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Before you put that log on the fire ...

Professionals go on the roof to sweep away danger that could cause chimney trouble.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published January 12, 2007

In a chimney sweep's world, cleaning out animal nests and accumulated soot, and sometimes finding forgotten treasures, is all part of the job.

As the temperature drops, even Floridians need their chimneys inspected before firing up a crackling blaze.

On a late December day, James Rydill spun his brush down a chimney and dislodged a squirrel's nest. Had the family lit a fire, smoke would have filled the house, Rydill said.

"It's like clogging the tailpipe of a car," he said. A chimney cap with an animal guard will solve that.

Two years ago, when the family lit a fire, a squirrel ran from the fireplace into the house.

They had moved to Tampa from the Northeast, said homeowner Lois Schifino, and nothing can replace a blaze in the fireplace.

"There's a lot of neglected chimneys out there," said Rydill, who owns Coastal Chimney in Tampa and specializes in restoring older chimneys.

His business is booming, fueled mostly by word of mouth. He started sweeping chimneys when he was 17 and has been at it for 16 years. He can sweep about eight to 10 chimneys a day. Restorations can take three days.

Chimney fires accounted for the largest share of home heating fires in 2003, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Most were because of dirty chimneys.

Blame creosote, a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood. The dark, tarlike substance clings to chimney walls and causes most chimney fires and most home heating fires.

Chimney fires may evoke images of flames shooting from the rooftop stack. Then again, a chimney fire can burn unnoticed.

Sweeps also find all sorts of animal evidence - and people's stashes - stuffed inside.

There might be birds, cats, opossums and frogs - or alcohol and adult magazines.

At annual conventions, chimney sweeps swap stories. Someone always tells of finding a human skeleton.

"I've found everything from a Rolex to Civil War swords," said Tom Doty, who has swept chimneys for 32 years and owns Swept Away in Seminole.

After Christmas, Doty "finds" scraps of red felt, which he gives to children who live in the homes.

"Santa sometimes scrapes off pieces of his coat," he tells them.

Folklore of the luck of chimney sweeps abounds.

"Old-timers will often pinch me for good luck," said Robert Westerfield, owner of Chimney Sweep of Florida on Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Westerfield, who also owns a costume shop, wears a top hat and top coat from Sweden on the job. Mild winters are slowing his business.

Chimneys replaced open cooking fires with a hole in the roof in the 12th century. Soon after, chimney maintenance became a trade.

The first chimney sweeps were young children - mostly orphans - who scrambled up chimneys with metal scrapers.

In England, sweeps would jump from rooftop to rooftop, yelling down chimneys to ask if homeowners wanted a cleaning.

Today's sweeps are high-tech.

"I have $65,000 in tools on my truck," Doty said. They include a tool similar to a weed trimmer and a video camera that he runs up the chimney to view its condition.

Still, the most common tool is the extended pole brush, the same kind used by Bert in Mary Poppins.

During a recent job, Rydill tossed his brush to the ground from the rooftop.

"He looks a little bit like Dick Van Dyke," Schifino joked as she watched.

Rydill is used to a question: "Where's your top hat?"

It's at home.

"I don't sport it," he said.

He prefers running shoes, for traction on rooftops, and jeans.

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 813 226-3321.

Fast Facts:

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A healthy fireplace

- Never burn wrapping paper, pine branches, cardboard or trash. These can spark a chimney fire or ignite your roof.

- Burn only untreated wood.

- Some say buy oak and never burn pine. Actually, the most important criterion when choosing firewood is that it be seasoned, or dried, for six months to a year after being cut. Seasoning time depends on the wood's density. Burning unseasoned or green firewood increases creosote buildup.

- Keep the area around the hearth clear of debris, decorations and flammable materials.

- Don't restrict air supply to fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while a fire burns and make sure the damper is sufficiently open. Restricting air builds up creosote.

- Never close the damper before going to bed if the ashes are still warm. Those last smoldering embers produce a high concentration of carbon monoxide.

- After a chimney fire, or if you suspect that you had a chimney fire, get an inspection to ensure that the masonry is intact before starting your next fire.

- The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you have your chimney checked at least once a year, and cleaned if needed. Heavy users need more frequent checkups.

Source: Chimney Safety Institute of America

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 07:48:16]