Sweeping November 2019 VOLUME 43 #10
The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology
Features Or Benefits— What Do Your Customers Really Care About?
Call for Nominations
Warrior Horse Update
Meet a Member: Vince and Yvette Aube
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Departments President’s Letter 3 In Case You Missed It 4 Editor’s Letter 5 Tech Q&A 12 Regional Events 16 Coach’s Corner 18 Membership Memo 24 New Members 29 Around the Tech Center 30 Classifieds 31 Darwin Award 32
The NCSG staff wishes you a happy, restful, and warm Thanksgiving!
Table of Contents Sweeping November 2019 Volume 43 Issue 10
Features What Do Your Customers Really Care About?
Call for Nominations
Warrior Horse Update
Meet A Member: Vince and Yvette Aube
6 15 20 22
1 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Smoke Chambers and Cast in Place Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 706
Factory Built Fireplace Installation and Replacement (866) 283-8667 Ext. 701
Dryer Vents (866) 283-8667 Ext. 707
Gas Appliance Venting, Gas Logs and NFPA 54 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 702 Oil Appliance Venting and NFPA 31 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 703 Chimney Inspection, Documentation and NFPA 211 (Levels of Inspection) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 704
Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (866) 283-8667 Ext. 708 IRC and NFPA 211 (Code Questions) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 709 Customer Service and Customer Communication (866) 283-8667 Ext. 710 General Sweeping and Repair (866) 283-8667 Ext. 711
NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
Masonry Fireplace Construction and Restoration (866) 283-8667 Ext. 700
2 S W E E P I N G
STAFF
Resources 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365
Megan McMahon Executive Director mmcmahon@ncsg.org Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlett@ncsg.org Russell Dimmitt Education Director rdimmitt@ncsg.org Charissa Benge Mahaffey Certification Coordinator cmahaffey@ncsg.org Penny Seals Academic Coordinator pseals@ncsg.org
November 2019
Sara Sichting Systems and Records Coordinator ssichting@ncsg.org Annemarie Stockton Membership & Outreach Coordinator astockton@ncsg.org Tammy Bruner Program Coordinator tbruner@ncsg.org
COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2019 – 2020
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.
Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bob@flueseason.com
Vice President, Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com
At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 topnotchchimney@gmail.com
Treasurer, Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com
At-Large Director Steven Scally (603) 895-8746 firesidesweeps@comcast.net
Secretary, Region 1 Matt Mair (603) 525-7905 matt@blackmoosechimney. com
At-Large Director Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com
Region 2 Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787 wissahickonvalleysweep@ yahoo.com
Stainless Steel Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 705 To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (866) 283-8667 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question:
President, Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01@gmail.com
Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartk@saversystems.com
Bylaws Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com
NFPA 211 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com
Ethics Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com
NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com
Governance Tom Hunkele (641) 774-8056 topnotchchimney@gmail.com
NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com
Government Affairs Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com
Technical Advisory Council Michael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweeps@optonline.net
International Relations John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com
Scholarship Committee Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net
Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bob@flueseason.com
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. © 2019 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500
W
e are in the busy season and it appears to be another great year for all of us. I just want to remind you to remember your health. I’ve been in denial for years that something was wrong with me. Turns out I’m suffering from Chimney Eye. I’m not sure there is a cure, I’ve tried taking time off and staying away from the office but it doesn’t work. For many years I’ve annoyed friends and family with my condition. The worst is when traveling through neighborhoods where I’ve done a lot of work and have to point out chimneys I’ve built or repaired. My kids have been heard moaning “Dad, we get it you fixed every house.” Once I picked my daughter up from a sleep over and asked if she liked the fireplaces inside, “Dad is that all you care about?” I reply that I built them both. “Well, they were cool I guess” she answers.
It doesn’t seem to make a difference how far I travel to escape this condition. I’m sure some of you suffer from Chimney Eye as well, just remember it may affect those around you. Get back to work and enjoy the season! Here are few photos I recently took in Australia. Be safe, be profitable!
President’s
Letter Jasper Drengler
President
Jasper Drengler NCSG President
Greetings Fellow Sweeps!
3 S W E E P I N G November 2019
In Case You
Missed
it…
4 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Register Now for Orlando! Registration is now open to the 2020 NCSG National Convention in Orlando, FL! From the opening keynote to the closing banquet celebration, you won’t want to miss a moment of all we have in store! Register Here: www.NCSGConvention.org/register
Share your testimonial Growing the NCSG community is always a top priority of ours. What better way to welcome new companies to our network than to share stories from members like you? Follow the link to find a few prompts to guide your testimonials. Please feel free to answer as many prompts as you’d like! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCSGtestimonials2018
Nominations for Meet a Member Do you know a friend or colleague doing great work in our industry that deserves a little recognition? Nominate them to be featured on NCSG.org and Sweeping magazine in the Meet a Member feature. Send names to Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org.
Happy November Sweeps! It’s no secret that this is a busy month for many in the chimney industry as homeowners rush to get their homes ready for holiday guests. Even here at the Tech Center we receive many calls from homeowners looking to have their chimney swept this time of year. Our writers have packed this issue with advice on how to get the most out of this busy season and even get a jump-start on next years’. Whether you’re looking to improve your sales technique, keep better track of your numbers, or make the most out of your benefits I think you’ll find an article of interest. Since Veterans Day falls in November we also thought this would be a great issue to
check in with our friends at Warrior Horse. Check out a photo of their newly completed training arena and find out how you can donate in this issue. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take a welldeserved rest to spend time with family and friends.
Letter
Available from leading distributors nationwide.
Editor
P.S. Have you thought about running for the board of directors? Nominations are now officially being accepted. Read through the Call for Nominations to see what positions are available this election cycle.
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5 S W E E P I N G
Features Or Benefits— What Do Your Customers Really Care About?
By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins
Spark Marketer Whether you’re shopping for a new TV, looking at a new CRM (Customer Relationship Management system/tool), or picking cable companies, features are everywhere. They’re on commercials, billboards, websites, packaging, etc. etc. etc. But do you really care about the features? Are the features going to make one purchase better than another or is it the benefits that really matter? Let’s consider my dream TV for a minute: The Samsung Q90 Flat Smart 4K QLED TV.
6 S W E E P I N G
Stop to look at this bad boy at your local Best Buy or head over to the Samsung website and you’ll see these key features: 1. Direct Full Array 16X 2. Quantum HDR 16X 3. Quantum Processor 4K 4. Ultra Viewing Angle As features, these sound like industry jargon used to justify a higher price. But as benefits, they actually mean something. 1. Direct Full Array 16X = My viewing experience will be superior, enhanced by lifelike detail and depth, and exceptional clarity. Finally, a TV that
November 2019
will do “Planet Earth” documentaries justice. 2. Quantum HDR 16X = I’ll enjoy deep contrasts and vivid, natural colors that will put the impact in “Deep Impact.” 3. Quantum Processor 4K = Every scene will be clearer and my TV will actually be smart, adjusting brightness and sound to match the setting and the moment. That means when I decide to marathon “Die Hard” films in the middle of a Sunday, the sun won’t keep me from seeing every scratch on Bruce Willis’ face and I won’t have to constantly turn up the volume during the quiet scenes and turn it down when the gunfire starts back up. 4. Ultra Viewing Angle = No matter which seat I get stuck with on family movie night, I’ll be golden. There is no bad seat in the house. See the difference here? The first list -- the features -- didn’t really have me convinced that the price of the Q90 was worth it. But the second list -- the benefits -- sure did. It’ll even make it easier to justify the price to my wife (fingers crossed). Let me let you in on a little secret: You’re not
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the only one who doesn’t care about features. What we all want to know is this: “Is this going to make my life better, and how?” So if you don’t care about features, why are you using features to sell your customers on your services, products, and maintenance plans? Flip the focus from features to benefits and watch how your customers’ perception of value changes. Why Benefits Are More Persuasive Than Features Let’s consider your business for a minute. Let’s say you’ve got the best stainless steel chimney caps that money can buy. Your customer lets you know they can find cheaper caps online, as customers are wont to do. “Yeah, but…” you say, and then start rattling off the features:
Cool. What does your customer hear? Now what if you focused instead on the benefits: 1. Screens = You won’t have to worry about animals or birds getting into your chimney and causing a raucous and a lot of damage. 2. 304 Alloy stainless steel = You won’t have to worry about your cap rusting out and needing replacement in just a few short years. 3. Cross braced + deep, double channel base = These caps offer superior strength, which means your cap should last a long time, despite strong winds, hail, and other damaging elements. Ultimate benefit: You buy this cap and you won’t have to buy another one again. Do you see how the benefits do a far better job of conveying value than the features do?
1. These caps have screens. 2. They’re made of 304 Alloy stainless steel. 3. They’re cross-braced and feature a deep, double-channel base.
The same goes for VIP/service plans. Take the focus off of features like “priority scheduling” and put it instead on benefits like, “You get help when you need it, without the wait.” It may seem like only a slight difference, but the way it lands in your customer’s head can be vastly different. One more example…
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If you have a hearth shop or offer products like fireplaces, stoves, and fireplace accessories on your website, you probably rattle off the features like this: • BTUs: • Efficiency Rating: • View Area:
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Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Sure BTUs, efficiency ratings, and view area size matters, but when you’re comparing multiple appliances and considering dropping thousands of dollars on a single item, you need more to go off of. Think about how you can make things clearer and easier for your customers by shifting the focus from features to benefits.
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Because here’s the thing: When the right choice isn’t easily distinguishable by your customer, they opt for what we all do when we have too many choices or not enough clarity: no choice. So take a look at how you’re presenting your products, services, VIP/service plans, and even your company to your customers and potential customers. If the focus is more on the product/service/plan/company than it is on how it will change the life of your customer, then it’s time to shift your focus. One small step for you, one giant leap for your close rates! Promise!
10 S W E E P I N G
Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Nashville, Tennessee-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. They’re also co-creators of the award-winning app Closing Commander, which helps contractors close more estimates effortlessly, and co-authors of the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love. Both regularly speak at service industry trade shows and conferences across the nation. Visit www.sparkmarker.com, www.about.closingcommander.com, www.facebook.com/ sparkmarketer, or www.facebook.com/closingcommander.
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Technical
Q&A
Michael Segerstrom
NCSG Technical Advisory Chair
Question: Is there a way to know what state regulations or laws are pending, that may affect my business as a chimney service company?
12 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Answer: Yes, there are several ways. One of the best ways is to be a member of both the National Chimney Sweep Guild and your state Guild or Association. The Government Affairs Committee of the NCSG does a good job trying to keep track of these things in different states. When things come up on a state level, the GAC will let the regional director know, and then the director can help get the information to local members and the local or regional organization. State and Regional organizations have it a little bit easier, because they only have to monitor laws and legislation in one state, or a region with a few states. And many of these state or regional organizations will have their own Government Affairs Committee. That committee can also let members know when legislation develops or undergoes changes during its process. So being a member of both the national and local or regional organizations gives us a couple of reliable ways to find out when things come up. Membership can also put us in a position where we can learn what actions to take, when necessary. Actions like contacting a governor, or writing to our senators or assemblyman. Membership in an organization can help our industry take action collectively when necessary, to get more effective results. At times, legislation or regulations can develop that are intended for other trades but may have a direct impact on chimney service professionals. National and Regional
organization membership can help us learn about these types of issues too. We could also consider joining the affiliated trade organizations, which can make sense if we also install hearth appliances, service residential heating equipment or clean ductwork. There are other ways we can track legislation and regulations. One simple way, is to set up keyword notifications on an internet web browser. Certain web browsers give us this ability, and we can even put in several key words to filter out anything unrelated. It may take a little practice, but it can be a valuable tool. If we already know a bill number, it can be that much easier to use our web browser to track activity. Some states also have bill trackers on their state website. If a proposed law or piece of legislation is introduced and it’s given a number, we can periodically visit that website and follow its progress through the legislative process. Through the state’s website, we can also learn if there are public sessions scheduled that we would like to attend. Being well-informed about proposed laws or regulations where we work is important. At times, we will need to be more than just well-informed, we may need to take action. Doing our own homework and participating in membership organizations will give us the opportunity to potentially implement changes to proposed laws and regulations if necessary, and also know how and when these things may affect us.
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History
Project I
f you have ever had a chance to visit us at The Technology Center in Plainfield, Indiana you have probably seen the NCSG’s collection of gifts and historical items.
The collection currently includes many figurines and gifts from international sweeps as well as some oddities like an original US Patent and a bottle of beer. Many of the items were generous donations from NCSG members and their families from over the years. This past month we were the lucky recipients of the late Terry Dearborn’s Sweeping collection. Comprising of a decade’s worth of every issue of Sweeping Magazine, the staff are currently working on organizing and archiving the issues so that they can be enjoyed and learned from for years to come.
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14 S W E E P I N G
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Call for Nominations When you serve on the NCSG Board of Directors, you help lead the chimney industry into the future and can develop leadership, management and communication skills that will serve you in your business and personal life. You can make an immediate difference in the chimney service industry by helping to determine the organization’s strategic plan and annual budget.
Quality & Strength
The NCSG Governance Committee is now accepting nominations for the following positions.
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Region 2: 2-year term Represents: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Region 3: 2-year term Represents: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia Region 4: 2-year term
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November 2019
S W E E P I II N G
Regional
Events February 2020
January 2020 January 11-12, 2020 Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild’s Winter Extravaganza MCSG will hold their 40th Anniversary Celebration Join in the fun with membership meeting, speakers, raffle, awards and banquet! Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center Southbridge, MA (MCSG special rates available) For more information, please call Dave Hannah at (413) 887-2374 or MCSG February 20-22, 2020 Chimney Expo Join in the fun with speakers, training and trade show. Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia, PA For more information, please email contact@ certifiedchimneyprofessionals.com or visit Chimney Expo
February 20-23, 2020 North Carolina Chimney Sweep Association Winter Continuing Education Weekend CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Review & Exam (Contact CSIA for EXAM registration only) Join in the fun with speakers, training and auction. Waynesville Inn and Spa Waynesville, NC
April 2020 For more information, please contact NCCSA 980-7219943 or visit NCCSA April 1-4, 2020 NCSG Annual Convention The Rosen – Orlando, FL For more information, please call (317) 837-1500 or visit http://www.ncsgconvention.org
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16 S W E E P I N G
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November 2019
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Fall, The Annual Stress Test Is Underway
W
elcome to another fall season, or what I am calling “The Stress Test.” A test of your fortitude, but also a test of your systems and processes, and every member of your team. This is where the rubber meets the road and where all hands must be on deck and properly prepared every day. Research shows that each business has a season, and for the chimney, venting and hearth industries that season is the fall each year. Your local climate will be a part of how stressful this part of the year is, and your recognition as to your value to your community. But just as any restaurant must be properly prepared to handle the breakfast, lunch and dinner rush, so must business be ready to accept and prosper during a time frame when many simply cannot meet the demand of the consumer. With a great economy as we are in now, this drives even more demand for your services and products. So how does one manage the stress of the season? By being fully prepared for the season. To handle each day in a productive and effective manner. The number one management detail to track and measure is what is happening every single day, and grading each day’s successes and failures. Along with this tracking we are collecting the data for things we need to improve on before the next fall arises. With the hectic pace of the fall, changes to the system are often not possible. But one can certainly track, measure and do the long-range planning that is required to remove any stress
18 S W E E P I N G November 2019
and chaos from reoccurring in the coming season. The following are some areas to look at:
Waste Along with high speed comes waste, and often we are simply too busy to monitor the waste produced by our companies. This is further compounded because many measure success in the bank balance and in the backlog (two very dangerous ways to measure).
Numbers Understanding the numbers, in other words what is producing the revenue, building our bank accounts and what may not be profitable is one of the avenues of a high-performance manager. The high-performance manager monitors the key metrics of the business commonly referred to as KPIs (key performance indicators). These will be the key metrics the owner must examine on a regular basis; many do this daily. Most certainly you should be examining these on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis. This is the true gauge of your performance and how well you are on the budget. This tells you where the money is coming from and what products and services are not delivering a return. The use of data is one of the most remarkable measurement tools in existence, and the smart manager knows how to set his future strategies by the reviews he does.
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Were You Properly Staffed
Journaling
Often we think of massive backlogs as the magic formula of success. But massive backlogs are an invitation to lost sales, unserved customers and lost profits. It is also an invitation for others to capture a percentage of your market, your business and your potential customers.
Every manager should be writing a daily journal as to what is happening. In this journal the manager should also be formulating the strategies to be implemented once the stress season starts to subside. These are the strategies to build the processes to make the next fall season one of less stress, less chaos, less waste and a season of even higher return.
Moving Regular Customers To Less Stessful Seasons Are you serving the same customers every fall or are you successful in moving them to the time of the year you need them, and not to be servicing through the Stress season. Each day on each customer, be thinking how I move this person to the time of the year I really need them.
Training Often training simply falls to the wayside. We consider ourselves simply too busy to train our crews. But an ongoing program of training is a part of the success of any winning team. Even when we are busy, setting aside the time for training is the way to keep your team performing at the highest level.
Vendors How are your vendors performing? Are your deliveries on time and with the proper product? Is a vendor causing issues that result in delayed jobs, rescheduling, upset customers and lost profits? You may need to be considering a new vendor.
Meetings Meetings are a way of moving forward as a cohesive team and where communication is top notch. A successful meeting agenda will include:
20 S W E E P I N G
• Daily meetings of the work force • Weekly meetings of management • Same page meetings if there are joint owners • Special meeting to deal with any issues that are occurring
Temperament Often the stress of the season tells on us. This affects the way we treat our customers, and in turn affects our sales and our reviews. If we are going to truly capture, the lifetime value of each of our customers we have to control our temperament and passions.
November 2019
If one were to be able to review the books and numbers of the individual companies and compile the data, they will likely see that the fall quarter may produce over 2/3 of the revenue for the year. Along with it comes the highest waste. But since cash flows much easier, the waste does not catch as much attention. You see it is all about our fumbles and handoffs. Many times, the fumbles in business we simply come to expect, and the bad handoffs we just say that this is the way it is. But to be honest this is not the way it has to be; it is only if this is the way you are willing to accept it. Here is your challenge: make all efforts to ensure that the fall of 2020 is one that will be less hectic, less frustrating and more profitable. Set the date for your 2019 review after the first of year, and plan to spend the time reviewing your successes and failures. Then draw the map to navigate these in the coming year. The call volume will soon slow down and the backlogs we soon start to shorten. For success make the most of the fall season, but also take the time to build the strategies to move the fall of 2020 to a less hectic state. 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. A Past President of NCSG & CSIA along with serving in several volunteer industry positions over his career. 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.cvcsuccessgroup.com He can be contacted at jerry@cvcsuccessgroup.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and YouTube channel CVC Coaching.
I
Warrior Horse Update
n honor of Veterans Day we thought it would be a great time to check in on our friends at Warrior Horse.
For those of you not familiar Warrior Horse is a non-profit program for veterans founded by Guild member of Kevin Russell of New Buck Chimney Services in Frierson, LA. Warrior Horse serves veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through an equine therapy program.
Russell has sent along updated photos of their newly completed arena as they prepare to host their first class. “By the time this is published, we should be up and running, ready for the first official class! Thanks to everyone who has supported us, you are helping to change the world,” said Russell. If you would like to support Warrior Horse’s mission you can donate at www.warriorhorse.net.
From all of us at Sand Hill, Thanks For Giving Us Your Support! And As Our Gift To You, Receive
Free Freight
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21 S W E E P I N G
888-SAND-HILL (888-726-3445)
Info@SandHillWholesale.com * Offer valid 11/1/19 through 11/30/19 Same Day Shipping for Orders Placed Before 3:00 EST www.sandhillwholesale.com
November 2019
Meet A
Member
Vince and Yvette Aube Meet Vince and Yvette Aube from AIM Chimney Sweep in Midland, Ontario. They’ve been long-time NCSG members, and have been championing our Guild in Canada for many years. Let’s take a look to see how they got started in the industry and what some of their great accomplishments are.
22 S W E E P I N G November 2019
What is a question you get asked most about being a chimney sweep? the industry? After asking what is a Chimney Sweep? Well the next question is why are there not more sweeps out there? It is a difficult question to answer for most people. We just tell them that it is a long, hard and dirty job and not everyone has the stamina to do this type of work. How did you get started in the industry? Back in the late 70s, we were approached by a family member who read Mother Earth News and thought this would be a great job to do. He never once swept a chimney but has the smarts to hire Vince as his sweep; I followed along later into the office. In 1983, we left that company and started on our own, as we wanted to learn from other sweeps and go to training classes to better our knowledge. What advice do you wish you had received when you were getting started? Oh so many options! I wish that we had of know about savings accounts for retirement – no pensions in our trade. We started small and built this business from the ground up and are happy in it, we built it ourselves with help of good employees and family members. We have been multiple trucks in the past and single trucks. We like to be small and under our own control with a good core group of people working WITH us not FOR us. What is the biggest challenge you face on the job? What are your best strategies for overcoming it? For Yvette, it is being a woman in a male dominated trade. For Vince, it is the daily work when you are getting to that age! LOL. In all seriousness, the biggest challenges are attempting to get the client to understand that we are not just soot sweepers, we are not
out to steal their money. We are trained and knowledgeable tradesmen and women, we know our stuff and are doing our best, each and every day, to make them as safe as possible with guidance and care. Who was your most famous customer? Oh, we have had many famous clients in the past: John Candy, The Bacardi Rum family, McCain’s (food), and a few hockey players of note. We don’t like to brag about our clients, but it is really nice when we get to the job site and realize exactly WHOM we are serving that day! But all our clients are important to us, no matter who you are and what you make. Have you ever attended NCSG Annual Convention & Trade Show? If so, what was your favorite takeaway? We attempt to go each and every year. The best thing that we take away is friendship and comradery. We love to meet new friends, new sweeps and share our knowledge with them. Each year we gain new friends, new product knowledge and new family (because that is what you all are to us). What is your proudest accomplishment? For Yvette, it has to be being the Past President of the Chimney Sweep Association of Canada. For Vince, it is probably that he has shared his brain with some of the finest sweeps in our area. As a result, our son Martin is a Trainer all over North America, our daughterin-law Shannah is invested in helping to run our offices and our grandson Jared is thoroughly embedded into our trade now – all as Certified Chimney Sweeps and Technicians. Proud to say that we are the first three generation sweep family in Canada! Have you ever had to make your own tool to solve a particular problem? A few eons ago, we ran into a special problem with our torches. There were no 45-degree nozzles on the market so we had one custom made for us. Now they are on the open market! We once had a 36” breech that we had to deal with. No one had arms long enough to get to the tee screws to connect the liner, so off to our friend, the welder. He quickly made us a 48” screwdriver. Problem solved, but every week we find something we have to “MacGyver” to make it work. What is the weirdest thing you have ever found in a chimney? In 42 years of doing this, we have found so many things in chimneys it is hard to figure out which item was the weirdest. We have found dope, photos, carcasses, tools, eyeglasses, money. But the best was a LIVE 4 FOOT BLACK RAT SNAKE! Just what you need to get your heart pumping again! What do you like to do outside of work? We both own vintage Corvettes, and we love to take them out on the road and cruise. What is, in your opinion, the most valuable part of being a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild? The vast amount of knowledge we can glean from others. We always have a pool of friends that we can dive into when we need advice or help. And we are there for others as well. What a wealth of Brothers and Sisters in Soot we have! The best family in the entire world!
November 2019
23 S W E E P I N G
Membership
Memo
By Annemarie Stockton Membership & Outreach Coordinator
H
appy November, Sweeps and industry partners! I wanted to do a quick check-in to remind you of some of the awesome NCSG member benefits that we provide, especially in the height of your busy season.
to show homeowners that you invest in your business by being a part of your trade’s top association!
The NCSG App is Now Ready for Download
Lastly, don’t forget all of the awesome business benefits you get by just being a member! Excellent business education is at your fingertips with partners like Grandy and Associates Profit University, Surefire Training Academy, CVC Basecamp Learning Platform, and the frequent webinars from Spark Marketer and Market Hardware. And as always, excellent education and training is always available from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We have some awesome new benefits coming down the pike in this department, so be on the lookout!
If you haven’t heard the great news, NCSG now has an app for your phones and tablets! Accessing all of your member benefits just got so much easier. Having the app means that benefits such as the Manual Library can now be right in your pocket. Another huge benefit is having immediate access to the Technical Advisory Council (TAC) phone line. Whatever your question may be, there’s likely a volunteer expert with an answer. Pay your invoices, order swag from the Sweep Shop, and access your favorite member benefit all from your phone!
Boost your Listing on NCSG.org Thousands of homeowners are looking for qualified chimney and venting professionals (hey, that’s you!) on our website. Make your profile stand out by updating your listing! Just fill out the quick form (found here: http://bit.ly/NCSGlisting) to make your listing more attractive to those potential customers. Don’t underestimate the power of social media, either! Note your social media accounts on your listing by logging into NCSG.org and updating your contact information. Be sure to put the NCSG member mark on your website and other accounts
24 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Education (you know, for all of your free time…)
Have an idea for a benefit you’d like to see? Are you an industry supplier who has a service that would be beneficial to the industry’s best? Send me an email at astockton@ncsg.org. Have a great busy season, friends!
Roydhouse Round Up
by Chuck Roydhouse, CSIA President president@csia.org “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.” -Aristotle As you’re reading this edition of Sweeping, we are all in full swing, busy mode. I strongly encourage you to take care of yourself, physically and mentally, and maintain your SOP’s for safe work habits. I fully realize this is “our time” as an industry, but don’t take short cuts. Slow and steady wins the race. Your Board of Directors and professional staff have been very active in providing new and improved services for our certification holders. Since our gigantic new server is up and running, we now have an app available for your smart phone or tablet. The app allows you to view your CEU’S, register for courses, renew your yearly certification, access the CSIA Sweep Shop and so much more. We also have our online testing up and running again since our new technologies/server can handle the software required. Online testing can now be taken through ProctorFree, an online service that proctors you through your computer’s webcam. We will be offering more training in various regions of the country to enable you to avoid lengthy travel times and expenses. The 2-Day Masonry Class, taught by CSIA Master Mason Chris Prior, will be offered in Albany, Baltimore, Raleigh and Nashville. Our weeklong Masonry School will be located in Richmond, Indiana at our satellite campus as in the past. In an effort to reach more regions, we have expanded our locations for Safety Training provided by OSHA Certified Trainers. Train with the confidence and peace of mind knowing your training is compliant and meets OSHA requirements. This is setting the “safety tone” for our industry. CSIA=ROI. For most of us, all things chimney is our passion. We love this industry and its people; I know I sure do. With this mutual
November 2019
agreement of purpose, we as business owners must make good financial business decisions in order to practice the trade. We must be profitable to survive. CSIA is here to help and willing to provide the tools that business owners, managers, and technicians need to meet these financial challenges. Besides being the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we are the Chimney “Success” Institute of America. CSIA will be hosting a Business Symposium January 27th and 28th at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield, Indiana. Please consult our Education Calendar at www.csia.org for registration and topics covered. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. It is designed for any size company to gain tried and true practices to help you succeed and rise to your defined level of success and meet your personal business goals. The CSIA, its clients and professional staff all have the common purpose of being the best we can be. CSIA provides superior technical, business and safety training in order for all of us to succeed together and move forward as an industry. We are strong and confident in knowing that we are making a difference in people’s lives by offering a safer and more efficient solution and providing the best education to suit their needs. I would like to close by saying Thank You! Since becoming your President, I have heard your requests and myself, the Board of Directors and professional staff have acted with all due haste to make the corrections needed to foster a better experience when working with CSIA. Your input was noted and we acknowledge your patience. “Education the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela As always, CSIA Is the Standard of Excellence in the Chimney & Venting Industry
Chuck Roydhouse President CSIA
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October 2019
NEW CERTIFICATIONS Kansas Scott Buzzetta Certified Fireplace and Chimney Topeka
Alabama Jesse Perry BJ’s Chimney Service Helena
Kena Gutierrez The Fluesbrothers Chimney Service Kansas City
New York Holly Plourde Sir Wilbees Enterprise Prattsburgh Joseph Russo East Northport Philip Russo East Northport
Scott Leslie Flue Bird Chimney Service Witchita
North Carolina Robert Marshall Smith Smoke Alert Garner
Arkansas Justin Nicholson A-1 Chimney Pro Conway
Maryland Barbara Lehman Chesapeake Chimney & Co. Prince Frederick
Ohio Tyson Gantz The Fireplace Pros Columbus
California Robert Vieira Ponderosa Hearth and Home Clovis
Johathan Kinkade Chesapeake Chimney & Co. Prince Frederick
Oklahoma Kody R. Aldrich C & C Chimney Skiatook
Isaac Tucker Fireplace Solutions The Chimney Sweeper Van Nuys Colorado Brian Schlotzhauer Colorado Chimney Company Loveland Florida Richard Coley Doodlebuggers Service Network Pensacola Benjamin Patrick Doodlebuggers Service Network Pensacola Georgia Billy Tidwell South Central Chimney Sweep of Georgia Moreland Ricky Huiras Modern Gas Company Leesburg Illinois David Hamm Chimney Paramedics Pekin Indiana Matthew Moriaty Beck’s Chimney Sweep Noblesville
November 2019
Minnesota Adam Johnson Jack Pixlely Sweeps Spring Lake Park Jason Gerner Grand Design Masonry Pine City Missouri Mark Unterreiner Star Heating & Air Conditioning Columbia Donny Martin STL Chimney St. Charles Tom Craft Gateway Chimney Service St. Louis New Jersey Adam Gilli Bowden’s Fireside Hamilton New Mexico Kyleigh King The Stove & Spa Store Alamogordo Devin King The Stove & Spa Store Alamogordo
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Susanna Boggs C & C Chimney Skiatook Amber Cuddie C&C Chimney Skiatook Seth Hammer Hammer’s Chimney Service Broken Bow Oregon Jesse Peralta Chimcare Home Services Wilsonville Pennsylvania Douglas Cardosanto Chim Chimney Sweeps Media Michael Enright, III Chim Chimney Sweeps Media Daniel Ferreya Midtown Chimney Sweeps of Pittsburgh Bethel Park Nicholas Gethouas Grand Design Masony Pine City Jason Reider Anderson’s Chimney Sweeps New Cumberland
www.CSIA.org Illinois Steve Gunn Lint Pros Fox River Grove
Quinn Hunziker The Stovepiper Chimney Sweep West Chester Tennessee Cyrus Surratt Coopertown Services Memphis Jacob Price Coopertown Services Memphis
David Hamm Chimney Paramedics Pekin Tristan Raycroft Rooftop Chimney Sweeps Alexandria, VA
Leif Olson Abbey Road Chimney Sweep Memphis
Lee Roff Lords Chimney Houston, TX
Robert Durrenberger Chicagoland Fireplace and Chimney Restoration Berkeley
Tommy Nelms Sweeps & Ladders Franklin, TN
Dane Phariss Air by Phariss Lake Dallas Ashley Lowe Hale’s Chimney Cleaning Mckinney Zachary Davidson Hale’s Chimney Cleaning Mckinney Washington Paul Duffau Inspect Your Chimney LLC Asotin Regan Vaugh Smokestack Services Eastsound Wisconsin Travis Kreft Wausau
Rich White Lint Pros Fox River Grove Indiana Garry Comer Mite-E-Ducts Zionsville Joshua Presley Mite-E-Ducts Zionsville
Texas Moises Arellano Hale’s Chimney Cleaning Mckinney Gary Phariss Air by Phariss Lake Dallas
Jeff Shewfelt Lint Pros Fox River Grove
Alabama Jacob Stiles Heath Chimney Services Oxford Arkansas James “Calvin” Ralls A-1 Chimney Pro Conway Florida Travis Horwedle Dryer Fighter Ormond Beach Michael Roland EZ Chimney Cleaning Tallahassee Georgia Jose Gonzalez Southeastern Laundry Equipment Marietta David Hill Southeastern Laundry Equipment Marietta Tiffany Jones Home Works & More Atlanta
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Kentucky Eric Salmons Lint Patrol Bowling Green New York Philip Russo East Northport North Carolina Joseph Quaile Chimneys Plus Ohio Ed Hahn U. S. A. Dryer Vent Bellefontaine Oregon Victor Garcia Finnmark Property Services Portland
Safety Training
Get Certified or Renew
CSIA National Training Academy
Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review and Exam
Certified Chimney Sweep Review and Exam
2-Day Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Workshop
Ropes Course
CPR / Hazardous Waste / First Aid
Masonry & Gas
CSIA Tech Center | Jan 23-24, Oct 7-8 In this class, you will learn how to diagnose, reroute, clean and rebuild a dryer vent system.
CSIA Tech Center | Jan 17 Scranton, PA | May 15 King of Prussia, PA | Feb 19 Richmond, VA | Aug 7 New Orleans, LA | Mar 13 Albany, NY | Sept 11 Orlando, FL | Mar 31 Atlantic City, NJ | Oct 9 In-Person review to prepare a technician for the certification exam. Earn or renew your credential. Bell Buckle, TN | Apr 21-22, Sept 24-25 Learn how to safely set up fall protection systems before you leave the ground. Learn how to safely access roofs of any pitch.
Nashville, TN | Jun 19 New Cumberland, PA | Jul 27 Approved by the American Heart Association. You will receive a 2-year certification. Learn how to provide basic First Aid care to a sick or injured person.
Silica/Respiratory Protection
Manchester, NH | May 4 CSIA Tech Center | Jul 16 New Cumberland, PA | Sep 9 Learn how to identify a potential hazard, and the corrective action to take for that hazard.
OSHA- 10 hour
CSIA Tech Center | Jul 13-15 This class will help you identify and reduce the risks associated with the common safety hazards found in the chimney and venting industry - on the job and in the shop. You will also learn to write effective safety plans for the topics covered in this course for you and your team.
Basic Gas Appliance Service
Waynesville, NC | Feb 22 This course will cover types of appliances, fuels, venting, burner and ignition systems and installation planning.
Masonry School
Richmond, IN | Feb 24-28, Aug 10-14 This five day course will take the attendees from the basics of brick and mortar characteristics to advanced skills in a week long class that combines classroom theory with extensive hands on practice with one on one interaction with the instructor.
Inspection and Report Writing
Advanced Education
Waynesville, NC | Feb 20 Orlando, FL | Mar 31 A great business opportunity or add-on service for your company. Make a Mint with Dryer Lint.
CSIA Tech Center | Feb 3-8, Apr 27-May 2, Jun 22-27, Aug 17-22, Sept 14-19 Get certified through the only hands-on training of its kind. Classroom, lab, and hands-on instruction over six days from the nation’s best instructors.
CSIA Tech Center | Jan 13-14, August 3-4 Enhance your inspections and improve your service with better reporting for your customers by learning the latest industry practices.
2-Day Chimney Physics
2 Day Masonry
Hudson, NY | Mar 18-19 Nashville, TN | Jun 29-30 Finksburg, MD | May 7-8 Raleigh, NC | Aug 26-27 Intensive 2-day class combining classroom theory and hands-on projects. Learn brick and mortar basics, and all aspects of chimney repairs.
Gas Class
CSIA Tech Center | Jul 20-24 5-Day course covers service and installation, appliance standards, combustion requirements, pipe sizing and installation, troubleshooting, carbon monoxide testing, and fuel conversion. Concludes with the NFI Gas Certification exam.
Basic Chimney Dynamics
Waynesville, NC | Feb 22 The technician will learn about proper venting system design and sizing and common venting problems. This class will cover the house as a system and pressure problems causes and solutions.
CSIA Tech Center | Jan 15-16, August 5-6 Learn the science of home venting and how the home works as a system of moving parts and air to influence home heating and venting system success.
Reline Seminar
Business Symposium
Learn Anytime, Anywhere
CSIA Tech Center | Jan 27-28 This All-Star group of speakers and business consultants have taken many businesses to new heights of operational efficiency and profitability, and might just have the next tip to take your business there, too.
Orlando, FL | Apr 1 This seminar will teach the attendees the why, when and how of stainless steel relining.
Visit www.CSIA.org/eLearning
Visit CSIA.org for more info & CEUs. All dates subject to change.
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November 2019
New
Members
REGION
REGION
REGION
REGION
54 65
NEW MEXICO Shawn’s Chimney Sweep & Stove Co • Shawn Earle • Santa Fe TEXAS Air By Phariss • Dane Phariss • Lake Dallas
ARIZONA Safety Services Company • Brian Goheen • Tempe WASHINGTON Bell Services LLC • Theresa Scherling • Spokane Mr. Chimney • Lial Rivera • Spokane
6
REGION
INDIANA Not Me LLC • Keith Shaffer • Carmel KENTUCKY Lint Patrol LLC • Eric Salmons • Bowling Green MISSOURI A+ Chimney Services, LLC • Alan Noltkamper • Bourbon OHIO Kicking Ash Chimney Service • Jeremy Johnson • Grove City U.S.A. Dryer Vent • Ed Hanh • Bellefontaine
REGION REGION
GEORGIA Home Works & More • Tiffany Jones • Atlanta Stan Linville • Talbott
REGION
REGION REGION
NEW YORK Neupaul Contracting Ltd • Paul Neuman • Bay Shore Joseph Russo • East Northport
REGION
REGION REGION
2 14 43 245 5 356 6 29 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Around the
Tech Center. Megan McMahon
Executive Director
30 S W E E P I N G November 2019
Last month, the Tech Center team focused on compassion and giving back. Once again, this year, we met our goal for Sweep Away Cancer by raising money and promoting awareness for a foundation that offers so much to those in need. Giving back to the community is something NCSG and CSIA encourage you to do throughout the year with your teams and family. In addition to giving back, this time of year is all about reflecting on what we have to be thankful for in our lives. The Tech Center staff is certainly grateful for the opportunity to give back as a team but we wanted to share with you some other things that we have to be thankful for:
The busy season may be upon you but it is important to take the time to encourage your teams to reflect on what they are thankful for too. As a group, we are thankful to be able to serve an incredible industry full of wonderful individuals! P.S.: Don’t forget to stay tuned for our pie in the face for hitting our goal on Nov. 11 on the CSIA and NCSG Facebook pages!
Classifieds GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Wanted:
Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit www. elitesoft.com to download a free trial version.
Come join us in beautiful Western Colorado. Excellent hunting, fishing, hiking and more. Rapidly expanding family business is seeking a self motivated, personable, dependable, articulate, and honest individual. Must be CSIA Certified. Experience with gas fireplaces and pellet stoves a must. The successful candidate will possess a valid drivers license, clean driving record, pass a background check, be well organized, and able to meet the mental and physical challenges associated with the industry. We offer paid vacation, holidays and sick leave, $16-$25/hour based on experience, drive, and results. Call 970-234-3330 for more info.
Work for a Growing Company! Chimney Solutions, based in Atlanta, GA, is looking for Salespeople and Installers with the desire to move up within our company. A $1000-$2000 signing bonus is available, depending on certifications. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Relocation is available for the individual that meets our needs and qualifications. Send resumes to dpace@ chimneysolutions.com or visit our website at www. chimneysolutions.com. Looking for a career change or an opportunity to move up in the Washington, D.C. region? Join us at Priddy Chimney Sweeps, a growing firm that offers sweep, repair, and artisanal masonry services across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region. With a 37-year history of providing outstanding service and one of the most recognized sweep brands in the region, Priddy proudly remains family-owned and female-led, two qualities we believe help us deliver better than our competition. We are hiring both apprentice and experienced sweeps, as well as masons. We pride ourselves on offering well-defined career paths and attractive compensation packages. If you would like to learn more, take a quick look at our website at www.priddyclean.com to see what we’re about. You can submit an application in the Careers section of our website or email us at Careers@ PriddyClean.com. Experience Sweep Wanted In business since 1978, we are looking to expand our team. Located in Roseville, CA (just east of Sacramento). WANTED – a certified sweep looking for growth opportunities. Benefits include: • Signing bonus available • Competitive salary w/commission • Medical & Vacation included • Full Time position Please send resumes to Amie Ryan amie@ryan-brothers.com
CHIMNEY SWEEP & REPAIR COMPANY FOR SALE Central/Northern Virginia Established 1981 2017 revenue: $ 1,008,000.00 2018 revenue: $ 1,083,000.00 All equipment and vehicles convey Operations and management staff to remain Turn-key operation Secure long-term lease for offices and warehouse Owner financing with 25% down Sale price: $ 450,000.00 Call 540-272-3485 CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year! Regular classified ads are $2/word or $1/word for NCSG members. Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Charissa Mahaffey at cmahaffey@ncsg.org or 317-837-1500.
31 S W E E P I N G
November 2019
Darwin
Award “I was out to replace a chimney when I saw this exterior load wood stove.” -Dan Kipp of Silver Bow Hearth & Home in Butte, Montana See a chimney in your area that had you scratching your head? Send it to the editor, Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Include a few words about the scene and location.
Ad Index 32 S W E E P I N G
Approved Industries 866-439-0069 info@approvedindustries.com 13 Copperfield 800-247-3305 www.copperfield.com 7 CVC 704-425-0217 jerry@cvccoaching.com 4 ENERVEX 770-587-3238 www.enervex.com 8 Firesafe Industries, Inc. 800-545-6607 www.firesafeinc.com 16 Gelco www.gllchimneyproducts.com 15 ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com 5 Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 www.lindemannsupply.com 9 Lyemance www.gllchimneyproducts.com 10 National Chimney 800-897-8481 www.nationalchimney.com Inside front cover New England Chimney Supply 866-513-2378 www.newenglandchimneysupply.com 19 Olympia Chimney Supply, Inc. 800-569-1425 www.olympiachimney.com 11 Sand Hill Wholesale & Mfg., Inc 800-258-5496 www.sandhillwholesale.com 21 SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems 702-790-4197 www.snaploksystems.com 17 Z-Flex 800-654-5600 sales@z-flex.com 14
November 2019