Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 25, 2001
BRANDON -- While reading several magazine and newspaper articles about the fire dangers presented by soot-filled chimneys, Larry Ivey wondered how people in sunny Florida could have such a problem.
After checking with Realtors and builders, he learned that nearly a third of the homes in Florida have fireplaces. He then discovered that no one in eastern Hillsborough County had a chimney cleaning business.
"I saw an add in a magazine about a place that offered all the equipment and training needed to clean chimneys," Ivey said. "I already had a business cleaning homes and business buildings, mostly at night, and was doing well. However, I was really interested in the chimney sweep idea."
Ivey sent in his money, but something interfered with the time slot for the training classes, so the company mailed his books and equipment to him and he learned from reading.
That was in 1980. Now 60-year-old Ivey is in his 21st year as owner and primary worker for the Joy Chimney Sweep Co., and the business is doing well.
"Because of my faith in the Lord, I use my opportunity of cleaning chimneys to talk about the joy I receive from my belief," he said. "Hence, the name of the business, Joy Chimney Sweep. Sometimes I find people sick or depressed, and it provides me with a chance to talk and even pray with them."
After he started cleaning chimneys, Ivey worked both his businesses for five years and finally gave the home and office segment to one of his employees.
Now he says he does well year around, cleaning only chimneys. His price: $100 for a single-story home, $110 for a two-story.
"I provide discounts to my regular repeat customers to let me clean their chimney during the inactive summer months," Ivey said. "That leaves me more time to serve new customers during the heavy work months of the winter."
Ivey was born in Dundee, in Polk County. His dad got a job in the ship yards and moved the family to Tampa. He graduated from Hillsborough High in 1959.
Getting business was tough at first. Floridians were not educated in fireplace and chimney safety.
"The soot lingering in a fireplace is saturated with flammable creosote that comes from some wood and especially from the artificial firelogs so easy to buy," Ivey said. "Even burning a piece of newspaper in a chimney filled with soot can start a fire that can destroy a home. It should be cleaned every two or at least three years."
Ivey started his business by knocking on doors and offering free cleaning to get new customers.
He says the number of fireplaces being built or added to homes in Central Florida began to increase during the fuel crises of the 1970s. Now, he says, they are stylish.
As his business began to increase, Ivey continued to read even more about the history of his trade.
"In Europe, chimney fires became very destructive, so the chimney sweep became a necessary commodity," he said. "Small children called "climbing boys' were used to climb up into the chimneys with brushes to clean the chimneys. Sometimes the flues were so narrow, the children stripped and used their bodies to clean. Few lived to become adults."
To dramatize the part, he bought a large top hat and coat with tails to look like the European sweeps. When he has a day with no business, he dons his hat, coat and a brush, knocks on doors and gets new customers.
Chimney cleaning has changed considerably since children were sent up the flues, but strong brushes are still needed.
"This has turned out to be a satisfying business for myself and my family," Ivey said. "I earn enough money to do all right, I meet lots of nice people, and sometimes I get to share my faith. My ultimate goal is the turn the business over to my son, Keith."