That Tuesday in February when everything went right for a change

I remember one Tuesday back in February 2019, I had three cleanings lined up in the same neighborhood near downtown. First house was a simple gas insert, in and out in 30 minutes. The second one was a wood burning fireplace that hadn't been touched in 15 years, but the flue was straight and the damper came out without a fight. By 2pm I was at the third house, an old Victorian with a clay liner that had a decent buildup but nothing scary. I finished by 3:30, got paid cash for all three jobs, and even stopped for a late lunch at the diner on the corner. It's rare that everything lines up like that, no stuck dampers, no creosote chunks falling behind the smoke shelf, no fussy homeowners asking questions. Has anyone else had a day where the work just flowed without any hiccups?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakota_patel983d ago

A 15 year old wood burner that cooperates is basically winning the lottery. I've had those days where every damper is frozen shut and the soot is like concrete. Sounds like you got lucky with the clay liner on that Victorian too, those older ones with offset flues can be a nightmare if you don't have the right rods. The real trick is not thinking about it too much, just let the job flow.

grace_wright3d ago

Three years into sweeping and my experience says the exact opposite. I'd take a frozen damper over a loose clay liner tile any day. Had a 1920s Colonial two months ago where the liner shifted mid sweep and I had to spend an extra hour fishing chunks out of the cleanout. @dakota_patel98, I think the luck factor goes the other way too. Newer stoves with those crappy cast iron dampers can warp after a few seasons and then you're fighting them every time.

jesse_green552d ago

@dakota_patel98 once had a chimney so bad I just left my rods in the truck and called it a day.