He often has to rid a fireplace of critters - everything from chimney swifts to ducks and raccoons. "My regular customers get it done in the spring, summer and fall." "This time of year I get all new calls," says Carl Cadwell of Top Hat Chimney Sweeps. Most services charge about $100 for inspection and cleaning. Cold weather brings warm fires, with homeowners wondering when was the last time, if ever, they had their fireplaces cleaned or inspected. Up north, where there are several months of winter chill, fireplace cleaning is a much bigger deal - like pool maintenance in Florida.Īlong the Gulf Coast, the sweeping season can be measured in weeks, if not days. "We got bum-rushed down here," he said, "and my brother Chris was on vacation, so I said, why don't you come in to work?" John Cerrito, owner of Chimney Cricket in Sarasota, had to call in family reinforcements from Lansing, Mich. “It was a shaky start.There's nothing like a lengthy cold spell to light a fire in the chimney sweep business. ![]() Pfeiffer, 22, did not have an auspicious beginning. “The chimney swift is the only bird that can get out of a chimney,’’ Osborne said. Squirrels and birds trapped in chimneys are the sweep’s biggest problem. For more detailed inspections, a camera is lowered into the chimney to take pictures. Inside the house, Osborne removes the ashes and uses brushes and a vacuum to clean the flue. There is also the story - perhaps apocryphal - of a would-be burglar who was trapped inside. The fish were dropped by birds, as, probably, was the duck. “We have found dead fish and a live duck,’’ said Osborne. Squirrels and raccoons are commonly found, but occasionally there is a surprise. ![]() Once at the top, he removes the chimney’s cap and looks inside, searching for obstructions. The younger man sets up his ladder and climbs to the top of the chimney, inspecting its brickwork and masonry. When the two arrive at a job, they work as a team, Pfeiffer outside on the roof, Osborne inside, in front of the fireplace. With his nephew, Cody Pfeiffer, his assistant and eventual successor, the company also offers chimney repairs and wood stove servicing. Osborne’s company serves four counties, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer. Today, sitting in front of the fireplace in his home, he easily recalls dimensions and statistics that indicate a man who knows his way around a chimney, inside and out.Īlthough New Jersey has no specific requirements for chimney sweeps, Osborne maintains national certification by attending classes and passing tests. The know-how served him well when he switched careers and became a chimney sweep. “I built them,’’ he said.Ī mason, he was in construction for more than 20 years, acquiring an intimate knowledge of how chimneys work. ![]() Osborne started working with chimneys at the most basic level. “More than 60,000 chimney fires occur every year, most in chimneys that have not been cleaned,’’ he said. ![]() On a recent morning, he was quick to tell a visitor that shaking hands with a chimney sweep would bring good luck all day.įor Osborne, owner of Four Seasons Chimney Sweeps and Repair, the work is satisfying, surprising and necessary. “There, and in Germany, the chimney sweep is a beloved figure.’’ “The Guild of Chimney Sweeps in England is more than 500 years old,’’ he said. Osborne may not have the proper hat or the singing voice, but he is happy to be part of the storied tradition of his profession, one that stretches back in history. “Where is your top hat?’’ is the first, quickly followed by, “Can you sing that song?‘’ The “Mary Poppins’’ image of chimney sweeps endures. MOUNT HOLLY - When Edward Osborne goes out on a job, he is often greeted with two questions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |