Chimney SweepsChimney Sweeps - Safety for your Fireplace
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The history of chimney sweeps is actually quite interesting. If you look back at fireplaces to the 17th century, people knew that for safety reasons, a chimney needed to be cleaned. The people who cleaned chimneys at that time were not called Chimney Sweeps but Master Sweeps. What makes this so fascinating is that young boys, some as young as age seven, would work under the Master Sweeps. These boys would use various small brushes for cleaning out the flue along with metal scrapers to get rid of any tar deposits.
Typically, these young chimney sweeps were boys from orphanages or parishes. If they liked what they were doing and found they were good at it, some would choose to make this a career. However, they first had to become Journeymen, switching to Master Sweep assistants. While the chimneys needed to be clean to make burning more efficient and the fireplaces safer, the work was deplorable. Sadly, many boys developed testicular cancer from long exposure to the soot and sleeping unwashed for weeks on end.
Because conditions were so harsh, the House of Lords outlawed the use of these young boys, even creating a penalty for people breaking the new law. Today, chimney sweeps are still crucial to homes and businesses with fireplaces although the methods used and conditions in which people work are much different. Because a fire could occur if the inside of the flue is not cleaned, chimney sweeps provide a much-needed service.
Although many new techniques are used around the world by chimney sweeps, in Scotland, the original ball, brush, and rope system remains the method of choice. This ancient technique involved weighted lead or an iron ball attached to a rope, which had a bristle brush on the end. The weight would pull the brush downward into the flue, thus cleaning it.
The services of chimney sweeps have slowed down somewhat because of gas fireplaces becoming more popular than wood-burning fireplaces. However, many people misunderstand, believing that gas fireplaces do not need to be cleaned. The truth is that just as with wood-burning units, a substance called creosote can build up, again posing a risk for fire. Therefore, if you have a gas fireplace, a chimney sweep can eliminate this risk, while also helping your fire burn more efficiently and effectively.
Another potential risk associated with a dirty flue is the production of carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous, odorless gas that kills. If you want your fireplace to operate optimally, it must be clean. Today’s chimney sweeps are trained experts, governed by a professional organization to ensure they follow strict guidelines for your safety.
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