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What you don't know might hurt you. George Bowen knows the importance of a clean chimney. He's the one who does the work. By Bob Sargeant Date published: 11/11/2006
GEORGE BOWEN, a professional chimney A cousin of mine had a chimney fire that was so violent that several neighbors called the fire department simultaneously. The fire was reported as making a roaring sound, similar to that of a passing train or a rocket taking off. Bowen says the loud, house-shaking noise is caused by the extreme amount of oxygen being consumed, thus pulling a massive column of air up the chimney. Many chimney and flue fires go unreported (or unnoticed by homeowners), but Bowen and his colleagues see the results, which can often cause damage that can make a flue or chimney unsafe. Years before, my cousin who had the fire had a carbon monoxide problem in another house caused by birds nesting in a flue, and a friend of mine's wife died from a similar incident. Bowen, 24, who runs the Fredericksburg-based Bowen's Chimney Sweep, has been working as a sweep for seven years. He got into the business because he likes working outdoors. He learned the trade on the job while working for a company in Northern Virginia. Masonry and carpentry are two other skills that must be mastered by a full-service sweep. "Flue gas temperature rating" and "zero-clearance refractory panel" are just two of the technical terms I heard for the first time when talking to Bowen. Arriving at a job site, both Bowen and his van are spotless, and he breaks out a nylon brush system to clean the client's prefab chimney. He points out that do-it-yourself homeowners often use a stainless brush in these types of chimneys and damage the metal inserts. Another homeowner self-cure is "cleaner sticks" that contain a catalyst that is supposed to dry out the soot. According to Bowen, "All the cleaner sticks have fine print on them that says, 'Does not replace a cleaning by a professional chimney sweep.'"
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