Chimney fires and other hazards pose a threat to homeowners, but a Waldoboro chimney sweep tells how dangers can be avoided and prevented, along with other problems.
Bruce Hendrickson, owner and operator of Waldoboro Chimney Service, first advocates cleaning the chimney at least once a year as a definite priority, but something people tend to put off until too late.
Hendrickson has chosen the occupation, one that has existed ever since chimneys have been around, recalling the Disney movie “Mary Poppins,” which popularized the profession.
The work entails scraping the chimneys clean from soot, creosote and other obstructions to the airflow and any other repairs and maintenance as needed.
“I take pride in what I do,” he said. “My reputation is on the line.”
He attributes his diligence and responsibility for the work he does to his Christian faith, making no attempt to hide the Gospel-oriented scene he has painted on his tool truck.
“I wanted to dedicate my truck to the Lord,” he said. He said he has been grateful for the opportunity to do the work after going through hard times in a building slump in the past, when he worked construction.
He trained on-the-job with a chimney sweep for two years before purchasing the business from him, which entails a lot more than just poking a pole with a brush along the inside walls of a chimney.
Besides sharing his faith, Hendrickson does a lot of “preaching” to his customers about what they need to do to keep their chimney in tip top condition, as well as guarding them against the prospect of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“It’s odorless – you can’t smell it,” he said. “But there are warning signs like headaches, dizziness, and nausea.”
Hendrickson recalls an incident of carbon monoxide poisoning when a woman reported having migraine headaches. Upon investigation of the situation, he discovered through a carbon monoxide detector she had been suffering from such poisoning and made the necessary cleaning of the chimney.
People should have smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in their home to prevent such an occurrence, he advised.
Another incident he witnessed on the job occurred in Bath where virtually no smoke could get out through the chimney because it was so clogged with fuel byproducts. He told the people to open their windows and get out of the house immediately to avoid further contamination until he remedied the situation.
The woman had three other chimney “experts” look at her chimney, and all of them told her everything was okay.
“That was total negligence,” he said. “There’s no excuse for something like that. It was really obvious. All you’ve got to do is take a flashlight and look.”
Upon inspection of the chimney, he could plainly see obstruction, which took him a couple of minutes to remedy.
A chimney may well require cleaners to accomplish the desired result because sometimes when a lot of moisture gets onto the walls of a chimney, it causes soot and creosote to adhere and harden, having the appearance of coal.
Such buildup requires considerable effort and special tools to remove. Besides a liner in the chimney, which he strongly advocates, he tells his clients about waterproofing for the inside of a chimney that prevents moisture from penetrating the mortar and causing cracks from icing up in frigid temperatures.
“The product I use is absolutely the best in the market,” he said. “It penetrates up to one-quarter inch or more. It’s guaranteed for 10 years.”
Besides the moisture, burning green wood or wood that is not dry enough produces a lot of moisture that goes up into the chimney creating a condition conducive to creosote buildup that cakes on and also produces cracks in the mortar between the bricks or concrete blocks.
“You need to burn dry wood, and you need to burn it hot (at least 500 degrees) for a good hour,” he said. “And I recommend a stovepipe thermometer.”
Keeping combustible items from the proximity of the stove should be a no-brainer, but Hendrickson finds the hazard often in the homes he services.
In addition, he recommends a stainless steel cap for chimneys that keeps rain and snow away from the inside and lasts a lifetime.
Hendrickson’s son, Brian, has joined him part-time in the business as his only assistant. “He’s a tremendous asset to my business, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “He’s done a good job. I’ve had a lot of compliments, and no one has complained since he’s started working for me.”
Anyone who desires chimney service from Waldoboro Chimney Service may call 832-4667 or 1-800-660-4668.
