![]() Eakin, who tied it to the oil shortages then. The chimney sweeping business boomed in the 70's, said Mr. To protect himself from rabies, which is spreading in Union and Somerset Counties, Mr. ![]() I have also had the unpleasant duty of removing pounds of feces from their nests.'' And as cute as they may be, raccoons are no joke when they take up residence in a chimney. ''Working at certain heights isn't for everyone. ''It is a difficult business that people see as relatively easy,'' he said. Within two years, he left teaching and, as one of the 40 members of the New Jersey Chimney Sweep Guild, began his business full time. Eventually he approached neighbors, friends and his church before advertising his services. Eakin completed a course on the latest sweeping techniques at the Black Magic Institute, a distribution center for chimney cleaning equipment in Stowe, Vt. ''I also had to learn about the construction of a fireplace and the chimney and how to clean all kinds of dampers where the soot is found.'' ''The biggest thing to learn was how not to make a mess,'' he said. ''I realized the advantages of being able to still teach and learn the trade after school and on weekends,'' Mr. Eakin at the dinner table on Thanksiving 1979 when his cousin, a master sweep, suggested that Mr. The idea of becoming a chimney sweep was first presented to Mr. ''While I have the latest fiberglass rods, I still keep the old rattan ones and brushes for certain jobs,'' Mr. A vacuum has replaced the role of the climbing boy, but the tools used are not very different from those in the 1800's. The modern sweep's equipment melds tradition and technology. ''By at least dressing like a gentleman, the sweep hoped to ward off some of the public's distaste for the lot.'' ''The wretch that did this filthy job with his poor climbing boy knew his reputaion was bad,'' Mr. The dress became an attempt to mollify the sweeps' public image. Many climbing boys failed to survive their apprenticeship, dying of tuberculosis or cancer. Since the average chimney was 9 by 14 inches, it seemed a logical step to assign the task of going down the tight-fitting flue to a child. It was John Cottington, an apprentice to a sweep at the age of 8, who coined the term chimney sweep. Public sympathy was voiced for the climbing boys, who were apprenticed to the master sweep and did the bulk of the dirty work. Though the Disney movie may have romanticized the sweep's lot in life, the hardships of the trade drew stiff criticism in the 17th and 18th centuries. He has never fallen off a roof while wearing his top hat, so he always wears it on jobs. Eakin carries his own good-luck charm on the job. Care is always taken to insure that there is no mess in the home.Mr. Regular cleaning and inspection are essential in the prevention of chimney fires.Īll of our expert technicians are WETT certified and employ the most up-to-date chimney cleaning techniques. The burning of wood leaves highly flammable deposits in the chimney flue and smoke chamber. We are happy to provide references from other satisfied customers in your area. They take great care to protect the roof and ground so that all work will be completed in a clean and safe manner.Īll of our work is guaranteed against defect in materials and workmanship. Our brick masons are unsurpassed in their level of expertise, and take pride in their workmanship. Top Hat Chimney specializes in all aspects of chimney repair and rebuilding. Cracked or spalled bricks, damaged flue tiles or concrete caps, or a leaning structure are signs that the chimney needs immediate attention. This deterioration usually takes many years to begin but then progresses rapidly. They are therefore one of the first places on a house to deteriorate. Standing above the roofline, chimneys are fully exposed to rain and snow and are affected by winter's freeze/thaw cycles.
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