Our Company Blog

A Brief History of Chimney Sweeping

The craft of sweeping chimneys changed immensely since its early origins during the Ancient Roman era. It is surprising to learn how brutal the job was before modern technology and regulations. Before laws and regulations were introduced in the United Kingdom (UK) during the Industrial Revolution (1760-1830), the majority of chimney sweeps across the globe were young children. These kids, called “chimney climbing boys,” began training as young as age six to work in hazardous conditions. Fortunately, those days are well in the past. Education and technology helped improve conditions and safety. At Atlas Chimney, our chimney sweeps have been trained and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and use specialized tools to ensure safety. Since the history of chimney sweeping in the UK is similar to that of the USA, we want to tell you about some of the most important years in this history.

1788

During this year, the British Parliament began discussing how to regulate chimney sweeping. According to a professional chimney service in London and South Essex, Clean Sweep, an age limit of eight for chimney sweeps became law. However, this went mostly ignored. After the turn of the century, George Smart invented the first mechanical sweeper. Groups promoted this new method of chimney sweeping and lobbied to Parliament for stricter laws.

1834

Around a decade earlier, Joseph Glass improved on George Smart’s invention, creating the modern chimney sweeping brush. More and more people used this new tool, lessening the need for small children who could fit into chimneys. Parliament passed a law in this year saying children must agree in front of a magistrate to be a chimney sweeper.

1840

An act of Parliament protected those under 21 years old from chimney sweeping. However, this was not taken seriously because it was not law. Lobbyists continued to press Parliament into declaring this act into law, and over the next 35 years, controls over chimney sweeping were tightened significantly. In 1875, the Chimney Sweepers Act became law in order to stop child labor.

Atlas Chimney is thankful for the many improvements to the technology and other working conditions in the chimney industry. If you live in the Austin area, contact us for your professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation needs.

Things About Your Chimney A Home Inspector Can Miss

When you are buying or selling a home, one of the most important steps in this process is the home inspection. However, if the home has a chimney and fireplace system, you should know that this inspection does not sufficiently examine its condition. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends having a Level 2 chimney inspection of any home involved in a real-estate transaction.

Atlas Chimney provides all levels of professional chimney inspection services by our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified technicians. This way, you know can trust us to tell you exactly how safe the chimney really is! Home inspectors must be trained and certified in their field. However, they are not required to undergo professional training on how to inspect chimneys and fireplaces. Unfortunately, this means they could miss a potential chimney issue! We would like to tell you about a couple of things about a chimney that the CSIA noticed were missed by a home inspector.

CHIMNEY HEIGHT

What is one of the main reasons why a Level 2 professional chimney inspection is required when buying or selling a home? It’s to make sure the chimney and fireplace system meets all local building codes and standards, including the correct height of the chimney. The International Residential Code (IRC) enforces the 3-2-10’ chimney height rule. This means all chimneys should be at least two feet higher than any part of the building within 10 feet. In addition, is not less than three feet above the point where the chimney meets the roof. Home inspectors do not always check this requirement. This is unfortunate, because its essential for your chimney to draft properly!

CONDITION OF CHIMNEY COMPONENTS

In the CSIA article, “What the Home Inspector Missed, The Chimney Sweep Caught,” a damaged chimney chase cover was not discovered in the home inspection. This problem could lead to extensive and expensive water leak damage to the chimney and the rest of the home.  That is exactly why its important to be noted in a real-estate transaction. A home inspector rarely examines the condition of the different parts of a chimney. Parts such as a chase cover, chimney cap, and liner. However, a CSIA-certified chimney sweep includes every part of the chimney in a Level 2 inspection. This guarantees there are no problems lurking within or on top of your chimney!

Buying or selling a home? Contact us at Atlas Chimney today to schedule an appointment for a Level 2 chimney inspection!