Thinking of becoming a chimney sweep.......

[RAY_PA]

I am seriously thinking of starting a chimney sweep biz. I am the 'right hand man' of a small mom & pop sales biz now and know a few things about running a biz and have cleaned a chimney or 2 in my time. I dont have the tools or any cert.'s yet, but thought this might be a place to get straight answers from guys in the know. In my location, there are VERY few choices if someone is looking for someone to clean they're chimney or install a flexliner/stove/insert.....whatever. I really think it might be a good alternative to what I am doing now. Just thinking, havent really done anything about it yet.

well.....?

 

[Metal]

Check out this site.

(broken link removed to http://www.ncsg.org/FortheTrade/NCSGChimneyAcademy/tabid/180/Default.aspx)

 

[savageactor7]

I think it's a good move...any trade you get paid in cash is a good thing...'nuff said.

 

[Hogwildz]

Best check if your health insurance would cover that?
And what business insurance may cost.
Working off a roof is say more dangerous than sitting at a desk. And the insurance will likely reflect so.
Your health insurance may or may not cover injuries suffered from falling of the roof as a sweep.
I am not sure either way, but def something to check into.

 

[RAY_PA]

PM...great site, and thanks...I'd like to do something like that first, I dont plan to just slap a decal on the van and climb up on someones roof.

Hog, great thought, I did check with my life insurance agent and she said it would be fine...I will check with the health insurance, that is through my wife's employer.

THANKS!
Great discussion so far, keep it comming!

 

[BrotherBart]

I have been checking into the requirements for permits and insurance to repair pellets stoves around here. What a pain. The bureaucrats all say that you have to have an HVAC contractor's license and bonding and the state requires journeyman time for that. And my business liability carrier pooped a firebrick when I told him I want to fix things that can burn down houses.

My lawyer just grinned and said "Whatever you want to do. I can fix anything you get into for $250 an hour plus expenses.".

 

[RAY_PA]

LMAO...ouch, pooping a fire brick must leave a nasty mark.

 

[Hogwildz]

I have been checking into the requirements for permits and insurance to repair pellets stoves around here. What a pain. The bureaucrats all say that you have to have an HVAC contractor's license and bonding and the state requires journeyman time for that. And my business liability carrier pooped a firebrick when I told him I want to fix things that can burn down houses.

My lawyer just grinned and said "Whatever you want to do. I can fix anything you get into for $250 an hour plus expenses.".

Now thats a heavy skidmark in the making.

 

[billb3]

I have been checking into the requirements for permits and insurance to repair pellets stoves around here. What a pain. The bureaucrats all say that you have to have an HVAC contractor's license and bonding and the state requires journeyman time for that. And my business liability carrier pooped a firebrick when I told him I want to fix things that can burn down houses.

My lawyer just grinned and said "Whatever you want to do. I can fix anything you get into for $250 an hour plus expenses.".

Now thats a heavy skidmark in the making.

But absolutely green and environmentally friendly.
(there may be lawyers circling)

 

[blackgooseJT]

Ray ,
I've been sweeping for twenty years. Things have changed tremendously in that time. I started out part-time with a pick-up , vacuum and a few brushes. Nowadays it takes a little more to really get going, but it is possible if you want it. This may actually be the best time to get started since the 1970's. How ever you feel about "peak oil" or "global warming" or any of that stuff the fact is that there will always be a market for this work. There are a couple of yahoo groups for sweeps. Chimneys-L is one that you should check out.I'm CSIA certified and a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild.Can't say enough good about 'em.Do a little homework, and sweeps luck !

blackgooseJT

 

[Redox]

I have been checking into the requirements for permits and insurance to repair pellets stoves around here. What a pain. The bureaucrats all say that you have to have an HVAC contractor's license and bonding and the state requires journeyman time for that. And my business liability carrier pooped a firebrick when I told him I want to fix things that can burn down houses.

My lawyer just grinned and said "Whatever you want to do. I can fix anything you get into for $250 an hour plus expenses.".

Now thats a heavy skidmark in the making.

Once again, another thread regressing into the toilet humor category...

I think it's a great idea as it ts looking like wood burning is going to be a growth industry in the near future. A LOT of people are looking into wood stoves right now and will need the support to do it safely. The average homeowner is probably not going to want to climb up on the roof to do this. As previously noted, make sure you are appropriately insured, bonded and educated. A good attorney in the wings also isn't a bad idea as there are bound to be a few incidents along the way. Best of luck to you!

Chris

 

[webbie]

Sweeping is a wider field than first meets the eye....and the neat thing is that YOU can make decisions as to what types of work you want to do. I know some older sweeps who only do open fireplaces and easy stoves (usually freestanding) these days because they don't like heights as much. Others service gas or pellet equipments. Still other specialize in liners or caps.

Keep in mind that you don't have to do every job that is presented to you. If a roof or chimney looks really dangerous, you can simply turn down the job! Chances are that someone will do it........so it will get done. A lot of chimneys can be swept well from the bottom, which obviously is safer.

There is definitely an expanding need for sweeps and installers and I would agree you can't go wrong. The money can be quite good too.

 

[thechimneysweep]

Call around to your local licensed Master Sweeps and see if you can get hired on as a Sweep's Apprentice. You'll do the grunt work and tall ladder jobs while making small money at first, but you'll have the opportunity to learn the biz from the top down, and be better able to make a career decision. Once you've paid your dues, consider enrolling in a professional training school to fill in any gaps in your education and obtain official Certification, which is a valuable marketing tool.

This is a dirty, dangerous job, but can be exceptionally rewarding in many ways, including financially. As you build your own business, be prepared for some slow Summer months, when it is difficult to get people thinking about their chimneys, followed by Fall and Winter seasons when you can work dawn to dusk every day if you have the stamina.

Learn to read the UL labels on the fireplaces and stoves you service, and present your customers with a rundown of any installation or clearance violations you find, along with any structural problems with the chimney: this will be appreciated by most folks, might get you some fix-it work, and will protect your butt in the event that any of the problems you documented causes a problem after you leave.

Visit Copperfield Chimney Supply at http://www.copperfield.com/ and request a catalog. Buy the best equipment you can afford, including one of every size brush. An insert puller is an excellent tool, and absolutely necessary for a one-man show when you're faced with a passive or direct-connected insert.

 

[RedRanger]

Good choice Ray:

Our local sweep is also a TQ`d carpenter. He says he can make more money doing sweeps and liner installs than with the carpentry end of things. Gives you some idea of how lucrative it can be. Having said that- I just hired him to rebuild our hearth and redo the ceiling tiles in our laundry room. Summer is slower for him so he does the carpentry work during that time.

So if you are a bit handy you can also do stuff like that during the slow months. Best of luck to you.

 

[fossil]

C'mon out to Oregon, Ray...I got two woodstoves with chimneys up out of tile roofs, both of which need a goin' over & cleaning right now. Just a little project to get your feet wet...er, your hands dirty. Follow your dreams. Good luck to you. Rick