Milwaukee Chimney Cleaning | Chimney Sweeping

Chimney Sweeps have been around for 100's of years, here are some interesting facts and tales about chimney cleaning for my Milwaukee chimney cleaning customers to share.

Facts and Fiction
                          

Facts

1. Over 40,000 chimney fires occur every year.
2. More than $23,000,000 in damage occurs  every year from chimney fires.
3. CREOSOTE is a black or dark brown substance with a strong acrid odor that forms in a wood burning chimney. It has a consistency from tar like to runny. It is essentially pure carbon, with a gooey covering.
4. Carbon has a very high flaming point.
5. Creosote continues to build up on chimney surfaces as more wood is burnt.
6. If CREOSOTE builds up to a point where it clogs or greatly restricts a chimney, the outer coating of the CREOSOTE could catch fire which would ignite the carbon in the creosote. THIS IS ACHINMEY FIRE.
7. Normal flue temperatures for wood burning is between 200° - 700°F. Carbon burns in excess of 3000°F.
8. Stovepipes have literally torn apart by the combination of heat and the force of the increased oxygen demand of burning CREOSOTE.
9. Burning wood can be and is very safe and economical if done properly.
10. Insurance statistics show that a vast majority of wood stove related accidents are a result of either improper installation or a lack of proper maintenance.
11. CREOSOTE cannot be entirely prevented but you can prevent dangerous buildups.
12. Never burn trash and bundles of paper such as Christmas wrapping paper in a stove or fireplace.
13. If you have a wood stove or fireplace insert, NFPA 211 states that you shall have it cleaned and inspected every year.
14. You can pray to St. Florian. He is the patron saint of Chimney Sweeps.
15. In German Chimney Sweep is “Schontinfeger”.
16. Clean Sweep Chimney Service has been in business since 1979.
17. Both Bud and Brian Hinchman are certified by CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) and are members of NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild).

Folklore and Superstition

1. An English King was once saved from death by a Chimney Sweep when the sweep was able to jump out and stop the King’s runaway carriage. The King announced that this was his lucky day and that the sweep made it so. From that day on, many lucky things were associated with a Chimney Sweep.
2. If you see a Chimney Sweep atop a house, that house will be blessed.
3. If you shake the hand of a Chimney Sweep or touch his coat, good luck will rub off on you.
4. If a Chimney Sweep kisses the bride and shakes the hand of the groom it will bring a happy marriage and a fertile union.
5. Wearing a top hat brings good luck.
6. Children used to steal a few bristles from a Sweep’s brush and carry them for luck.
7. It’s good luck to kiss a sweep.
8. It is an old wives tale that once a chimney fire has occurred, the chimney is cleaned or burned clean. NOT TRUE.
9. Another NOT TRUE, is that burlap bags with rocks in them or chains will clear a chimney of CREOSOTE. They just can’t do the job.
10. One theory of the top hat and tails, is that sweeps were so poor, that they had to beg for clothing. When wealthy undertakers gave the Sweeps their cast offs, the black coat and hat suited the Sweeps fine in their sooty job.
11. Another theory of the top hat and tails is that poor sweeps were at the bottom of the European society so they began wearing the top hat and tails to try to upgrade and dignify their profession.
12. In Germany, if a black cat crosses your path, hold your coat button until you see a Chimney Sweep. Lots of buttons were pulled off waiting for the sight of a Chimney Sweep.
13. Chimney Sweeps used to “BUY”  thin boys to be a “chimney climbers”. The Sweep would tie a rope around the boy and lower him into the chimney with a brush to clean the chimney.
14. A  goose was tied by it’s feet with a rope and lowered into a chimney to clean it.

Clean Sweep Chimney Service is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and services Milwaukee, Waukesha, Slinger, and the entire Southeastern Wisconsin area. If you need Chimney repair or Chimney Cleaning Call us at (414) 483-9996. Our Website is at http://cleansweepchimney.vpweb.com