Chimney Sweep Survey - Who Cleans Who Hires?

Adios Pantalones said:

$175 for a self employed person- drives to your house (15 mins) does the job (20 mins) drives to the next job (10 mins), subtract insurance (!!), vehicle expenses, wear and tear on tools, time and money spent advertising, power-heat-rent for a shop if they have one, the fact that they may or may not have 8h of actual time at a customer site in a day, risk of climbing ladders all day, the fact that they know what they're doing (we hope) so that they do it right and faster than you might...

Sorry about that- I just know contractors, and what you pay covers a lot more than the time of the job. OK- $175 still sounds a bit steep, but if it was after lunch then the guy may have a few drinkiepoos in him- and the risk part goes up

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isuphipsi1052 said:

Removing the cap took the longest.

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When I was up on my roof at the end of last season to sweep the chimney I couldn't get my cap off. It appears that some creosote may have solidified between where the cap seats to the top of the flue pipe. I'll be needing to get that cap off. I was thinking of using a hand-held propane torch to heat the area around the cap. Do you folks think that will work?

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woodjack said:

Don't get me wrong, my guy is a real professional too.

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isuphipsi1052 said:

Removing the cap took the longest.

Click to expand...

When I was up on my roof at the end of last season to sweep the chimney I couldn't get my cap off. It appears that some creosote may have solidified between where the cap seats to the top of the flue pipe. I'll be needing to get that cap off. I was thinking of using a hand-held propane torch to heat the area around the cap. Do you folks think that will work?

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Have you tried a rubber mallet?

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