Christchurch Chimney Sweeps view on legislation, wood burners and pollution

Are you worried about legislation, wood burners and pollution?

I think it's all down to education . . . Wood Storage, moisture content and an efficient stoves is key. I think it can only be a good thing if some customers with poor burning habits are encouraged to change their burning habits and I am all for new legislation that may helps promote positive burning.

If a customer is burning unseasoned wood with an in-efficient wood burner it can create a build up of poor quality soot within the chimney’s flue which in turn can cause a fire risk issues for the customer while also potentially having a negative effect on the environment.

Axe - Wood Cutting

If that customer acquired a Defra stove with 85% efficiency and only purchased and burned fully seasoned wood that was below 20% moisture level. Then they drastically reduce the risk of a chimney fire and they also drastically reduce the stoves emissions.

Looking for chimney sweep advice for good burning practice?
visit my advice and guidance page where I have written a ton of information about firewood and stove efficiency -  https://www.jimchimney.co/p/advice.html

For more information about whats being reviewed by the goverment here is a Guardian Article - Burning issue: Are wood-burning stoves going to get the chop?

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Recommended article: Five reasons to book Jim as your Dorset chimney sweep?

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum, Wimborne, Christchurch and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

Poole Chimney Sweep Interview with Homes with Love Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch - Part One

What do you do day-today as a chimney sweep in poole?

The CCTV investigation side of chimney sweeping can be interesting when your trying to work out an issue. One job I remember. . . I had a gas fire where the builders built the new roof over the flu which pushed all the fumes into the loft bedrooms, that CCTV could have saved the customers life from CO poisoning.

There is also the bird removal side to chimney sweeping. I've got a new found love for pigeons from this job, removing a live pigeon that's stuck in a chimney is super rewarding and they are pretty tame birds, they will happily sit on your hand while you move them to a better position. [ I’ve spent up to to 2 hours to get alive birds out and thankfully have managed ]

Its a physical job too. I get a beach ready body during chimney sweep season. It’s just a shame that the season is September - February - so I lose it all just in time for the summer.

I think it’s a rewarding job being a chimney sweep, at the end of your day you get to help keep safe homes, prevent chimney fires and meet the lovely people of Dorset on the way. That's pretty cool.

Is there a tradition to chimney sweeping?

In traditional side of chimney sweeps are known as being one of the luckiest trades people in the world. People want to shake your hand quite a lot, especially the older generation who remember the tradition.

We get invited to weddings thanks to a century old fable about how a chimney sweep saved the king. Having a chimney sweep at your weddings is an old tradition that happened a lot for my mum's era as their parents were the ones who were booking the chimney sweeps. Sadly it's a little forgotten tradition but it’s something I get invited to about once a year. It's usually paid for by the mother of the bride. We crash the wedding and bring good luck to the marriage by stealing a kiss from the bride and shaking hands with the groom and offer a small gift.

Poole chimney sweep Jim Chim-in-ey dressed in his best chimney sweep outfit

We are also one of the only trades that gets to wear a top hat. I choose to wear a dead-mans hat, it's a little shorter than the traditional top hat. This traditionally is seen as a sign of respect to the customers of class.In short, I get to wear a top hat because King George II made a decree that chimney sweep are lucky and should be treated with the highest of respect.

Call Jim to book your Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne & Dorset Chimney Sweep Today

Click above to Sign-Up for the FREE reminder service by Jim Chim-in-ey

Recommended article: Five reasons to book Jim as your Dorset chimney sweep?

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum, Wimborne, Christchurch and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

Christchurch Chimney Sweep Interview with Homes with Love Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch - Part Two

How did you get into chimney sweeping?

Family friend was giving up the trade and my Aunt convinced me to go on a few jobs with him, I’m really glad I did. . . I took to it quickly and just fell in love with the job.

I was warned by James that when you get into sweeping chimneys all you do is look at chimney stacks, pots & cowls . . . even on holiday. I thought he was joking. . . .but that’s what I do. You can actually tell a lot about a what’s installed and what's being burned in a property just by looking up at the chimney stack.

What do you love about being a chimney sweep?

The social side is super important to me, you get to meet some lovely, interesting people.

Sooty & Sweep
I've swept for John the famous puppeteer of Sooty & Sweep over in Kinson, Bournemouth - He gave me a great pin badge and was kind enough to give me a photo opportunity with me and the genuine puppets of Sooty & Sweep.

Bournemouth Chimney Sweep in Kinson with Sooty and Sweep

Animals in Wool
Another time I was sweeping an open fire in Wool, Dorset and there was a cat that had just had a litter of kittens who had to be kept in a box while i was sweeping. While I’m sweeping I was then randomly asked if i liked snakes and next thing I know im posing for a photo with a big snake wrapped around my neck.

Lucky I Love Dogs
You have got to love dogs as a chimney sweep, as a guess ⅓  fire owners seem to have dogs. I sweep for a lady in Branksome who has a wonderful Great Dane and as I was sweeping her room I had to be welcomed in and was told to ignore her at first . . . which is pretty hard when shes jumping up at you and she’s 5ft tall.
After each sweep I shake my sheets out between each fire outside in the garden. The Great Dane was always interested in what i was doing and on the 3rd time. . . Out comes this great dane galloping over with her blanket and she starts shaking her blanket just like me, that was a cool moment.

Have you seen any great houses?

I see a wide variety of properties as a sweep, some modern some extremely old, some with beautiful views across Sandbanks and some big stately homes in rural Dorset to Lady’s & Lords.

I get to see some cool fires too.
Some so big you can walk into them and some with an open back so you can light one fire for two separate rooms. The most unique i sweep is a fireplace that's designed as an actual mouth with teeth.

Chimney Sweeping an open fire in Dorset

Call Jim to book your Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne & Dorset Chimney Sweep Today

Click above to Sign-Up for the FREE reminder service by Jim Chim-in-ey

Recommended article: Five reasons to book Jim as your Dorset chimney sweep?

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum, Wimborne, Christchurch and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!