemble the processes and procedures for a perfect business model, like the one

you envisioned when you first said I want to build my empire!

As you do this considerable work of building the perfect model, remember this is YOUR business, and, as such, you must build the business that reflects what you see as perfect. The picture should be one you can be comfortable with. It should be one that has value, that has an ROI, and that provides for the needs of you and everyone on your team.

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Will you have failures as you do this? Probably. True winners always lose more than they win, they just make a habit of always failing forward! Will you make mistakes? Of course you will, you are human and as humans we make mistakes.

Remember the advice that Vince Lombardi gave in regards failure and winning “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up”. When you face your failures like this, it makes you stronger.

One of the most important things you must remember as you build this machine to manage your business, it has one purpose: to deliver to you all the things you were looking for when you created it in the first place. That means, not only must you build a business that has every single feature and benefit you want, you also need to decide what your position and involvement in the business will be.

Or, make it a part of the dream. What will YOU do in the perfect business you put together? Is your dream to be in an office? Is your dream to be in the field? Is your dream to sell? Is your dream to be a

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manager? Or, is your dream to have more time off to play more golf / fish / hunt / travel?

Remember you are building this model to provide yourself the things in life YOU WANT! If you do not build a machine to provide your dreams, you have to ask, WHY AM I DOING IT? Because, I would wager you are NOT building a business simply for the frustrations it can offer you, or to drive you deeper into debt and an early grave from the stress.

So the closing advice this month, build the business model you want, make it deliver your dreams, to do otherwise would be fruitless and a waste of life.

But no matter the business plan you construct to match your perfect business dream, include in this the concern

12 S W E E P I N G December 2015

for your customer, the goal of exceeding the expectations of every single one. Decide that your perfect business is also one that the customer wants as a part of their home maintenance plan and that you deliver above and beyond their expectations.

Your final plan may not be a business model other people will view with admiration; but that is not important, because you will view it with pride and a sense of satisfaction.

When you finally learn to do that, you will begin to appreciate a really impressive ROI (not your salary, your return on the investment), a pile of enthused customers, and a company with great value. All of which amounts to your business delivering to you your dreams.

As always let us know if we can

help you reach your dreams!

About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant, educator and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. For more information about Jerry and how his team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at his web site www.cvccoaching.com He can be contacted at jerry@cvccoaching. com or by phone at (704) 425-0217.

You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and Youtube channel CVCCoaching.

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Technical

Q&A

Micheal Segerstrom

NCSG Technical Advisory Chair

Question:

14 S W E E P I N G

When I have a liner job that requires tile removal I refer it to another company. I’m thinking about adding clay liner removal to the services I provide so that I may keep those jobs. I have done a lot of research, and I’ve heard some conflicting advice.

Should I break tile from the top with my drill and rods, or from the bottom?

December 2015

Answer: That will be up to you, after you have weighed the pros and cons of both. You may even have to try both approaches, before you decide.

There are many things to consider when removing clay liner from the top or bottom. We will try to cover the basics here.

Personal safety! This should come first, even before protecting the client’s chimney and home. If we bring our equipment to the top of the chimney, there is an inherent risk of falling during the process. Wearing the appropriate fall protection is a must! If we have our equipment at the base of the chimney or flue, technically, we can’t fall off the chimney. This is especially important if the chimney is tall off the roof, and we find ourselves wanting to stand on top of the chimney when braking tile. We should never stand on top of the chimney when braking tile! If the chimney is that tall, we should scaffold it off the ground or off the roof, or both if necessary.

And if using our equipment on the top of the chimney is our choice, we should use 3 foot tile breaking rods, not 5 foot rods. If we use 5 foot rods, that can put our drill near our head every time we put a new rod on. If the breaker binds and there is drill backlash, we could be hit in the head! This is especially dangerous if we are standing on top of the chimney, and can still be dangerous even with scaffolding in place.

If we choose to break from the bottom, there are other benefits besides not being able to fall off the chimney or roof. With a good exhaust fan on top of the chimney flue, dust control is easy. Some of us actually use fireplace exhaust fans.

I’ve had mine for 10 years, and it still works like a champ.

If we use any kind of fan on top of the chimney flue, we should be aware of where the dust is going. Open windows nearby, swimming pools, nice patios, cars in the driveway, etc. And if we break from the bottom, we won’t have to set up scaffolding just to put a fan up.

If breaking from the top, it may be difficult to see our progress as the chimney fills with dust.

Breaking from the bottom and using an exhaust fan, dust is evacuated immediately so it’s pretty easy to see. One method to control dust when breaking from the top is to seal the opening at the base, with the right vacuum hose in the base of the flue. This controls the dust down and into the vacuum, and makes it easy to see. In smaller heating appliance flues and freestanding stove flues, the vacuum could clog as tile debris falls to the base of the flue.

When breaking from the bottom, there is the potential for tile and other debris to exit into the home at a high velocity.

If we break from the top, the base of the flue or a fireplace opening are usually closed off or sealed up, so this may not be an issue. When breaking from the bottom in a fireplace, leaving the damper frame in until the tile removal is completed is helpful.

Filling the firebox with empty buckets also helps to catch debris. But probably the best way to manage debris traveling at high speeds when doing a break out from the bottom in a fireplace, is to cover the fireplace opening with a piece of plywood. A notch in the center of the top of the plywood can be made to keep the rods in place.

loosen, but the rods can’t fall out and drop down the chimney.

There are some cases where it may be necessary to break from the top and bottom. Specifically flues that have mortar encased areas, offsets and/or very tall flues. With a good flashlight, and a straight flue, we can usually see our progress from the bottom. But when these situations come up, it can be difficult to see. When breaking from the bottom, having two way radios and someone on the roof to periodically check

progress is very helpful.

All that said, there is much more to tile breaking that can’t be covered here. Today we looked at some of the pros and cons and different approaches when breaking from the top or bottom. We can set a policy, but sometimes the chimney construction will force us to try a different approach. As long as we schedule plenty of time, and put our safety first, in time we will figure out which method we are most comfortable with.

15 S W E E P I N G

And for those of us who have done tile breakouts from the top, at least once, the rods managed to fall out of the drill chuck and down into the chimney.

This can be very frustrating, especially if it’s as difficult tile break. When breaking from the bottom, the chuck might

December 2015

History

Project

By Claire Rutledge

Happy Holidays everyone! This past year has been spent making improvements to the infrastructure, storage, and stability of our collection.

The more I work with the collection, the more I fall in love with the rich and diverse history of this industry. As the items get older and older it is extremely imperative we preserve what we can so other people can feel the same way about the collection. I’ll share with you some of the things we have done to make this happen.

16 S W E E P I N G

To set some standards for caring for our collection and to guide future caregivers for the collection, a preservation book was purchased. A new storage bin allows us to organize all the tools we need to care for the collection, and to keep things clean. The items we use to protect the collection can be delicate themselves so it’s always a good idea to protect them as well. Hard copies of objects’ documentation are kept but having a backup digital copy is the best way to record that information. While not many collection pieces were assigned a collection number and assessed in 2015, the organization of the digitized records is an ongoing project. This way, there is an easy way for all records to be easily accessed.

Without a good foundation of controlled light, humidity, and storage or presentation it makes no sense to have a collection at all. New custom boxes were made for some of the stored pieces -

December 2015

protecting them from the chemicals and harmful pH balances of their previous storage. Humidity controlling tins were placed in the storage units below the displays, which have no circulation of air and run the risk of high humidity. The effects of the humidity on photos and papers stored there is already evident in warping and discoloration.

For those on display, the old metal stands were either replaced by acrylic stands or re-purposed and covered with velvet. Acrylic is not harmful to objects and will not scratch any delicate surfaces like metal will. The pressure velvet works the same way, although eventually those stands will be replaced by acrylic models. Like the storage area, humidity-controlling silica tins (much like those packets put in shoe boxes) were placed in each section of the displays. These are great to have because once the tins are at full moisture capacity we can pop them in the oven for a few hours and they will be back in working order for another year or so. We hope to add more in the coming year. Light control has become particularly important to our patent documents, inarguably our most important items. Light itself not only can harm the documents but the heat from the bulbs has an effect on them as well.

As such, direct lighting in the cases is limited to only when the room is in short time use.

17 S W E E P I N G December 2015

Protect your Contractor Lien Rights

By Marge Padgitt, HearthMasters Education Author of The Chimney Pro’s Resource Book www.hearthmasters.net

A

s a business owner, you want to get paid for your work but sometimes it doesn’t happen that way. For whatever reason, some customers fail to pay contractors. It would be nice if we all had a crystal ball to see what will happen in the future so you can walk away from the project and go on to another one if needed, but life isn’t like that. With a little planning, a lien can get you paid (eventually).

18 S W E E P I N G

Case in point: I filed a lien on a customer who did not pay the final payment in the amount of $1,800 for a reline job we completed. This job was set up for 30% down, with 30% due halfway through completion, and the balance due the day of completion of the project. The client kept coming up with excuses, so three months later I filed the lien at the courthouse. We also filed a small claim which went to court, and the customer lost the case. However, he still did not pay us, and actually told the judge that he used the money to purchase a membership at a golf club. We thought we were never going to see the payment and had given up on receiving it when his wife called several years later. She was suing him for divorce and selling the house, but our lien prevented her from selling until it was satisfied. With interest, the payment due was much more than the original lien. However, she understood that we are not a bank and are not in the lending business,

December 2015

and that we depend on cash flow to keep the business going. She paid the amount in full, with interest, five years after the lien was filed. I then notified the court that the judgment was satisfied.

When a lien is filed, you do need to make a personal visit to the courthouse, however, no further visits are necessary, and no court appearance is needed, so there is little work to do on your part. A Notice of Lien is required in most states in order to allow the contractor to file a lien should the customer fail to pay any portion of the contract. This is a statement printed in the contract and must be in bold type which is sized 10 points or more. Example: “We reserve the right to file a lien on the property if payment is not made in full as described in the contract.” Each state has its own lien laws so contractors should check to see what the required wording may be in their state.

Timing: There is a limited time frame in which a lien may be filed, usually three to six months from the date of the final invoice or date of completion of the project, so check your state law for that as well.

A preliminary notice is something entirely different and a newer requirement. This notice is required in most states in order to preserve your lien rights. This must be handed to the owner in

person, or mailed to the owner of the property within 10 days of starting the work. To see an example of this type of notice visit http://www.zlien.com/ preliminary-notice and pick your state to get a PDF form.

There are two parts to the notice, one page is given to the customer to keep and the second page is for the contractor to keep on file. It is not necessary for the customer to sign. We don’t issue a preliminary notice for small jobs, but do for jobs that are $10,000 or higher.

Written Contract: For those working on a handshake and without a written contract I urge you to reconsider. It is a state law in Missouri that no work can be completed on a project without a signed contract with the owner of the

property. Check your state for a similar law, but common sense would indicate that a written contract will hold up in court whereas a handshake will not.

Notice in Writing: When you are sure the customer is not going to pay, you must send them a letter with the words “10-Day Notice of Lien” at the top in bold type. Then explain that you intend to file a lien if payment is not received in full within 10 days. Do not tip the owner off that you are sending this, otherwise they may refuse to accept the letter.

How to File: Filing a lien is pretty straightforward and the forms can usually be found on the county website. In our state you can file the lien in the county where the work was done, or in the county where

your office is located. For us, it is more convenient to file in our own county so that is what we do. The fee is usually pretty low- around $30 - $40.

I’ve only had to file liens a few times in the past 33 years in business, but each time it has meant a payment rather than taking a loss. After all, we are all in business to make money, not lose money. The one thing I want to stress is that you don’t know what the customer has planned, what he is capable of doing, or what his financial situation is no matter what type of home he lives in. So protect your lien rights, otherwise, you have little recourse other than filing a small claim or for larger amounts — a lawsuit — which can be expensive.

Reminder Tips: • Be sure to have a written contract for the work signed by the customer • Include the lien notice in the contract in bold type • Be sure to hand the preliminary notice of lien to the customer when you start the work • If the customer does not pay, send a 10-day notice of lien by certified mail • If he still does not pay, file a lien at your courthouse Marge Padgitt is president of HearthMasters, Inc. and HearthMasters Education. She is the author of the Chimney Pro’s Resource Book and the upcoming Complete Guide to Chimney and Fireplace Restoration, and publisher of Wood-Fired Magazine.

December 2015

19 S W E E P I N G

What Do You Mean I’m Not Covered

By Cam Arnold

A

20 S W E E P I N G

s many of you may know, I have developed a unique commercial insurance program for the sweep industry by partnering with some of the leading providers for the industry.

I have had the pleasure of working with several sweeps, and seem to be getting the same questions regarding Professional/E&O and Pollution coverages. I thought this article would be a great outlet to answer some of your questions, and would give you an opportunity to see what the declaration pages of these policies should look like once purchased. We tailor each policy for the different sizes and operation of each business.

Some sweeps have lower sales numbers, but work on high value homes and businesses. Other work on median value homes with the same number of sales. Each client is different, as they should be.

Should a 1 van operation operate the same as a 15 van operation?

No. Should each company have the same policy? No. You have to be aware of the exposures your business faces, while being educated on how these policies fill these coverage gaps of a standard policy. Sure a General Liability policy will fill the requirement for a contract, but will it really cover you for everything?

I’m sure many of you have customers, that when prompted for a cleaning or repair reply, “I’ve been burning fires in that stove for 8 years and nothing has happened! So why do I need this

December 2015

now?” Being the knowledgeable professional you are, you can provide the answers and service that provide them with what they are in need of. The customer doesn’t know what they need, but after you educate them, they understand and become a happy customer who understands the importance of you services. That being said, no one if perfect. Even though you can do the majority of your operations in you sleep, you always have the human element as an exposure.

Let’s start with the pollution policy. Your vacuum blows up, or you forget to lay down a drop cloth.

All of a sudden $3,000 of soot damage is done to the living area of the home. This is where your pollution policy comes into play. Right? Yes and No. Depending on the carrier, claims adjuster, and size of the claim, your General Liability policy

may cover this. A pollution policy would fill any coverage gaps left by your typical General Liability policy, but not everyone carries the correct coverages.

Where your true pollution

policy comes into effect is in the next real life claim example.

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You or your CSIA certified tech takes care of all noted problems in the inspection.

A few months down the road you get a call from a lawyer filing suit against your company.

For what reason? It just so happens in that split moment you were wondering what you were going to eat for dinner, you missed waterproofing the base of the chimney. In turn, water has been leaking into this home every time it rains during the spring. Summer months come around and provide the prime environment for harmful mold to grow inside the walls of this home. Everything is still ok until the family inside becomes ill due to mold inhalation. The family goes to the hospital, gets diagnosed, hires a contractor to come and rip the drywall out to discover a mold infested home. They discover the leak originated in the chimney which you were the last person to service. There is $120,000 of bodily injury (bills due to mold spore inhalation) and another $150,000 in property damage. It’s ok though because you have a General Liability policy. Right?

Wrong. Unless you have $270,000 of reserve cash laying around, you would be forced to shut your doors and file bankruptcy.

Unless, you have a TRUE pollution policy. Again, you’re thinking this will never happen.

I talk to underwriters and claim departments weekly, and they provide me with these real life examples of this situation.

The same goes for your Professional/E&O coverage.

This coverage provides protection for errors and omissions in your work, and

December 2015

21 S W E E P I N G

Sweeps

A dvantage Program

Featured Coupons of the Month

The 2015 – 2016 offers with instructions on how to redeem are available in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www.NCSG.org. These coupons will be good until June 30, 2015 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 www.NCSG.org “Members Only” to learn the complete details of each coupon and how to redeem!

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22 S W E E P I N G

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Contact Debbie Cornelius, Membership Development Coordinator at dcornelius@ncsg.org.

December 2015

failure to provide proper advice. Yes, a customer signed contract will help limit your liability. However, you do not get to choose what amount the claimant is awarded, nor what percentage of the loss you share (if other parties are involved.) If someone disregards your advice with no signed agreement in place, and they burn a fire that burns their home to the ground… that is your fault.

You did not take the necessary precautions to keep them from burning the fire. And since your only did an inspection with no true “physical” work/ repairs performed, your General Liability policy will exclude this claim. If there is a Professional exclusion on your policy.

These are just two, of many, real life claim examples that

would be denied without the proper coverages. There are two separate declaration pages that show what your policy would look like if you had the correct coverage. You need to also request to see the forms to be sure that no important scope of your operation is excluded from the policy. Both the forms and the limits of insurance will vary for each policy and business depending on the carrier. No matter where your insurance will vary for each policy and business depending on the carrier. No matter where your insurance is placed, I highly suggest you have both of these coverages.

When you receive a quote/ renewal of these coverages, have them thoroughly reviewed to be sure they cover what you

are expecting them to cover.

I will close with this. Your business is like a vehicle for your life and family. It gets you from point A (starting your business) to point B (hopefully retirement). Proper insurance coverages are the seatbelts for your business… would you risk your family’s lives by having the manufacturer cut the seatbelts out of your vehicle to save money?

Cam Arnold is a Commercial Risk Advisor and head of the Chimney Sweep Insurance Program for Geny Insurance Group. He is dedicated to working with associations to help business owner’s better understand the coverages they have versus the coverages they need. Geny Insurance Group helps organizations with “Navigating Today’s Risk.

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23 S W E E P I N G

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24443555 66 25 S W E E P I N G December 2015

NCSG 2016 National Convention February 24-27, 2016 Orlando, FL Get ready for our 2016 Keynotes: Story Musgrave Story Musgrave, M.D. is a physician and retired NASA astronaut. Over the course of his career with NASA he became only the second astronaut to record six spaceflights and is the most formally educated astronaut with six academic degrees. Additionally he is an author, public speaker, and a consultant for both Disney’s Imagineering group and Applied Minds in California.

Story will be presenting on how to reach your goals and achieve your dreams with lessons and stories from his own life.

Mark Stoner Mark Stoner is the owner and founder of Nashville-based, multi-million dollar service business, Ashbusters Chimney Service, and a mentor to hundreds of business owners across the nation.

Mark is also one of the founders of SirVent Chimney & Venting Franchise, the President of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a professional public speaker, and recently, an author. He will be sharing lessons from his book Blue Collar Gold: How to Build a Service Business from the Dirt Up.

Visit: www.ncsgconvention.org For schedule, registration, and more

NCSG Convention 2016 • February 24-27 • Orlando, FL NCSG Member Rates

Until 12/15/15

12/15/151/24/16

After 1/24/16

Standard Rates

Primary

$399 (299)

$449 (349)

$499 (399)

Spouse

$199

$249

$299

$349 ($249) $299 ($199) $249 ($149) $179 $69 $39 $49

$399 ($299) $349 ($249) $299 ($199) $179 $69 $39 $49

$449($349) $399($299) $349($249) $179 $69 $39 $49

1st Additional 2nd Additional 3+ Additional Single Day Banquet Only Child Banquet 5-12 Tradeshow Only Senior Category Guild Member

$100

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After 1/24/16

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$499

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$349 $499 $449 $399 $279 $89 $39 $79

$399 $549 $499 $449 $279 $89 $39 $79

$100

NOTE: First Time Attendee prices for members are in parenthesis ( ).

Company _________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City, State, Zip _____________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________ Check here to opt-out to emails from exhibitors

- Opening Night Reception at the Rosen Plaza Join us for heavy appetizers, a cash bar, and comradery following classes on Wednesday before heading out on the town to explore Orlando, FL. Best of all it’s FREE, just RSVP.

REGISTRANT INFORMATION Please write your name as you’d like it to appear on your badge.

Check if wanting an additional information packet mailed (primary packet emailed with registration confirmation)

Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Registration Total $ ___________________ Attending Opening night reception? Yes No 2016 Convention Patch ($3/each - Pickup on-site.) Qty: ________ Patch Total $ ___________

MAIL TO: National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 FAX TO: (317) 837-5365 CALL: (317) 837-1500 REGISTER ONLINE at www.NCSG.org/convention

Office Use Only O2CR C2F AUTH__________ Org ID___________ Profile ID____________ Rec’d By__________ Date ____________

GRAND TOTAL $ ___________ PAYMENT INFORMATION Payment Method: □ Check # ___________ □ Visa □ MC □ AmEx Account # ________________________________________ Card Security Code ______________ Exp. __________ Name on Card ____________________________________ Signature ________________________________________ Refund policy: Prior to 12/15/15, 90%; 12/15/15-1/24/16, 75%. No refunds are available after 1/24/16.

Be Careful What You Recommend — Always Follow The Code

Eugene M. LaFlamme

28 S W E E P I N G

I

was recently traveling and had an opportunity to pick up a newspaper to read on the plane.

One of the articles I came across discussed certain recommendations for homeowners to prepare their homes for the upcoming winter. As we all know, the cold season brings increased fireplace and chimney usage. Consequently, the article touched upon various aspects of chimney care and maintenance that homeowners should complete before the snow starts to fall.

December 2015

As I read the article, the question was posed about how often a homeowner should have their chimney inspected and cleaned. The first sweep that responded to that question stated that if the fireplace is used a lot, it should be cleaned every year.

He then went on to say that if it is used only a couple of times a week, a cleaning every other year is fine. His final comment was that if the chimney is used one time or less per week, then every three years is sufficient.

The sweep that offered the above recommendations, however, forgot a very important component to chimney maintenance — the Level I inspection. As we all know, NFPA 211 requires that chimneys,

fireplaces, and vents be inspected at least once a year.

Therefore, while a cleaning may not be required every year, the sweep should have recommended an annual Level I inspection.

It is during the Level I inspection that the sweep is then able to determine whether a cleaning is necessary. A blanket statement that cleanings are only needed every other year or every three years without ensuring that an inspection be completed at least annually is misleading.

Of course, the purpose of a Level I inspection goes beyond the frequency in which the chimney is used. While certainly the extent of use has a large impact on the amount of creosote that may build-up, even an infrequently used chimney

could have other adverse conditions (i.e. animal nests, water issues, masonry problems) that may need to be addressed.

Therefore, whenever asked, sweeps should always defer to the code requirement and state that the homeowner should have their chimney system inspected at least annually.

I was happy to see, however, that the second sweep interviewed for the same article stated that the code requires chimneys to be cleaned or inspected on an annual basis. This is the correct and proper response to give. While the articles author labeled this sweep as more of a “stickler,” I do not view that classification as a negative.

In fact, the more sticklers we have in the industry, the better off the industry will be.

was limited to chimney inspections and cleanings, the same recommendations hold true for any other work a sweep completes. The code should always be considered and followed when making various recommendations to a homeowner.

Eugene M. LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC, a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases. Eugene’s practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries.

He can be contacted at elaflamme@ MLLlaw.com or (262) 522-7000.

While the above discussion

29 S W E E P I N G December 2015

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t’s been a very good year from what I have heard in my conversations with sweeps all over the country.

Definitely a change from a few years ago when many where struggling just to pay their bills.

With that said I do hope you will consider attending the 2016 NCSG Convention and Tradeshow in Orlando, FL February 24th – 27th. Not only will you come away with more knowledge but new friends and maybe even a suntan!

Volunteers are need for unloading and loading the office truck, convention registration, assembling materials for registrants, scanners for business and technical sessions, assistance in preparing for the CSIA auction and runners at the auction. By helping out for an hour or two or more you will have a hand in the success of the convention.

Watch for emails with a list of activities that require volunteer support. Please sign up early to insure all functions requiring volunteer support are covered.

As 2015 draws to an end, I want to thank the sweeps and supplier members for their continued support of the National Chimney Sweep Guild.

Without your involvement as a dues paying member, volunteer at not only the convention but Sweeps Week and other activities, the NCSG would not be what it is today.

Progressive

Perks Debbie Cornelius

Membership Development Coordinator

Wishing you and yours a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a prosperous 2016!

Don’t forget to watch for convention volunteer opportunities. We need your help in making this another successful event.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Orlando, Fla!

As 2015 Draws To And End And A New Year Begins — 2016 NCSG Convention & Tradeshow

December 2015

31 S W E E P I N G

Dates and

Events

32 S W E E P I N G

December 7-13, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 14-20, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 21-27, 2015 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 28, 2015 – January 3, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 4-10, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

December 2015

January 11-17, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 15, 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams CSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, IN For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 18-24, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 25-31, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org February 1-7, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

February 8-14, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org February 15-21, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org February 23, 2016 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams Rosen Plaza Hotel – Orlando, FL (NCSG Convention) For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org February 23, 2016 CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician®

Review & Exams Rosen Plaza Hotel – Orlando, FL (NCSG Convention) For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org February 22-28, 2016 CSIA (online) NO ONLINE CLASSES February 29, 2016 – March 4, 2016 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

CrownGuard

Severe weather crown repair & protection Centering system for metal chimney liners.

FireGuard

®

The most advanced chimney liner in the world

Ceramic mortar joint & resurfacing system

Patented

“Thanks 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 FireGuard. 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 time.”

Tommy Nelms Sweeps & Ladders

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION call: 800-545-6607 info@firesafeinc.com

www.firesafeinc.com

December 2015

33 S W E E P I N G

CSIA Update December 2015 Report

www.csia.org

Final C-DET Workshop of 2015 is a Wrap!

In November, students from around the country attended the final Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician速 Workshop of 2015, led by CSIA instructor, and venting expert, John Bently.

Additional opportunities for earning your C-DET credential in 2016 can be found by visiting www.csia.org/education.

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December 2015 Report

Newly Certified Sweeps California

Ohio

Joshua Woodcock | A to Z Chimney Sweep | Lincoln

Anne-Laura Wilder| Blackburn’s Chimney Sweep | Columbus

Missouri

South Carolina

Rick Cline | Hearth Masters | Independence

Albert Rollins | Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep| Prosperity

November was a busy month for Ashely Eldridge, our Director of Education, who found himself in front of the camera for PBS children’s show (left) and an upcoming homeowner education spot for Angie’s List.

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www.csia.org

Instructor Spotlight: John Bently Following the C-DET workshop in November, we were able to sit down with instructor John Bently for a brief one-on-one video interview.

During the interview, John candidly refelects on the value of having a CSIA Certification, questions he would ask, as a consumer, before hiring a sweep or tech to service his home, and even how he manages his own succesful business.

You can check out the interview in its entirety by visiting our YouTube page at: http://youtube.com/ ChimneySafetyUSA.

CSIA Hits the Road in 2016 We can’t always just sit around the CSIA Tech Center — sometimes we have to stretch our legs and head out on the open road.

Here’s a list of locaitons where you can find us preaching the gospel of chimney and dryer exhaust safety.

If you’re going to be at one (or more) of these events, please make sure to stop by our booth and visit!

ASHI Inspection World 2016 Jan 27 - 29 | San Diego, CA NCSG 2016 Convention Feb 24 - 27 | Orlando, FL NADCA Expo Mar 7 - 9 | Phoenix, AZ HPBA Expo 2016 Mar 17 - 19 | New Orleans, LA

CSIA EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep ® Review & Exam January 15| Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center] February 23| Orlando, FL [NCSG Convention @ Rosen Plaza Hotel] 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: 4.5 [1.5-T, 1.5-CS, 1.5-CL]

Contact CSIA Mailing Address 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 Telephone (317) 837-5362 Email: Office@CSIA.org Twitter: @Chimney_Safety Facebook: /ChimneySafety

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® Review & Exam February 23| Orlando, FL [NCSG Convention @ Rosen Plaza Hotel] This in-person intensive review session will help you prepare for the C-DET exam. Review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study.

CSIA CEUs: 4 [2-T, .5-CS, .5-HS, 1-CL]

National Chimney Sweep Training School April 4-9| Plainfield, IN [CSIA Technology Center] Our flagship event where you’ ll spend a week learning the fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems, equipment operation, health & 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

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2016

CSIA

Education Calendar CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exam January 15 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, IN

Chimney Physics July 11–12 | CSIA Technology Center

April 15 | Albany, NY

Diagnosis and resolution of chimney performance issues, solving air pressure problems, identifying the symptoms of indoor air pollutants, determining combustion air requirements for vented appliances.

April 22 | CSIA Technology Center

CSIA CEUs: 3-T, 3-CS, 3-HS, 3-CL NFI CEUs: 4-E

February 23 | Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, FL (NCSG Convention)

May 27 | Scranton, PA

Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances

June 24 | Sturbridge, MA July 15 | CSIA Technology Center

August 1–5 | CSIA Technology Center

August 19 | Richmond, VA

Service and installation, including appliance standards, combustion requirements, pipe sizing and installation, troubleshooting, carbon monoxide testing and fuel conversion.

Septermber 16 | Atlantic City, NJ October 7 | CSIA Technology Center

CSIA CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-HS, 4-CL NFI CEUs: 16-T

October 14 | Albany, NY In-person intensive review sessions help candidates prepare for the exams. The review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study.

CSIA CEUs: 1.50-T, 1.50-CS, 1.50-HS, 1.50-CL NFI CEUS: 6-T

Inspection and Report Writing May 12–13 | CSIA Technology Center

Chimney inspections and evaluations, report writing including regional and environmental influences, effective photo documentation, digital organization and administrative procedures.

CSIA CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-CL NFI CEUs: 12-T

Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals September 12–14 | CSIA Technology Center

An intensive class combining a short period of classroom theory followed by hands-on projects. Students will learn how to mix mortar and how to lay brick as well as learning joint finishing, tools of the trade, and all aspects of chimney repair. CSIA CEUs: 12-T

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® February 23 | Rosen Plaza Hotel, Orlando, FL (NCSG Convention) CSIA CEUs: 2-T; .5-CS; 1.25-HS; .75-CL October 5–6 | CSIA Technology Center*

National Chimney Sweep Training School

*The two-day class includes hands-on instruction to help candidates prepare for the exam. CSIA CEUs: 9-T, .5-CS, .5-HS, 1-CL

April 4–9 | CSIA Technology Center June 6–11 | CSIA Technology Center August 15–20 | CSIA Technology Center

Online classes

Septermber 19–24 | CSIA Technology Center Fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems, equipment operation, health and safety considerations and step-by-step instruction in codes, clearances, standards and practices.

CCS CEUs: 4-T, 4-CS, 4-CL, 4-HS NFI CEUs: 16-T

anytime access | csia.org Over 70 courses to choose from, with a bevy of CEUs. Curriculum is online, so you can sign up and start learning at the convenience of home or work!

Sweeps Week 2016

June12–18 | CSIA Technology Center, Plainfield, Indiana A fun week of volunteer maintenance projects and collaborative learning! All invited regardless of affiliation!

All dates and times subject to change.

Please contact us prior to making travel arrangements: office@csia.org

Register today at www.CSIA.org or call us at (317) 837-5362.

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Around the

Tech

Center Frances Kelly Executive Director

H

appy Holidays!

We’ve had a lot to celebrate ourselves this past month as we’ve wished Donna and Debbie happy birthdays.

In November we hosted the last C-DET workshop of the year at the Tech Center. We were please to have a great group of students in the class. (Check the CSIA Education calendar to join us for a class next year.)

As many of you have visited the Tech Center know we have are happy to have a varied collection of stoves and fireplaces to use in teaching

38 S W E E P I N G December 2015

our students. This month we were pleased to another masonry heater.

(The first of course if the beautiful one that is the centerpiece of our lobby and conference room.)

This masonry heater is very special as it was used at the first Alliance for Green Heat event on the mall in Washington D.C. From myself and the whole staff, we wish you happy holiday celebrations!

Classifieds GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit www. elitesoft.com to download a free trial version.

39 S W E E P I N G December 2015

Darwin

Award

One of my technicians just came by this chimney.

Look at how the chimney cap was fixed!

- Manon Lalumière, Healthy Chimney, Boisbriand (Quebec)

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 dmarlett@ncsg.org. for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Include a few words about the scene and location.

Ad Index 40 S W E E P I N G

Ahrens Chimney Technique

800-843-4417

ahrenschimney@qwestoffice.net

19

Copperfield

800-247-3305

www.copperfield.com

5 and 7

CVC Coaching

704-425-0217

www.cvccoaching.com

12

Firesafe Industries, Inc.

800-545-6607

www.firesafeinc.com

33

ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com 23 Lindemann Chimney Company

800-722-7230

www.lindemannchimney.com 9

National Chimney

800-897-8481

www.nationalchimney.com 13

New England Chimney Supply

866-513-2378

www.newenglandchimneysupply.com 30

Olympia Chimney Supply

800-569-1425

www.olympiachimney.com 24

Sand Hill Wholesale

800-258-5496

www.sandhillwholesale.com 4

SaverSystems, Inc

800-860-6327

www.saversystems.com 29

Smoktite 207-439-0069 www.smoktite.com 21 Wohler USA, Inc.

December 2015

978-750-9876

www.wohlerusa.com 11

Our forests are threatened by invasive tree-killing insects and diseases that can hitchhike on firewood. Pests like the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, and Asian longhorned beetle don’t move far on their own – but they can travel hundreds of miles in a single day in a bundle of contaminated firewood. Once transported to uninfested areas, these insects and diseases can emerge and start new damaging outbreaks.

•

Leave firewood at home – buy local firewood at or near your destination, or collect firewood on site when permitted.

•

Buy or collect only what you’ll need, and burn it all completely by the end of your stay.

•

If you have already moved firewood, use it immediately. Do not take it home with you, and do not leave any excess firewood on site.

National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168

1408