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George Bowen and his van arrive and depart from a job in spotless condition.
ABOVE: Chimney sweep - |
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.'"
As Bowen carefully works the brush up the chimney, flammable creosote cascades down. A drop cloth protects the new carpet, and not one particle of the nasty soot escapes the vacuum.
"A chimney or flue should be cleaned and inspected annually if it's used fairly often," says Bowen, "and the high number of transient government and military workers in this area means that people often don't know how long it's been since the chimney in their new home has been serviced, or the history of repairs on the chimney."
Bowen recommends getting service in the spring or summer, because sweeps' prices go up slightly with the increased fall and winter demand.
After cleaning the chimney, Bowen sets up a ladder and inspects it from topside. He takes Polaroid shots of some corrosion damage and recommends some repairs to the homeowner. Bowen will not leave a job until he makes a thorough inspection and makes recommendations:
"A sweep should always do a top-to-bottom inspection and look for code violations and dangerous cracks in the refractory panels. Go easy with the wood load and be careful with the poker so you do not damage the fireplace or stove. A standard fireplace grate will last for about four to five years, and don't get the biggest grate that will fit. The proper-size grate means an appropriate load of wood that will not damage a fireplace."
Asked about his worst horror stories, Bowen says, "When someone has a dead animal in the chimney, the smell greets you at the door."
The great number of older buildings in the Fredericksburg area means that Bowen has faced the challenge of working on roofs that may look solid but will collapse under the lightest footstep, and chimneys that can topple with the slightest pressure from a ladder.
Bowen has rebuilt chimneys on historically listed buildings, bringing them up to safe, modern standards without violating the aesthetics. "No stainless steel or other modern materials are visible from the street," he says.
Bowen is a certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, and he recommends that anyone employing a sweep look for that certification. Periodic training and tests are required to maintain the certification.
When taking bids on a major job, Bowen says: "Always, always get a second opinion. You have to trust someone when they are doing a job that occurs out of sight, 40 feet above the ground."
Bowen has pulled 20 to 30 used wood stoves, and he always junks them, explaining that it's OK to buy used wood stoves from the want ads, but he does not sell them because all his work carries a lifetime guarantee, and he can't risk installing used stoves.
"Homeowner installation kits for stoves work," says Bowen, "but the materials are not as good as those I use." Bowen also cautions that a lot of kit warranties state that they are void unless installed by a professional sweep, and insurance problems can result if a fire is caused by a faulty homeowner installation.
Bowen recommends modern, efficient stoves that can safely burn a load of wood unattended for six to eight hours. Fireplaces without inserts and old-fashioned stoves can warm a room, but cool off the entire house by drawing in too much cold air from the outside.
A small, efficient wood stove with an 18-inch firebox can heat up to a 2,000-square-foot house, and will pay for itself in about two to three years. Wood should be stacked and seasoned for six to eight months before burning. The wood should be covered, but in a manner that allows air to circulate. "Use only good, solid hardwoods, cautions Bowen, "never use pine or soft stuff."
When Bowen leaves the job, he and his van are still spotless. I don't know whether the legend about chimney sweeps bringing good luck is true, but I sure found out that there's a lot more to this skill than top hats, smudged noses and dancing on rooftops. Still, those who don't employ a certified, licensed and insured professional sweep when needed are definitely pressing their luck.
BOB SARGEANT of Spotsylvania County is a freelance writer.
