Brief History of Chimney Sweep Cleaning
There is not a single chapter in the history of chimney sweeping that even remotely matches the portrayal of the ebullient chimney sweep that Dick Van Dyke brought to life in the timeless film Mary Poppins. Sadly, chimney sweeping was not an enviable or safe vocation for many centuries, despite the fact that it was always an extremely necessary one. These days, reputable chimney sweeps are held in high regard as experts. The experiences of chimney sweeps in the past were considerably different from those of chimney sweeps in the modern day.
The young sweeps, who were typically children between the ages of 5 and 11, were subjected to a great deal of danger. While a result of the repeated contortions that their bodies were forced to go through as they climbed chimneys, their skeletons frequently grew misshapen. They would become stuck in the chimneys, and eventually they would perish there. It is widely believed that the youngsters suffered from soot inhalation, which was the primary reason why juvenile chimney sweeps seldom lived through the middle years of their lives.
Young chimney sweeps were among the first workers to ever have their occupation linked to cancer. The malignancy, which ultimately proved fatal, was quite uncomfortable.
The inhumane treatment that was inflicted upon the young children who were forced to sweep chimneys was brought to the attention of many individuals throughout the years, and efforts were made to put a stop to it. Several works of literature, particularly a poem written by William Blake titled “The Chimney Sweeper,” were helpful in accomplishing the task.
It wasn’t until 1864 that the English Parliament finally approved the “Act for the Regulation of Chimney Sweepers,” which put an end to the practice of using children as chimney sweeps in that nation. As the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of innovation,” and in this case, cleaning chimneys required a different approach. In the 18th century, chimney sweep Joseph Glass created the chimney brush and cane, both of which are still in use today. His designs were fundamental in nature.
Cameras that can be lowered into flues in order to determine whether or not there is any damage to the lining of the chimney are one of the noteworthy enhancements that have been made to the equipment that chimney sweeps employ. Instead of being covered in soot, chimney sweeps of today have training on the science behind fireplaces and chimneys, and they are also aware with the building codes that are in effect in their respective jurisdictions.
To ensure that your wood-burning fireplace, wood or pellet stove, wood burning insert, or wood-burning furnace or boiler continue to function in a safe manner, it is imperative that you have a skilled chimney sweep clear your chimney on an annual basis. During a chimney cleaning, the chimney, connector pipes, chimney chase cover, and chimney cap will be inspected by our chimney sweeps who are nationally recognized. This is done to ensure that your system does not have any additional flaws.
So if you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Volcano and other affordable services.