Meet the sweep
Behind every clean & safe chimney is a dedicated sweep! This month we sit down for a chat with Jimmy, one of the faces behind Stubby's Chimney Sweeping, to find out a bit more about Jimmy & life on the job as a sweep.
Jimmy is a married father of 3, he & his family love football & he previously had a career in fitness which he continues as a hobby which helps on the heavy lifting install jobs! Lets find our more about his career with Stubbys...
About the business
Q.What made you choose chimney sweeping as a career?
A. I was getting married and looking for extra income. I knew Pete from the gym and I started working one day a week and it progressed from there, really enjoyed it and the rest is history!
Q. What do you enjoy most about the job?
A. I love meeting new people and returning to regular customers, every day is different and every property is unique.
Q. What training & qualifications have you completed & why are they important.
A. I am a fully certified sweep and Guild Member of the Guild of master chimney sweeps. It is important a sweep is certified otherwise your house insurance may be invalidated if someone who is not certified carries out the work.
Chimney safety & maintenance
Q. Whats the most common misconception homeowners have about chimney sweeping?
A. They think it's a messy job... Far from it! You don't need to cover up any areas or furniture. We take care of everything to make sure everything is left as it was and your stove and chimney are spotless!
Q. how often should people have their chimney swept and why is it important for safety?
A. At least once a year, twice a year if you use it a lot. Not having an annual sweep can lead to a build up of creosote which creates smells, smoke and a risk of chimney fires.
Q. How can homeowners improve the efficiency of their stove or open fire between sweeps?
A.By using the proper fuel... seasoned or kiln dried wood gives you a cleaner, more efficient burn and lessons the build up.
Real life experiences
Q. Whats the strangest thing you've ever found in a chimney?
A. Another sweeps brush & a racing pigeon (sadly it didn't make it home!)
Q. Whats the biggest challenge you face as a chimney sweep?
A.The Christmas rush & customers not realizing how busy we are at this time of year... This is why we advise to have your chimney swept in the spring/ early summer months.
And finally...
Q. Whats one chimney myth you'd love to put to bed once and for all?
A. That children are sent up chimneys to clean them! We can assure you, that doesn't happen!