Sweeping Magazine- October 2018

Sweeping October 2018 VOLUME 42 #9

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

Spazzacamini Festival

Option C — The Secret To Hiring & Retaining Quality Employees Meet a Member : Don Oakes

Registration is now open!

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NCSG 2019 National Convention Waterside Marriott - Norfolk, VA April 17- 20, 2019 www.ncsgconvention.org

Departments President’s Letter 3 Editor’s Letter 5 Technical Q&A 12 Coach’s Corner 18 Dates and Events 26 New Members 28 Membership Memo 29 Around the Tech Center 34 Classifieds 35 Darwin Award 36

Table of Contents Sweeping October 2018 Volume 42 Issue 9

Features Option C — The Secret To Hiring & Retaining Quality Employees

Spazzacamini Festival

Meet A Member

6 22 24 October 2018

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 2018-2019

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

Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmer@csia.org

Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlett@ncsg.org

Penny Seals Program Coordinator pseals@ncsg.org

Zach Zagar CSIA Marketing Director zzagar@csia.org

Sara Sichting Systems and Records Coordinator ssichting@ncsg.org

Russell Dimmitt Education Director rdimmitt@ncsg.org

Annemarie Stockton Membership Coordinator astockton@ncsg.org

Charissa Benge Mahaffey Office Coordinator cmahaffey@ncsg.org

October 2018

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2018 – 2019

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 Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net

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

At-Large Director Jeff Peterson (703) 444-5155 jeff@potomacservices.net

Secretary, Region 1 Matt Mair (603) 525-7905 matt@blackmoosechimney. com

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

Bylaws Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

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

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

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. © 2018 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

J

ust like that everyone has full schedules and is running around crazy.

When we rush that’s when accidents can happen. Now I will admit that I have not always been the most careful on jobsites in the past or even with my extra-curricular activities.

As I look back I've been very lucky. It’s crazy that when I strap into one of my race cars I have all the best safety gear money can buy, but when I'm working I didn't always protect myself as much as I should.

Within the last few years as my business has been skyrocketing my biggest fear is one of my employees getting hurt on the job. One of my sweeps died (not work related) and ever since we have started safety meetings, training with documentation, new work SOPs and have made huge investments in safety gear and tools.

The thought of one of my crew getting hurt is something I've lost sleep over along with the possibility of fines that could mean the end of any business.

Please work safe out there sweeps!

Have a safe and profitable busy season and see you all this spring in Norfolk!

Jasper Drengler NCSG President

President’s

Letter Jasper Drengler

President

Ready, Set, Go! 3 S W E E P I N G October 2018

Support Sweep Away Cancer this October!

Here are some ways you and your company can work to Sweep Away Cancer: 1. Buy shirts for yourself and your team members 2. Ask customers if they’d like to donate to Sweep Away Cancer 3. Donate a percentage of your company’s chimney sweeping proceeds from the month of October Every dollar counts, so no matter how you choose to get involved, we thank you!

www.sweepawaycancer.com

4 S W E E P I N G October 2018

H

appy Fall Sweeps!

As the schedule fills up for the busy season it’s important to keep safety in mind. This month’s President’s letter and Tech Q and A focus on safety issues.

If you are one of the many companies adding new technicians to your team for the fall season you will want to read Taylor Hill’s article “Option CThe Secret to Hiring & Retaining Quality Employees.” This month’s Coach’s Corner features new columnist Erin Marcus.

Erin is an author, speaker and communications specialist.

Before closing the magazine you won’t want to miss this month’s Darwin Awards from Yvette Aube of AIM Chimney Sweepit’s definitely a memorable one!

Editor’s

Letter Darcy Marlett

Cheers,

Editor

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5 S W E E P I N G

Option C — The Secret To Hiring & Retaining Quality Employees

Taylor Hill

Spark Marketer iring is a challenge, no matter what industry you’re in — but it seems that hiring and retaining good employees in the trades can be particularly difficult. No one can deny that one barrier is the skills gap, but I’ve seen proof that there’s more to it, and that mindset plays a much bigger role than most of us would like to admit.

H 6 S W E E P I N G

What do I mean?

In my experience, when it comes to hiring and growing a blue collar business, most business owners see two options: • Option A — Stay small and protect what you’ve got by not hiring at all. After all, hiring is a pain, there’s no one really worth hiring, and no one can do the work as well as you anyway.

• Option B — Compromise and hire anyone you can. Bring new people onto the team

October 2018

who have a few of the qualities or skills you’re after, and hope that maybe this time, things will just work out. Fingers crossed a bad hire doesn’t destroy your business.

The Problem with Option A If you’ve completely given up on the notion that there might be good people out there who could benefit your business, or you’re just waiting for that ‘perfect’ candidate to come along on a unicorn, accompanied by angels, you need to recognize that you’re standing in the way of your own growth.

As the sole member of your team, sure, you have complete control over the customer experience and final product, but you’re also incredibly limited. If you’re a team of one, you can only grow so much before you’re maxed out, and you may have to let big opportunities pass you by because you’re not ready or

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capable of taking them on by yourself.

While you may be the best at what you do and you may enjoy the freedom of not having employees, you need to recognize that, if you never hire, you’ll never grow beyond what your two hands can do. One question you have to ask yourself is, “Have I created a business or simply a job for myself?”

The Problem with Option B Service businesses rarely have the luxury of time when it comes to hiring. With an established client base, incoming phone calls, and appointments to keep, it can feel like there’s no time to wait for the right candidate to come along. You need help and you need it now. So you hire for a quick fix, based on skills alone, without considering whether or not the new hire will fit with your company’s culture and core values.

The problem with this short-term thinking is that it can lead you to hire people who aren’t a good fit for your company — people who will quit or get fired sooner, rather than later — leaving you in the same position you were in before you hired them (or worse).

While hiring in this way may fill an immediate need, it usually leads to high employee turnover rates and HR headaches; wastes time and resources; and has the potential to harm your reputation and relationships with customers.

8 S W E E P I N G

Neither Option A or Option B are very good, but have you considered that, if you can get out of your own way, there might actually be another option? Have you considered that maybe you’re attracting the wrong people, and that your hiring system and requirements are keeping you from having the team you deserve?

Option C If you really want to grow your businesses and hire and retain quality employees, you need to abandon the skills gap storyline, stop believing that good people don’t want to work for your company, and start becoming the kind of company that good people want to work for.

That’s Option C. Here at Spark Marketer, we’ve had the privilege of working with service businesses and hearing from service business owners who are choosing Option C and making hiring and

October 2018

retaining quality employees look easy. Option C begins when companies decide, “I’m done with allowing other people to decide who can work here and who can’t. I’m going to make my company more attractive to the type of person I want on my team, and hire intentionally.”

But what’s the secret to hiring intentionally?

The reality of hiring is that you have to determine your culture and core values before you hire, and then run each and every potential hire by those core values and that culture. With core values and company culture in place, you’ll have the measuring stick you need to determine which people fit well in the areas where it matters most.

Yes, it can take time to find the right fit, but the advantages of hiring based on company culture and core value alignment, rather than skills alone, far outweigh the disadvantages.

Technical training and education can be taught, but there’s nothing that can make up for a bad culture/core values fit, so carving those out should be the first thing you do.

What Next?

Once you’ve established your culture and core values, you need to make sure they’re evident on your social profiles, in your marketing, in the way you do business, and in the way you present career opportunities.

Consider how you’re describing your company and the job you’re hiring for. Are your requirements for applicants solely technical/skills-based, or do you have culture and core values related requirements?

As a business owner, it’s natural to want to hire someone who already has the skills needed to do the job. After all, it saves us time on training and allows us to go ahead and send the employee out on a job, right? But skills can be taught — it’s culture and core values that tend to be more difficult to instill. You could hire the most skilled technician or the most knowledgeable office manager, but if they don’t personally align with the culture and core values you’ve built into your company, they won’t be good hires. You need people who are an extension of you — people who provide your customers with the level and type of service you’ve promised.

You can teach the skills needed to do the job and put systems in place to ensure that the technical

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work is done to your standards. Believe me, as time-consuming as that can be, it’s much easier than breaking bad habits formed during previous work experiences and battling toxic behaviors and bad attitudes. Plus, once you’ve created systems and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), you can use them to onboard future employees.

Hiring someone who has a heart for service and who values honesty, integrity, hardwork, and excellence, is a much wiser hire.

It ensures that your employees will interact with customers and other members of the team in a way that aligns with who you are and who you want to be as a company.

By infusing your marketing with your core values and company culture, you’ll attract applicants who share those core values — people that your company culture resonates with — and repel those who don’t align with or share your values and culture. So make it clear in your job descriptions and ‘Help Wanted’ ads that you want someone who aligns with your business and is a good culture fit, not just someone capable of doing the work.

The Choice Is Yours You don’t have to stay small. You don’t have to compromise. You don’t have to buy into the skills gap storyline, and let it determine what kind of company you build or how big you take it. You have a choice. Choose Option C, establish your core values and company culture, start attracting better applicants, and hire for what matters most.

Taylor Hill is co-founder and crew chief of Spark Marketer, a local online marketing company that specializes in marketing service businesses across the US. He’s passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates. He’s also co-host of the Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the podcast that’s all about having and living the blue collar dream, and coauthor of Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles For Building A Kickass Business You Love. @sparkmarketer, facebook.com/ sparkmarketer, facebook.com/bcpshow/, facebook.com/ groups/bluecollarproudnation/, @taylorkhill @bcpshow

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Technical

Q&A

Michael Segerstrom

NCSG Technical Advisory Chair

Question

We have been using rotary methods for sweeping fireplaces for the last several years.

From time to time, the rods will catch on our gloves and it has proved to be quite painful. What can we do to prevent this?

12 S W E E P I N G October 2018

Answer: Put a sleeve over the rod and hold the sleeve, not the rod!

This is a great question about a safety concern that can result in serious personal injury. Let's take a look at how important this can be, and how simple the solution is.

First let's cover the risks, and the injuries that can occur. More and more service technicians are sweeping fireplaces from the bottom with rotary methods.

Because of this reports of hand injury may be on the increase.

Some folks still use metal rods for rotary sweeping, but the industry has moved towards nylon and poly type rods.

The practice for many years and even decades has been to wear good gloves, and don't grasp the rod tightly while it's spinning. Injuries have shown that this is simply not enough.

The most common issue is that the rod will catch on the glove. This can cause painful injury to the fingers and hand before the technician is able to release the drill trigger. Bruised and broken hands and fingers have resulted, and a very real risk is that there have even

been technicians that have had fingers removed. This is serious.

Another concern is the risk of potential cuts and lacerations.

As we use our rods for rotary sweeping and even tile breaking, sharp burrs can form in areas.

Also, with certain nonmetal rods, pins used to fasten the couplers may start to back out. These burrs and pins may tear through a glove and severely cut the operator.

Using a drill with a clutch that allows it to slip is one solution, but it is not without its shortcomings. If the clutch is set loose enough to allow it to slip if a glove and hand get wrapped up, it may also begin to slip when more rods are added going further up the chimney.

If the clutch is tightened at that point, the risk for hand injury returns. A clutched drill also does not prevent the cut injuries from burrs.

Placing a sleeve over the rod and holding the sleeve, not the rod, will prevent both the cut injuries, and injuries that can occur if the rod catches on the glove. The sleeve can consist of a variety of materials, and should be large enough for rod

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to pass through. One drawback to using a rigid tube sleeve material, is that it's not flexible.

Often our rods have an arc or curve to them as they go in and up the fireplace. A rigid sleeve limits flexibility and may increase resistance on the rods.

connectors to pass through for ease-of-use. One common material is an 8 to 12 inch length of 2" vacuum hose, or swimming pool vacuum hose. Cut to length hose or tubing is also available at home improvement stores and larger hardware stores.

The more durable the material, the longer it will last. If the

sleeve fails or was forgotten for the job, a temporary solution is to use an empty caulking tube.

Simply cut the dispensing end off the now we have a plastic tube. Another good sleeve material is PVC pipe, or plastic electrical conduit pipe. These should also be large enough in diameter to allow rod connectors

14 S W E E P I N G

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Since we are covering using a sleeve for rotary sweeping, we should also take a moment to talk about using a sleeve when removing clay liner with rotary tile breakers. Whether the technician is on top of the chimney or at the base of it, we should never directly hold onto a spinning rod when breaking tile either. The same type of sleeve for rotary sweeping, will work and protect our hands when breaking tile.

One complaint about using a sleeve comes from those that break tile sending the rods in from the top of the chimney.

With a sleeve on the rod, if the rod starter comes loose from the drill chuck (which it always occasionally does), the technician can't grab the rods before they fall down the chimney flue. They slide right through the sleeve and disappear. There is a sleeve solution for this too, but it is limited to working only with metal rods.

Instead of using a 2 inch diameter type sleeve, with metal rods, a 1/2 inch diameter sleeve may be used. The best example of this would be a length of sturdy garden hose.

Since the rod connectors won't fit through the garden hose, it is necessary to carefully cut an opening down the length of it. The side of the hose can then be opened and

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performing rotary sweeping from the bottom of a fireplace.

We can allow the longer sleeve to extend through the damper frame or throat. This will prevent our rods from spinning directly on the rough and sharp edges of metal and masonry in the throat of a fireplace.

pushed onto the rod. The result is having a sleeve that will prevent the rod connectors from sliding through it. So when the starter rod inevitably slips out of the drill chuck, the smaller diameter sleeve helps prevent them from falling down the chimney flue. This type of sleeve does need to be removed

from each rod as we add more.

When using a sleeve on the rods to protect our hands, we can use the same sleeve concept to help protect our rods and extend their lifespan. Instead of using an 8 to 12" length of sleeve, we can use a 2 to 3 ft length.

This is especially effective when

A longer sleeve will help protect our rods going through masonry thimbles, and also protect our rods if we are sending them in from the top. Many service technicians are now also using lightweight rods, like nylon dryer vent service type rods, for rotary service a factory built chimney and vent systems. A longer sleeve is an effective way to help protect the appliance & appliance components, like damper assemblies and baffle plates, when performing

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rotary service on these factory-built systems.

Of course, the use of a sleeve when rotating rods is but one small part of the overall technician safety. We should also always wear and utilize all of the necessary personal protection equipment for rotary service and or rotary tile breaking.

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Coach’s

Corner Erin Marcus

Get the Most out of Your Sales Calls

A

s any business owner knows, if you don’t have clients then you don’t have a business! And if you want to have a thriving business, you need to have a steady stream of clients. Like it or not, if you’re a business owner, then you’re a salesperson. And if you’re thinking that you’re off the hook because you employ salespeople to fill that role that just makes you the head salesperson.

You could be the best technician in the state but if you’re not able to connect to your prospects, succinctly describe your findings and recommendations and express your value, you’re going to have a very hard time building your business.

While there are many moving parts to attracting people to your business, there is really only one way to turn those prospects into clients: you have to have a successful sales conversation.

You have to not only be able to talk to potential clients about details they may not have a lot of experience with, but you also have to assure them that you’re the one for the job.

So how do you make sure that you (or your salespeople) are doing a good job at these important conversations? And how can you get better?

18 S W E E P I N G

First of all, you can’t analyze what you can’t review.

You might spend a few moments once you’re back in your truck reflecting on the sales call that just happened, but what you remember is going to be skewed by how self aware you are (or are not) and how accurate you remember the details. And

October 2018

let’s face it; the moment you get on the phone and have a conversation with someone else, the nuanced details of your sales call are going to get fuzzy.

Thanks to the technology that you’re already using on a daily basis, with a few minor adjustments you can have a recording of the bulk of the conversation you have that you will be able to review and analyze. And as a bonus, it can also serve as a great marketing tool!

I’m going to put this out there right now – while the process is simple, I’m not going to pretend that this is easy. It’s going to involve getting a little uncomfortable as you not only get used to listening to yourself on a recording, but also taking an honest look at what you’re good at and not good at doing. And you’ll also need to get the rest of the folks on your team used to it as well.

The good news is that it’s soooo worth it! Think of it this way: you could increase your business by 10 - 20 percent or even more if you were just able to have a better conversation with the people you were talking to already. That’s no more sales calls than you’re currently having – just having them with a better outcome.

How to do it Turn your smartphone or tablet into a device that can record the screen along with what is being said by downloading a FREE recording app. You can find the one you like by searching “screen recorder” wherever you buy your apps but a quick important note:

for it to work on Apple products you have to make sure your phone is not in silent mode!

When it comes time to describe the work needed to your prospect, begin the recording. If you took pictures to show your findings and recommendations they will be recorded along with the conversation.

Here is where you need to make a decision about your processes. In most states it is legal to record a conversation as long as one of the people involved is aware of that recording. In twelve states however, both parties must be aware of the recording. And so you don’t have to go digging on the Internet, those states are: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington.

Personally I am always in favor of full transparency and having your prospect be aware of the recording will help you use in other ways as well.

Simply state that you will be recording this portion of the conversation so that you’ll both

have something to refer back to and confirm that they understand. We are all used to being recorded when we call customer service at any company. If you make this fatter-of-fact statement, and once they’ve acknowledged go into the beginning of your explanation, nobody is going to mind. And if they do mind – just don’t record that one conversation. No big deal.

Plus now you have a recording you can email as a follow up so that any decision maker who wasn’t available to be at the consultation has a first-hand explanation of the work involved!

The key piece is to take time each week to review the conversations!

What to listen for Now that you’ve committed to reviewing your sales calls, and set up time each week to perform the review, you need to know what to listen for. Here are the main things I tell my clients are especially important: • Are you using too much jargon or not explaining things well? There is a bit of a fine line to this because you don’t want to talk down to

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someone who has a knowledge of the issues, but talking completely over their head will create a disconnect. A confused mind always says no. If you’re not able to clearly explain things to your prospect they are less likely to become a client.

• Are you connecting to your prospect? Yes, you’ve done this a hundred times just this year, but this might be a once a decade conversation for your prospect. It may also involve an expense they were not planning for and are nervous about. Too many times a technician will try to push the fact that their recommendation is the right path to take and completely miss that what the prospect is concerned about is also valid. Taking a moment to acknowledge their concerns and frustrations will keep you on the same side as your prospect rather than you trying to convince them of what they need and them resisting.

• Confidence. Just as sales can be lost by talking over your prospect and not listening

enough, they can also be lost if you are hesitant and don’t appear to be confident when you speak. Many times this comes not from a lack of technical ability, but from the nerves that happen when you know you are going to be sharing difficult news your prospect is not going to want to hear, or if you have issues asking for the sale.

Personally, I overcame these issues by using an educational approach to my in-home sales conversations. I considered it my responsibility to share the knowledge I had with my prospect so they would be able to make the decision that was best for them. This approach made me less nervous and less sales-y and the people I was talking to could feel that it was my goal to help them.

When I stopped thinking about whether or not I was going to get the job, and more about the people I was going to help my closing rate skyrocketed!

in other industries. It took me a while to get used to it but in my years of working for improvement as a professional speaker what was once nervewracking I now consider irreplaceable feedback.

Be brave. Give it a try!

Erin Marcus is an author, speaker and communications specialist helping businesses to “Conquer the Conversation,” and improve sales, customer service and team dynamics. In addition to serving her own clients, she is part of the CVC Coaching team, focused on helping blue-collar business owners build the business of their dreams. (www.

CVCCoaching.com). To learn more about how Erin can help you email Erin@ CVCCoaching.com or call 847-868-4464.

While recording conversations may be a new idea for inhome blue-collar services, it is something used all the time

20 S W E E P I N G

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October 2018

Spazzacamini Festival Photos by: Juha Ahvenharju Chimney Sweep Every year chimney sweeps from all over the world gather in the Vigezzo Valley between Lago Maggiore and Domodossola in the Italian region of Piemonte to celebrate chimney sweep traditions from across the

22 S W E E P I N G October 2018

2018

globe. The photos from this year’s festival are courtesy of Finnish chimney sweep and photographer Juha Ahvenharju.

23 S W E E P I N G October 2018

Meet A

Member

Don Oakes For a lot of our members, running their business is a family affair. And that's no different for Don Oakes of Don's Stove & Chimney in Livermore, Maine who takes on the chimney world with his wife, Teresa, and two sons. Below, Don gives us a glimpse into his 30+ years of experience...

What is a question you get asked most about being a chimney sweep/chimney sweeping?

24 S W E E P I N G

Aren't you afraid of heights?? The answer is - I do not like heights, however, I respect gravity and am comfortable being on roofs as long as my feet are touching the surface. I am definitely not the best date for an amusement park.

What advice do you wish you had received when you were getting started?

I was fortunate to have purchased the business from a certified sweep so he was able to share a lot of what he had already learned. Honestly, it was 30 plus years ago and my memory bank is somewhat Out of Order :) but I probably would have spent more time studying the trade before working in the field.

October 2018

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job? What are your best strategies for overcoming it?

Trying to eliminate the paper trail and going strictly digital - I am still very old school so learning how to utilize computers and all of the other electronic devices that we have made part of our process is somewhat frustrating. Thank goodness I have a younger generation of folks around to rely on for assistance because there probably wouldn't be any overcoming it - it would still be paper for me :) Who was your most famous customer?

I would love to be elaborate about this question but I haven't had the opportunity as of yet or am not aware if I did.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Merging the chimney maintenance business with the retail sales/installation/service of hearth products into a successful business that employs both of my sons and wife.

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Have you ever had to make your own tool to solve a particular problem?

No, I do enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to fix things, however, I have never fabricated anything that is part of our current tool locker.

Weirdest thing you have ever found in a chimney?

Upon opening up a clean-out door I found a stack of Playboy magazines. The couple had not used the chimney for years - The look on the husband's face was priceless when I presented him with what I had found.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Escape to our camp on an island to fish (mostly trolling), watch the Patriots & Red Sox, garden and spend time with my family. NOT hiking with my wife!

What is, in your opinion, the most valuable part of being a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild?

The plethora of resources that are available to me and my staff. My boys will be running the show some day and I can find comfort in knowing that if they ever need assistance that the NCSG will have their back with any chimney related issues or concerns.

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25 S W E E P I N G

Dates and

Events October 2018

26 S W E E P I N G

October 1-31 CSIA (online) CCS Online Review - www.csia.org CDET Online Review - www.csia.org Online & Paper Proctored Exams - www.csia.org/exams or ProctorU October 1-7, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon September 28th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 8-14, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon October 5th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 10-11, 2018 CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® 2-Day Workshop & Exam CSIA Technology Center For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.dryersafety.org October 12, 2018 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams CSIA Technology Center For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 15-21, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon October 12th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 19, 2018 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams Albany, NY For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 22-28, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon October 19th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel

October 2018

For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org October 29 – November 4, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon October 26th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org

November 2018 November 1-30 CSIA (online) CCS Online Review - www.csia.org CDET Online Review - www.csia.org Online & Paper Proctored Exams - www.csia.org/ exams or ProctorU November 5-11, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 2nd - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org November 12-18, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 9th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org November 19-25, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 16th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org November 26 - December 2, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon November 23rd - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org

December 2018 December 1-31 CSIA (online) CCS Online Review - www.csia.org CDET Online Review - www.csia.org Online & Paper Proctored Exams - www.csia.org/exams or ProctorU December 3-9, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 28th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org December 10-16, 2018 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon December 7th - Chimney Physics - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.csia.org

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S W E E P I II N G

New

Members

REGION

REGION

REGION

REGION REGION

GEORGIA Juan Ventura • Five Star Maintenance • Dallas

INDIANA Schuyler Vanholten • Sky Chimney • Indianapolis

NORTH CAROLINA Roger Whitman • Chimney Sweep Plus • Lenoir

OHIO Cesirae Fisher • Accurate Chimney & Fireplace • Ashville

REGION

REGION

October 2018

REGION

CALIFORNIA Steven Strunk • Strunk Dryer Duct Servicing • Vallejo

REGION REGION

6

REGION

S W E E P I N G

REGION

COLORADO Robert Anderson • Chimney Sweeps of Colorado Corp • Black Hawk •

28

NEW JERSEY Louis Senatore • Toms River Chimney Sweep • Toms River

VIRGINIA Matt Blackmon • Patriot Chimney Service, LLC • Blue Ridge

REGION

REGION REGION REGION

CONNECTICUT Erik Caraglior • Danbury Neighborhood Chimney Services LLC Chad Mitchell• Wolcott Santa Fuel, Inc. Daniel Martins • Bridgeport

REGION

REGION

REGION REGION

1 12 2 2 23 3 3 43 3 4 45 5 5 56 6 6 6

1

NCSG Manual Library

TAC

Phone Line

2 3

Education

Convention

The

Travel

5 6

Membership

Memo

By Annemarie Stockton

Get some coveted advice from a team of expert technical consultants with the Technical Advisory Council Phone Line. From questions on codes to installation and everything in between, there’s someone with guidance on almost any issue.

For most of you, giving your employees access to education and certification is a top priority. As an NCSG member company, all of your employees save BIG on CSIA’s Certified Chimney Sweep® and Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® certifications.

Also, earn CEUs for CSIA and NFI through the CVC Base Camp Learning Platform.

While you are upping your business game and meeting with friends and colleagues from across the globe, your employees could be gaining superior technical knowledge! They can earn CSIA and NFI CEUs, which will make re-credentialing a breeze.

Specifically designed from chimney sweeps, this application really packs a punch when it comes to running your business all in one place. The Sweeps App allows you to manage your calendar, appointments, bookkeeping, payments, and more!

Keep a log of all the chimneys you service (including photos), assign your employees jobs, and make life easier for your office coordinator. Head on over to www.TheSweepsApp.com for a free trial!

Traveling is a great way to take a break and gain some inspiration and perspective. Taking a trip to a state or regional guild meeting is a wonderful way to get some new ideas and enjoy fellowship with fellow chimney sweeps. Vacations with the family provide a welcome way to relax and return to work refreshed. Either way, the NCSG is there for you and your employees with great car and hotel discounts from Hertz and HotelStorm.

Access all these benefits and more by going to www. ncsg.org and choosing “Members Only Login.” Don’t know your usernames and password? Give us a call at 317-837-1500 and we’ll get you set up!

Benefits

Sweeps App

4

Whether in the office or on the roof, your employees have access to over 800 rare and hard to find wood stove, gas log, and factory built fireplace manuals. Since it’s available on desktop, tablet, and smartphone, they can best serve your customers wherever the job takes them.

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October 2018

29 S W E E P I N G

CSIA UPDATE October 2018

www.CSIA.org The congress discussed government regulations that are beginning to pop up, like Germany transitioning from all fossil fuel burning by 2050.

In addition, countries like Germany and Finland moving their chimney and venting to more of a free market system.

National Chimney Safety Week!

9/30-10/6 If you’re reading the digital copy of Sweeping (we’re told 40% of you do) - we are on Day 2 of Chimney Safety Week. If you’re reading the print version, that’s ok because chimney and venting safety promotion is a year-round effort.

CSIA has put a lot of work into drawing attention to this year’s Chimney Safety Week week as a way to promote chimney and venting safety and Certified Chimney Sweeps® to homeowners.

To help you with promoting the week and the industry at-large, there are materials at www.chimneysafetyweek.org that you can use to promote chimney and venting safety digitally to your local markets throughout the week, including a new homeowner video that we hope you are sharing and promoting to your customers and potential customers.

Checking In with Chuck - European Edition

by Chuck Hall, CSIA President president@csia.org

Along with other members of the NCSG, I was fortunate enough to travel to Europe last month for the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps (ESCHFOE) 2018 Congress in Targu-Mures, Romania, and Spazzacamini (an annual chimney sweep gathering) in Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy.

There was a great update earlier in this edition about the happenings at ESCHFOE this year, including the NCSG’s report to the congress and I encourage you to read it.

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The Romanian hosts put together a great outing to Braun Castle which was one of the castles that Vlad the Impaler stayed in. Bram Stoker’s character, Dracula, was based on Vlad the Impaler.

Spazzacamini is an annual international gather of chimney sweeps in Italy. Over 1,000 sweeps were in attendance for the festivities.

Photo courtesty of Juha Ahvenharju

One of those attendees was Ashley Eldridge, CSIA’s former Education Director. It was great to see him and our overseas friends while there.

October 2018

New Certifications

Virginia

Taylor Osvatics

Jared Arbogast

Chesapeake Chimney & Co.

Aaron Garber

Prince Frederick

Old Dominion Chimneys Elkton

Paul Reber Somerset Stone & Stove

Noah Dunn

Oakland

Matt Jones Joni Martinez

Illinois Randy Boucher Safeway Chimney Sweeps Frankfort Indiana David Apple Leo Dauenhauer Jackson Hayes Chimney Solutions Indianapolis Brandon Byrer T.J.’s Chimney Sweep Greenfield Kansas Kanyon Edwards Olivia Vaca The Fluesbrothers Chimney Service Kansas City Kentucky Joshua Hummel Andrew Sims All American Chimney Service Louisville Maryland

Massachusetts

Deybi Saravia

Matthew Dempster

Rooftop Chimney Sweeps

Chimney Savers

Alexandria

Merrimac William White Missouri

Rusty’s Fire Place & Chimney

Scott Lenzing

Hamilton

Archway Clean Sweep St. Louis Pennsylvania Andrew Demopoulos Christopher Royer Chim Chimney Sweeps

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Media South Carolina Ray Nolte

Alabama

Ashbusters Chimney Service

John Hunter

Ladson

Clean Sweep Chimney Service Hayden

Tennessee Jacob Thomas

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Hermitage

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David Bailey

Samuel Stahl

Mike Remington

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In addition, we’ve launched an “Instructor” page on the CSIA website with video and pictures to help students know a little about their instructors before attending a class at the Tech Center or at a Road Show event.

Lorraine Jensen Lou Curley’s Chimney Service Drexel Hill Tennessee Robert Hosterman Coopertown Services Memphis

MASTER

Trent Simmons Top Hat Chimney Sweeps Opelika Update on the new Master Chimney Sweep requirements from last issue effective date is pending final approval by Master Sweep Committee. Stay tuned.!

We will continue refreshing some of the older videos that we have posted as we run into instructors throughout the year.

Stay tuned for updates to the credential at: www.csia.org/mastersweep The CSIA Master Chimney Sweep designation is awarded to those CSIA Certified professionals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to stay at the very front of the chimney and venting industry.

California

Michaele Dempsey Professional Chimney Sweep Visalia

Learn more about CSIA instructors at: www.csia.org/instructors.

Instructor Icon Added to CSIA Technician Search To recognize the committment and expertise that CSIA’s world class instructors bring to the organization, there is now an instructor icon on their listing on the CSIA website.

A special note of congratulations to our first female Master Chimney Sweep®

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September Training School

October 2018

Upcoming Classes & Events

2018 Education Calendar

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep速 Review & Exam CSIA Tech Center (Plainfield, IN) | Oct 12 Albany, NY | Oct 19

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician速 CSIA Tech Center | Oct 10-11* (incl. hands-on instruction)

2019 Education Calendar Preview National Chimney Sweep Training School

REVAMPED FOR 2019 CSIA Tech Center | Feb 25-Mar 2, May 13-18, Jul 22-27, Aug 19-24, Sep 16-21

Certified Chimney Sweep速 Review & Exam CSIA Tech Center | Jun 17, Aug 9, Oct 4 Dallas, TX (HPBE) | Mar 15 Norfolk, VA (NCSG Convention) | Apr 16 Scranton, PA | May 17 Richmond, VA | Aug 16 Albany, NY | Sep 13 Atlantic City, NJ | Oct 4

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician速 CSIA Technology Center | 2-Day Workshop - Feb 7 - 8, Oct 10-11 Norolk, VA (NCSG Convention) | 1-Day Review/Exam - Apr 16

Inspection & Report Writing REVAMPED FOR 2019 CSIA Tech Center | Mar 25-26, Aug 5-6

Contact Us: Mailing Address 2155 Commercial Drive

Chimney Physics REVAMPED FOR 2019 CSIA Tech Center | Mar 27-28, Aug 7-8 More classes and dates to be announced, stay tuned.

Registration opening soon at: www.csia.org/in_person_course

Plainfield, IN 46168 Telephone

CSIA Education will come to you.

(317) 837-5362

Book your own CSIA Road Show course(s).

Email: Office@CSIA.org

Learn more at: www.csia.org/roadshow.

Twitter: @Chimney_Safety Facebook: /ChimneySafety ADVERTISEMENT

Around the

Tech Center.

Megan McMahon

Executive Director

34 S W E E P I N G October 2018

H

appy Fall Sweeps!

As you and your businesses swing into the busy season we are swinging into convention planning season here at the Tech Center. Last month myself and marketing director Darcy Marlett traveled to Norfolk to meet with our host hotel and explore the city before your arrival.

Not only does our hotel have newly remodeled meeting space for attendees to attend classes in it also features a Shula’s Steak House and a large lounge and bar area for networking with friends new

and old.

Go a block down towards the waterfront and you will find tourism hot spots such as the USS Wisconsin, the Norfolk Waterside District, and our Opening Night Celebration hosts the Spirit of Norfolk. Also within quick walking distance is Granby St. where you will find dozens of restaurants ranging from the traditional to the inventive and the MacArthur Center mall.

We have a lot of amazing things planned for you and we can’t wait to see everyone in Norfolk!

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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.

Chimney Sweep Business Opportunity- Wilmington, NC We are seeking an experienced chimney professional that is eager to join a winning team and live on the beautiful East Coast of NC. This opportunity could lead to future ownership in an established business as the owners are looking to retire in the near future.

Please send resumes to info@seasidesweep.com 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.

35 S W E E P I N G October 2018

Darwin

Award

“Our favourite is the water slide chimney, lets reclaim ALL the heat!”

Yvette Aube of AIM Chimney Sweep in Midland, ON 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 36 S W E E P I N G

Ahren's Chimney Technique 800-843-4417 ahrenschimney@questoffice.net 28 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 Firesafe Industries, Inc. 800-545-6607 www.firesafeinc.com 5 Gelco www.gllchimneyproducts.com 27 ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com 16 Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 www.lindemannsupply.com 9 Lyemance www.gllchimneyproducts.com 17 National Chimney 800-897-8481 www.nationalchimney.com Back cover New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 www.newenglandchimneysupply.com 15 Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 www.olympiachimney.com 11 Roydhouse Effect Inc 410-863-0157 www.roydhouseeffect.com 20 Sand Hill Wholesale & Mfg., Inc 800-258-5496 www.sandhillwholesale.com 25 SaverSystems, Inc 800-860-6327 www.saversystems.com 10 SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems 702-790-4197 www.snaploksystems.com 21 Z-Flex 800-654-5600 sales@z-flex.com 19 Wohler USA, Inc. 978-750-9876 www.wohlerusa.com 14

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