JAN 2013 Sweeping by National Chimney Sweep Guild

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January 2013 Volume 37 #1

Table of Contents Features 14 Diversification – It’s More Than Just Your Investments

16 What You Need To Know About Masonry Heaters

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18 Masonry Heater Maintenance 26 NCSG Innovation 2013

Departments

P.31

Moving Forward

Editor’s Letter

Technical Q&A

Industry Watch

10 The Coach’s Corner 12 Chimney Sense 13 Sweeps Advantage Coupon Program Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology (ISSN# 10416692) is published 11 times annually, by the National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Annual dues to the National Chimney Sweep Guild are $459 for Voting Member Companies and $689 for Supplier Member Companies, of which $80 goes toward a subscription to Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology. Additional annual subscriptions are available for $80 by contacting the National Chimney Sweep Guild at the office of publication (NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168

25 Progressive Perks 28 New NCSG Members 29 Perspective 31 Darwin Awards 31 Display Ad Index 32 Classifieds Cover photo: Masonry Heater by Marcus Flynn JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 1

ResourcePage

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD

Committee Chairs and Task Forces for 2012-2013 Bylaws Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com

Governance Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com

NFPA 211 Representative Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com

Convention Site Selection Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com

Government Affairs Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 sootski@aol.com

NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

Discussion List Bo Tasso (815) 645-8103 bo@botasso.com

International Relations Steve Pietila (503) 644-0393 steve@american-chimney.com

NFPA 54 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Ethics Mark Stoner (615) 459-2546 ashbusters@aol.com

Long Range Planning Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com

Technical Advisory Council Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 info@fireplaceservicescenter.com

Finance Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 mark@chimneyguy.com

Membership Bob Ferrari (530) 221-3331 bob@flueseason.com

Public Awareness Task Force Rob Lindemann (847) 918-7994 Rob@lindemannchimney.com

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question: Dennis Dobbs Technical Advisory Council Chair Installation or Service of Direct Vent Gas Appliances 317-203-0088 x: 1 Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes 317-203-0088 x: 2 Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 317-203-0088 x: 3 John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing, Relining or NFPA 31 317-203-0088 x: 4

Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves 317-203-0088 x: 7 Jay Walker Dryer Vents 317-203-0088 x: 8 Rett Rasmussen Vented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls 317-203-0088 x: 9

Randy Brooks IRC, NFPA 211 or Customer Communications 317-203-0088 x: 5 Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining, Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing 317-203-0088 x: 6

Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry 317-203-0088 x: * Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining 317-203-0088 x: 0

Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney. Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with first-hand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.

ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingads@me.com Design by Laura Houser Design • laurahouser.com • (317) 213-7497 NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press release and articles to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping Editor at mheeke@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release. NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publications’ standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2013 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500

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NCSG BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012 President, Region 3 Jay Walker (850) 562-4692 • president@ncsg.org Vice President At-Large Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 • chimneygal@aol.com Treasurer, Region 5 Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 • mark@chimneyguy.com Secretary Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 • fluesbrothers@yahoo.com Region 1 Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 • sootski@aol.com Region 2 Bob Fleer (410) 544-7600 • bobfleer@aol.com Region 4 Ken Hoelscher (937) 833-0505 • ken@abbeyroadchimneysweeps.com Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 • bob@flueseason.com At-Large Directors Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 • info@fireplaceservicecenter.com Fred Joy (785) 986-6432 • joyfredm@live.com Supplier Representative Edmund Poplawski (570) 504-7107 • epoplawski@olympiachimney.com

STAFF 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365 Mark McSweeney, CAE Executive Director mmcsweeney@ncsg.org

Megan McMahon Office Manager mmcmahon@ncsg.org

Melissa Heeke, CAE Director of Communications & Marketing mheeke@ncsg.org

Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcornelius@ncsg.org

Ashley Eldridge, COI, CPP Director of Education ashley@ncsg.org

Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmer@csia.org

Candice Bradbury Director of Finance cbradbury@ncsg.org

Sharon Anderson Program Coordinator sanderson@ncsg.org

Moving Forward

JAY WALKER NCSG PRESIDENT

he theme for this month’s issue is Masonry Heaters. I can honestly say that I’ve only come across two or three of those in my area in north Florida in the 31 years I’ve been dealing with fireplaces and chimneys. With input from Norbert Snef and Marge Padgitt this month, I’m sure you will get a better understanding of the pros and cons of proper construction and service of these type heaters. If you are like me, and don’t see many of these, be sure to check out the one in use at NCSG headquarters in Plainfield, IN.

it’s just time to replace that old fireplace, just like when it’s time to replace your central air unit or refrigerator. There comes a time when a client will be at a crossroads and will need to make an educated choice about the many products on the market today. It could be upgrading to a high-efficiency fireplace to heat the home, or possibly a gas fireplace, or wood or pellet stove. It can be our job to make our clients aware of the options and possibilities out in today’s market. Of course, you always have to adhere to your jurisdiction’s guidelines regarding licensing and permits, if required.

In today’s economy, business owners need to stay on top of trends, be Our job description as chimney sweeps, as you know, is not just to aware of changes, and be able to adapt. One way is to diversify into run a brush down a flue and reset a damper plate in position. There are many other aspects to our job that add value to what we do. Proper and well-informed inspections are probably the most important. It is our duty to properly communicate our findings to our clients so they understand proper use and the condition of their appliances. Photo progression of the job site and all parts of the system helps your client gain & learn more than if you just provide a Smoktite now comes with a LIFETIME WARRANTY on every. bucket. written invoice with a few notes. As you And you thought Christmas came only once a year. know what they say, “A picture can tell a thousand words”.

One Easy Step to Stop Smoking for Life...

Once you take off your inspection hat, most likely you’ll be asked to provide recommendations for any repairs you may have noted in your inspection. Repairs can be simple or complicated. Education and experience will build confidence in your abilities, and having systems in place will help you fulfill your repair aspirations. When I talk to sweeps from different areas around the nation, sometimes I hear that installing new liners is most of what they do. For some it’s solving water intrusion problems, and others make their living rebuilding brick chimneys and fireboxes. Another big repair is replacement of factory-built fireplaces. The need could be due to rusted out metal fireboxes, wind damage from falling trees or maybe JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 3

other areas, like repairs, dryer vents, duct cleaning, house washing, gutter cleaning and gutter leaf guards, etc. Remember, continued education and experience is probably the most valuable tool in your toolbox. At the upcoming NCSG convention and trade show, there will be keynote speakers you will not want to miss, and various classes to lift your business value and experience hands-on technical venues to help you sharpen those tools. If you haven’t already, please take time today to mail in your registration for the NCSG Innovation 2013 convention and trade show in Branson, MO. More information is available in this month’s issue and online at www.NCSG.org. I write this message on November 30, 2012, one month after my Father’s death. He was my Father, my brother and my best friend. He died at the age of 84. He practiced optometry for 62 years of his life and was very active in state and national optometry associations, church and the community. He always said, “You’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do”. He loved helping people have proper vision. I employ you today, to seek out what you love to do and do it. I’ll leave you with another one of my Dad’s favorite quotes: “Do what’s right, Do it right, and Do it right now”.

NCSG

Innovation 2013

April 4-7

Chateau on the Lake

Branson, MO

Sweeps Luck to you and your family and God Bless! Jay K Walker NCSG President

4 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

NCSG.org (317) 837-1500

Editor’s Letter

MELISSA HEEKE, CAE NCSG DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Happy new year!!!

ave you forgotten your resolutions yet? Sorry to bring that up, but sometimes you have to laugh when you realize that your wishes for the new year will actually take some planning to get off the ground. Again. Knowing which steps to take can make the second attempt at goals sometimes more effective than the first attempt. Slow and steady wins the race, they say. In this month’s issue, we welcome the return of Brian Noe with part one of a two-part article on diversification and the role that it plays in your financial future. He says, “True diversification means the good people in our lives have our backs.” I think that make a ton of sense and hope that you’ll enjoy reading his words of wisdom.

Dennis Dobbs, our Technical Advisory Chair, is starting the new year with a new set of responsibilities which, unfortunately, don’t include writing for Sweeping. We will definitely miss working with Dennis each month as he brought a unique perspective to the table. His Chimney Sense column addressed issues that many sweeps face and offered some advice on how to resolve those. If you have a moment at the convention in Branson, please thank Dennis for his contributions to Sweeping and to the Guild. Until next time!

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Jerry Isenhour & Hope Stevenson Bring You

THE HOW TO'S OF BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL & PROFITABLE BUSINESS The 2013 Summit for Chimney Sweeps and Hearth Retailers is coming to the following areas: Sturbridge, MA January 15 - 17

Greensville, SC February 12 - 14

Publick House Inn & Lodge 277 Main Street, Route 131 Sturbridge, MA 01566 Phone #: 800-782-5425 Room Rate: $79/night (Country House) or $99/night (Country Inn)

Hilton Greenville 45 West Orchard Park Drive Greenville, SC 29615 Phone #: 864-232-4747 Room Rate: $95/night

Dayton, OH January 29 - 31 Holiday Inn Dayton/Fairborn 2800 Presidential Drive Fairborn, OH 45234 Phone #: 937-426-7800 Room Rate: $79/night

Harrisburg, PA February 5 - 7 Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center 148 Sheraton Drive New Cumberland, PA 17070 Phone #: 800-315-2621 Room Rate: $75/night

Madison, WI February 19 - 21 Holiday Inn Madison West 1109 Fourier Drive Madison, WI 53717 Phone #: 608-826-0500 Room Rate: $94/night

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CEU’s: CSIA Approved - 13.00/ NFI Approved - 15.00

DISCOUNTS: •Register by December 15, 2012 to receive $50.00 off the registration fee. •Member of the NCSG or HPBA National or Regional HPBA Afﬁliate /State Chimney Sweep Guilds makes you eligible to receive $50.00 off the registration.

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PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. ON SITE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! Registration is NOT open to manufacturers or distributors.

(Mention 'Olympia Chimney Supply' when booking your hotel room(s) in order to receive the stated room rate!)

Technical Q&A

DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR

Why do my vent free gas logs stink?

A After vent free logs are fired for the first time, they will emit what is commonly called a “break-in” odor which may last from two to six hours. This is because the factory paint on the logs is now exposed to the extreme temperatures of the burner. Normally with ceramic fiber (lightweight) logs, the odor emitted is more noticeable; very pungent and lasts longer than the ceramic (heavy, hard) logs. Manufacturers suggest operating the log sets on high until the odor dissipates. If they are not operated on high, the break-in odor can last for a much longer period of time. Be sure you always refer to the owner’s manual.

Other causes for odors could be as follows: • Chemicals used in the customer’s homes and attached garages; paints, stains, cleaning agents, spray foam, pesticides, etc. • New carpet, rugs, furniture. • Scented candles; aerosol potpourri sprays.

If a customer complains that an odor is coming from a log set that has been installed for awhile, first and foremost, check for a gas leak. Second, light the logs and check the flame appearance and burn pattern to make sure that the flames are not extremely tall and yellow. Be sure that the flames are coming from all areas of the burner as designed. Check for flame impingement caused by a misplaced log or a log protruding across the flame pattern. Vent free logs are normally designed with pegs or notches to keep them correctly in place. Some styles of vent free logs have a true ember bed; this could also be an area of interest. Sometimes embers are placed on too thickly and sometimes not enough embers are in place thus causing an odor.

Sometimes odor issues pertaining to vent free logs can be a hard nut to crack. The best advice is to talk to the homeowner to collect information has about what has been going on recently inside the home. Have any upgrades or repairs been made recently? Always make sure that the appliance has an identification plate showing correct gas type. Always do a carbon monoxide test and document the carbon monoxide readings before and after servicing the appliance. Who knows, the odor could be something simple like a dirty pilot light. But it could also be something totally unrelated to the appliance. For instance, anyone smell a dead rat?

8 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

These items may emit fumes that can be caught into the lower cooler air in the home and be drawn into the flames of the vent free logs causing not only odors, but also higher levels of carbon monoxide.

Industry Watch M&G DuraVent Gets US Boiler Approval for PolyPro on Burnham Alpine Model Vacaville, CA – M&G DuraVent announced recently that it has gotten another approval for PolyPro Venting Systems. US Boiler Co has now approved PolyPro single-wall, concentric, and flex for their Burnham Alpine models 080-500. PolyPro is an engineered system specifically designed for venting heating appliances. Gasketed joints require no primers or adhesives and easily assemble in seconds with just a splash of water. Terminations are designed for superior performance in poor environmental conditions. PolyPro is tested and listed to the ULC S636 standard in Canada and rated as a Class IIA, IIB, and IIC vent system. PolyPro offers the only double-wall polypropylene flex in the U.S., making it durable for relining masonry chimneys, factory-built chimneys, and useful for relining B-vent pipe when retrofitting it to use as a chase. PolyPro is superior in performance and easier to install than PVC or CPVC pipe, which were designed for irrigation, not venting. PolyPro has been successfully venting appliances in Europe for over 15 years.

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www.gllchimneyproducts.com Industry Watch Policy NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology editor, via email at mheeke@ ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.

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JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 9

The

Coach’s Corner

BY JERRY ISENHOUR OF CHIMNEY & VENTING CONSULTANTS IN CONCORD, NC

Your State of the Company Report

s you read this, the year 2012, for better or worse, is now in the record books. It is a year during which we witnessed many dramatic changes throughout our country and the rest of the world. It is a year that raised new questions and presented new challenges to each of us. But before we put it to bed, it is time for us to reflect as business owners. It is time for each of us to prepare a STATE OF THE COMPANY REPORT for 2012. It’s time to examine in detail all the frustrations we suffered through, the losses we may have experienced, as well as our successes, as we take an in-depth account of the performance of our business over the past twelve months. Our purpose is not to dwell on our defeats but to study our successes and formulate a plan to build 2013 into a year of growth. It means, it’s time to look at the (ugh!) numbers. I personally hate the numbers. They so often seem boring, they seem to bog us down and, quite frankly, many times the numbers are not even understood. But as managers and business owners, we must realize the hard fact of business is that it is all about the numbers. Why? Because the numbers do not lie! The numbers are the cold hard face of reality about our business. And that’s why they can be our best friend. The numbers tell us if we are doing the right things or the wrong things.

is especially revealing when compared to others in the industry. (Hmmm, I hope you have other businesses like yours you can truly use as benchmarks. Is a MIX group a needed consideration for 2013?) Another aspect of this is the dollar figure per truck. You are a service-oriented business.What does each truck bring in a year? More importantly, what is the average per ticket income and how do each of your trucks compare? This is a very important figure for you to know and it can change drastically from one company to another. Do you have a goal per truck, and more importantly, have you done a budget of the income needed for the business in order to derive your end salary and your net profit? What was your salary, both in numbers, and also as a percentage of actual gross? Do you actually get paid what you are worth? And are your staff members receiving adequate compensation so you can compete for the type of workforce you need to be successful? There is more to a job than money for sure, but you can rest assured that compensation is one of the employee benefits that drives each person.

Some people prefer to use other gauges such as the backlog of work and the number of jobs they do. In my opinion, this figure by itself is inadequate because it doesn’t tell us anything about how efficiently we are running our business.

Some of these figures can be quite sobering. Yes, I know we go to a meeting with other colleagues, we sit around a hotel lobby, maybe a campsite in the summer, at a convention, maybe relaxing in a bar and we hear the stories. But those are just stories. The truth resides in the actual numbers. Like it or not, it’s all about the numbers. Don’t believe it? Try to get a mortgage, go see if you can find funding to grow your business -- See how far you get without numbers to show.

In every business there are some numbers that we need to examine closely because they reveal the most about our business. One, of course, is net profit, the dollar amount you are left with after all the bills are paid. This figure is especially revealing when viewed as a percentage of your business’ gross income. It

Here is a key thing I have also learned, something about real winners, something about real movers and shakers. Each and every one of them has faced loss in their lives; at times tragic losses. Losses that could well cripple others, the true winner though gets up after a loss. He may nurse his wounds, but then

10 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

the true winner gets back in the game. The true winner has faced his “MAGIC MOMENT” the day when reality set in, the day when he decided that he had had enough and isn’t going to take it anymore. As you review 2012, remember you are going through this exercise to build a better 2013, hopefully a golden 2013. Most likely it will take some work. Most likely you will face some needed changes. Look at your business model in an honest and no nonsense fashion. Perhaps even have a trusted colleague look at it for you, one that you know will give you the hard answers, one that will share with you what you really need to hear, no holds barred. This is a difficult task for anyone to do, to truly stop and analyze honestly what they are doing. Even more difficult is the implementation of the changes needed. But this is all in your power. And it all begins with an honest and open review of your numbers. My wish for you is success, my hope and dream for American chimney sweeps has been that they will truly become a larger and larger part of the American economy. We are an industry that has not yet had the impact on the consumer that we are capable of. Our future is so bright with the ability to assist with clean air, with more-efficient households, and with all the good things we do. Make 2013 the year that you accomplish a lot, the year your business will contribute to your dreams so that as you sit in January of 2014 you can look back with a sense of extreme satisfaction. I am pulling for you and I know that you can do it, and do it with GREAT NUMBERS! About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant, educator and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. For more information about Jerry and how his team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at his web site www. chimneyandventingconsultants.com He can be contacted at jerry@chimneyandventingconsultants.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page Chimney & Venting Consultants.

JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 11

Chimney Sense

DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR

If I Could Change the World, Oh I Mean Industryâ&#x20AC;Ś

f I could change the chimney and hearth industry, I would start with the hearth appliance manufacturers, so that their wood stoves, inserts and high-efficiency fireplaces would be more chimney sweep friendly. Nothing is worse than having to take a chimney liner loose from a five hundred pound wood burning insert just to retrieve fallen creosote only because the baffle design was not engineered for us to gain access from inside the unit. It would be nice if each manufacturer would offer regional training to those who sell, service and install their appliances. I think if the chimney liner manufacturers would do similar classes along with a hands-on liner install this would help the sweeps dealing with in the field issues. And wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be

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great if fireplace, chimney liner and stove manufacturers could come together and solve the great debate about whether or not we should be installing inserts and liners into prefabricated fireplaces? It would be awesome if, in the near future, there was a national push for chimney and fire safety that would target the homeowners and help them see the need for our services without it coming off like a sales pitch. Public awareness is crucial. CSIA does have many pamphlets available to help convey this message to your customers. Before I get carried away with my ramblings and visions about where I would like to see the industry go, let me say that there

is really not a lot I would change about this industry that I love. I feel that the NCSG and the CSIA are both doing a great job and are becoming more recognized everywhere. The conventions are getting better and better and the upcoming one in Branson should be one of the best! When I initially had the desire to be on the board, I felt that I could change the world and the industry and I want to encourage others to volunteer and get more involved. By the time this article appears I will have resigned from being the chair of the Technical Advisory Council, and in equal, I will

soon resign from being a National Chimney Sweep Guild AtLarge Director. Giving up these positions was a hard decision to make but I feel it was best for me and my family at this time. I will still volunteer to help the industry and my fellow sweeps when needed. Both positions, I feel, were great opportunities and overall it was a great experience. I have gotten to know the staff as well as fellow board members and I have made many life-long friendships. Looking back over the last thirty-two years of being a chimney sweep, I can say that these last few years held the highest honor I could have in serving you, the NCSG membership.

2012 – 2013 SWEEPS ADVANTAGE COUPON PROGRAM The 2012 – 2013 offers are being added daily in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www.NCSG.org. So start checking for these new offers each week. These coupons will be good until June 30, 2013. Airjet, Division of Continental Industries • Alpha American Company • Condar Company • Copperfield Chimney Supply • Duct Cleaners’ Supply • Dynacote LLC • Earthcore Industries, LLC • ENERVEX, Inc. • Firesafe Industries • Fireside Distributors • HY-C Company • Lifetime Chimney Supply • Lindemann Chimney Supply • Matters of the Hearth • Meyer Machine & Equipment • National Chimney Supply • Olympia Chimney Supply • SaverSystems • Smoktite LLC • SNEWS – The Chimney Sweep News • Stove Builder International Inc. (SBI) • Ventech Industries, Inc. • Wakefield Brush • Wohler USA, Inc. • Z-Flex These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Visit www.NCSG.org to learn more and to start saving!

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JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 13

BY BRIAN NOE, ChFC®, CLTC

Diversification – It’s More Than Just Your Investments Part 1 of 2

hat is diversification? It seems that the definition of diversification was rebranded to include a mix of mutual funds, alternative asset classes and some ‘safe’ investments. This would allow you to live life happily ever after.

This definition of diversification was tested in 2008-09. How did the ”modern” definition of diversification fare? Consider my top five (out of many) “new normal strategies” I have been hearing and reading over the past four years. 1. Failing to Consider Living a Long Life – Yes, with a low interest rate environment and uncertain market returns the threat of running out of money if you live too long is very real. 2. Reverse Mortgages – Yes, if your retirement strategy didn’t work you may need to take a reverse mortgage to pay your bills. 3. Spend Down Retirement Assets – Yes, if your retirement strategy didn’t work and you are running out of money you may need to spend down assets. 4. Revised Glide Path – Yes, this ”branding” translates to the need to take on more investment risk in retirement because running out of money is very real. 5. 70 is the new 65 – Yes, if your retirement strategy didn’t work you may need to work longer before retirement. All of the above “new normal strategies” can be effective overall strategies to help you enjoy your retirement. So why may these new strategies cause consternation? This consternation may derive from the ”promise” that in retirement you would live off your interest income and pass your assets on to your children. This is a promise that may not be kept based on past strategies and failure to adapt to the new economy. If your lifelong ideology has been tested or shattered you are left with “what do I do now”? This is a difficult question to answer. So what can we do?

14 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

Let’s consider a historical definition of diversification. “Divide your portion to seven, or even eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” -Ecclesiastes 11:2 I am not overly religious, but how did we stray from the truth of this well grounded philosophy that has been around for over 2,000 years! On the surface some may think having seven or eight investment classes of assets (portions) would create more diversity and a higher probability of investment and therefore lifestyle success. That’s not the way I think of seven or eight portions. I think true diversity to minimize risk includes: 1. Your Personal Development With personal development you can place yourself into a position to take a bird’s eye view of your life, family and business. This can provide you with better “situational awareness” to be proactive and deal with looming misfortune before it develops. 2. Your Marriage and/or other Relationships Consider a once a week ”date night” – in or out of the house – no kids and no topics of stress (financial, business, kids, etc.). Just have fun and connect. Sometimes a break up is the better choice which is okay if you gave it your all. 3. Your Children’s Future Be there for them to provide guidance for character development and future opportunity. Be there for them to help keep them from disconnecting from family and accomplishment; to help avoid alcohol, drug, or other abusive behaviors. 4. Your Employees Developing employees with character based on leadership by example is an important component of your happiness. 5. Your Business You are giving up a big part of your life to start, build, and establish your business. Working hard is great but is not guaranteed to lead to happiness. Smart planning with good people is imperative for happiness.

6. Your Faith and Charity You have the talent, skills, and capacity to provide a little extra. 7. Your Investments Support Your Lifestyle • Yes, considering at least seven or eight investment asset classes can help you avoid the ‘guess and hope’ or ‘fear and anger’ noise we seem to be bombarded with by the media. • Educate yourself on what is available to you so you can make a comfortable and confident decision regarding your investments that fits your lifestyle goals. More on this in our next article. 8. Your Lifestyle You are free to Let Life Happen when you have true diversification in your life.

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So if I do this, exactly how does this work? Without true diversification we may be left alone with inadequate support and financial resources to deal with misfortune. Can you think of people you know or have heard of who have had this happen? How are they doing today? We all have or will have misfortune (perhaps self-inflicted) fall upon us. With family, friends, charity, employees, customers, and financial security we can deal with misfortune with all of our positive and focused energy. True diversification means the good people in our lives have our backs. Let Life Happen – Enjoy It! About the Author: Brian Noe of MW Financial Group, Ltd. was a guest speaker at the NCSG 2011 convention held in Hartford, CT where he discussed How to Get Out of Business and The Economy and Animal Spirits. Brian has a son Eric who served four years in the U.S. Army. Eric is ranked first in his class with a degree in Computer Science, is working in his field and plans on attending graduate school in 2013. His daughter Kara recently graduated undergraduate school with distinction and is planning to attend graduate school to become a Physicians’ Assistant. Brian thoroughly enjoys helping others spend more time with their families and friends while becoming financially successful. He can be reached at (860) 606-0834 or Brian_Noe@MWFinancial.com Watch for part two in next month’s issue!

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BY NORBERT SENF OF MASONRY STOVE BUILDERS

What You Need to Know about Masonry Heaters What are Masonry Heaters?

Heating Performance

Masonry heaters are defined by their ability to store heat in a masonry mass. This separates them from cordwood boilers, which can also store heat from a fast burn, but in a water tank.

Traditionally in Europe, masonry heaters were used as room heaters and burned batches of 30 lbs or less. When they came to North America in the 1980s, they were built with larger fireboxes, double skins to meet code and more mass. The typical large heater described above has a mass of approximately 8,000 lbs and can provide a 12-24 hour heating capacity from a single two-hour burn.

Wood boilers are often located in the basement with their associated storage tanks and plumbing. Masonry heaters are best situated centrally in an open concept floorplan where the faces of the heater act as vertical radiant panels directly into the living space. Typically there are about 100 sq. ft. of panel, running at 120-180˚F. Architecturally, they often serve as a central masonry fireplace. They are in a similar price range as a large custom fireplace, or an advanced boiler/storage/ distribution setup. The radiant heat contributes to a good indoor climate, similar to hydronic floor slab heating. Masonry heaters have a refractory interior construction that extends the path of the flue gases before they enter the chimney, to allow the gases to exchange heat to the masonry. Most of the heaters built in North America today are based on designs that originated in various parts of Europe, noteably Scandinavia, the Germanic countries, and countries of Eastern Europe and Russia. They can be roughly divided into two types, either based on a system of interior channels based on cross sectional area and length, or based on interior volumes that rely on the buoyancy property of hot gases (bell system). There are three main ways to build masonry heaters: - complete factory systems including facing, that are assembled on-site, - core kit systems that receive a site-built facing from locally sourced masonry materials, - and, hand-built systems that are constructed on-site from standard specialty refractory materials Building masonry heaters requires specialized knowledge and skills. The Masonry Heater Association of North America (MHA), www.mha-net.org, offers a heater mason educational development (HMED) program, as well as a heater mason certification.

16 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

Boilers can burn more wood per day than a masonry heater, and have higher maximum outputs. Maximum output for a large heater is around 20,000 BTU/hr, or 6 kW. For seasoned wood, that works out to about 100 lbs per day. This would be burned in two 50 lb batches, 12 hours apart. The same heater will often be operated with a single daily batch burn of 60 lbs, giving an output of 12,000 BTU/hr or 3.5 kW. When only a low output is required, the heater can be fired daily with a half-load of 30 lbs. This gives you a minimum output of 1.75 kW, which is only slightly more than a common 1500 watt electric heater. This is ideal for “taking the chill off” on a fall day when you might light a fireplace but not normally turn on your heating system. At a maximum consumption of 100 lbs/day, you would consume a full cord of hardwood every 30 days.

Emissions Emmissions performance of masonry heaters is excellent, and is in the same ballpark as pellet stoves. The heat storage ability allows a high burn rate to be used, without overheating the house. Clean combustion is relatively easy to achieve with a sufficiently high burn rate in almost any stove. Real world performance of 1 g/kg can be achieved by a good operator relatively easily. As with all cordwood burning appliances, the operator is the largest variable in emissions performance. MHA has formed a testing co-operative, with several members having established testing facilities at their shops (more info available at www.heatkit.com/html/lopez.htm ). Particulate matter (PM) emissions come in two distinct forms that chimney professionals will be very familiar with: soot and tar. One of

the most interesting things that I have learned is that you can only get soot from flaming combustion, and that you can only get tar from flameless (smoldering) combustion. Tar consists of tiny liquid droplets less than 1 micron (.001 mm) in size. This is close to the wavelength of visible light, and diffraction of light waves causes the characteristic blue color of tar smoke. In contrast, soot is elemental carbon (C) and is a fluffy black solid. When we do PM testing on heaters with a Barnett Sampler (also known as a Condar portable dilution tunnel), we draw a portion of the flue gas through glass filters, which then get weighed on a laboratory balance. You can get a filter with mainly tar, which will be yellow, smell strongly like creosote, and be very heavy. You can also get a filter with only soot, which will be black, have no smell, and be very light. When a masonry heater is burned normally, no smoldering combustion takes place and the filters will have no smell. Therefore, the PM emissions consist of mainly soot. Organics such as PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogens) will be minimal.

In Conclusion Masonry heaters are the cleanest way to burn cordwood on a household scale. They are an ideal match for modern, low energy houses. You get the bonus of a very large fire to watch for a couple of hours every day. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, climate change and its effects is now a generally-accepted reality. Many masonry heaters have integral bake ovens, and allow you to cook even when there is no electric power, in addition to heating and being able to provide domestic hot water. They make woodburning feasible on a large scale in areas with dense population with drastically reduced pollution. They are some of the lowest hanging fruit when it comes to reducing your own personal carbon footprint.

About the Author: Norbert Senf has been building masonry heaters since 1979 and is a founding member of the Masonry Heater Association. He has a website at www.heatkit.com that has lots of technical information on masonry heaters.

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BY MARGE PADGITT OF HEARTH MASTERS, INC.

Masonry Heater Maintenance

asonry heaters are gaining popularity in North America. No one has exact numbers, but suffice it to say that there are masonry heaters everywhere, and they must be serviced and maintained. There is no one better to do this service than a professional chimney sweep. Yet many sweeps have not yet seen a masonry heater, much less know what to do with it when a customer calls for service. Masonry heaters are completely different than any other type of wood heating appliance – whether manufactured or built. Whatever you have learned about how standard heating appliances work has little in common with a masonry heater. We know that the technology for masonry heaters has been around since the Romans built hypocaust systems for heating walls, floors and baths. Masonry heaters have been prevalent in Europe for at least 500 years. There are many different types: The Swedish Kakelugn (also called the Contraflow), the Russian Bell Heater, the Austrian/German Kachelofen. and the Finnish stove are the most popular. All of these types of heaters, also known as masonry stoves, are made of masonry materials, have a firebox to burn wood in, and heat exchange channels that smoke and heat travel through before exiting through the flue. These channels transfer heat and allow it to radiate from the masonry into the home rather than going up the chimney. Hot fires are burned rapidly for a short period of time and the damper is closed after Masonry heater by Dale Demary. only embers remain to trap the heat inside. Hot fires reduce emissions greatly, which makes a masonry heater much more efficient than a

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fireplace. Recent testing shows very low emissions which challenge or often exceed modern wood stove emissions. The heat generated through the masonry mass is radiated out over a long period of time (usually 12-24 hours) and at lower temperatures than a typical wood stove, making it safe to touch the outer “skin” of the heater. The exterior should not be more than 110º F (except around doors where it is allowed to be 230ºF). What chimney sweeps need to know is that masonry heaters require regular maintenance, which includes sweeping of the chimney flue using standard methods, and brushing out the flue gas channels. If the homeowner operates the masonry heater properly, there should be little, if any, creosote in the flue and the sweep should find only small amounts of soot. If there is any amount of creosote, the sweep should review the type of wood used and the proper burning procedures (two very hot fires per day or once every 12 hours for most heaters) with the client. Quality fuel is the more important issue, which frequency being determined by temperature. The maximum number of fires per day should be three. For chimneys with exterior exposure, the flue will be colder than an interior chimney and will accumulate more soot. Cleaning the channels involves using a small poly brush and vacuum. Go to the small channel doors, open them and clean and vacuum each one to remove fly ash. Block the chimney when using a rotary cleaning method. This will allow you to vacuum the now airborne ash. By now, you are probably wondering why you need to service masonry heaters at all since there is usually so little to clean compared to a standard fireplace and chimney. The chimney interior and exterior needs to be inspected, and the heater itself should be inspected for any deterioration or loose firebrick in the firebox, any cracking in the exterior heater skin

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or finish work and clearance to combustibles. Like fireplaces and chimneys, the masonry will need to be maintained and repaired as needed. Also go over proper operation with the homeowner. Any information you can give the homeowner will be appreciated. Get a copy of the Homeowners Safety Manual and Burning Guide for Masonry Heaters for free at www.mhanet.org. There are some parts of a masonry heater you may run into that might be unexpected. A heated bench is heated by running the flue horizontally around the heater before it begins its vertical ascent. The bake oven is heated by the small flue channels underneath and around it. A “white” oven is heated in this manner, and is commonly used in ovens installed in heaters. However, some users prefer “black” ovens where the fire is built inside the oven to produce a hotter fire, especially for pizza. A wood-fired masonry cook stove may also be built next to the heater. A black oven or cook stove will have its own flue. Clearances to combustibles are different with masonry heaters than fireplaces, so you’ll need to learn what they are. The ASTM Standard E 1602 – 94, titled “Construction of Solid Fuel Burning Masonry Heaters”, addresses these points. The NFPA 211 Standard and International Residential Code refer readers to the ASTM Standard. Clearance to Combustibles: • Rear, side, and front walls - 4” • Above the heater – 8”

• Fuel loading door – 48” • Hearth extensions – 20” or for a raised hearth of at least 8” the hearth extension should be 16” deep. The extension must have wood forms removed and be completely noncombustible. Also be sure that there is no grate inside the firebox. Fires should be built right on the firebrick floor. The door should be closed during operation, and flammable liquids should not be used to start fires. Homeowners should not burn anything other than dry cord wood in the heater. Encourage the owner to build top-down burn fires for a clean burn start up. Check the ASTM E-1602 Standards for much more information on the requirements for masonry heaters. By servicing and maintaining masonry heaters, chimney sweeps can increase their income,and can further their expertise in an area that is fast becoming a popular heating option. For more technical detail on masonry heaters, download the Short Course on Masonry Heating Systems by the Masonry Heater Association of North America’s (MHA) past-president Norbert Senf at http://heatkit.com/docs/course.PDF. For those interested in learning how to build masonry heaters or who want to get more in-depth knowledge of masonry heater construction there are several options offered by the MHA. The MHA offers the Heater Mason Education and Development program as well as Certification in Masonry Heater Building through workshops in the U.S. and Canada. The MHA has an annual meeting and workshop in April of each year in North Carolina where attendees get intensive training on different types of heaters and ovens. Hands-on workshops on masonry heater building are also offered by HearthMasters, Inc., Canadian Kachelofen, Maine Wood Heat and other MHA member companies. Instructional literature and photos of heaters are available on the website. For more information visit www.mha-net.org or call Executive Director Richard Smith at (530) 8830191.

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About the Author: Marge Padgitt is the President of HearthMasters, Inc., a chimney restoration/masonry heater contracting company in Kansas City, Missouri. She is an NFI Certified Woodburning Technician and a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. Padgitt has served on the Board of Directors of the Masonry Heater Association, National Chimney Sweep Guild, Midwest Chimney Safety Council, and the Midwest Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association. She is the host of WoodFired Radio show. Contact her at www. chimkc.com or ympadgitt@yahoo.com.

CSIA Update Publication for CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®s

www.CSIA.org

Position: Chemical Chimney Cleaners The Chimney Safety Institute of America

creating a false sense of security among

tacky layer of creosote in the chimney that

(CSIA), a non-profit, educational institution

consumers.

cannot be removed by normal mechanical

focused on the prevention of chimney

brushing. Under the supervision of a

and venting hazards, is concerned about

It is the consensus of qualified experts

qualified chimney professional certain

the consumer use of chemical chimney

that chimney maintenance is best

chemical cleaners may be used to change

cleaning products to the exclusion of

achieved through annual inspections,

the chemical composition of the hard or

conventional chimney inspections and

and mechanical sweeping, by trained

tacky layer of creosote into a brittle or

cleaning. These products often are

professional chimney sweeps as frequently

powdery condition to facilitate its removal.

promoted for their ability to remove a

as needed. Chimney inspections often

portion of the creosote from a masonry or

reveal hidden problems with a chimney

CSIA believes that the optimal method

metal chimney interior through catalytic

structure that could be potentially

for cleaning a chimney is by a mechanical

action when burned in a fireplace or wood

hazardous. Mechanical sweeping of

brushing of the chimney in conjunction

stove. The CSIA believes that the use of

chimneys not only removes layers of

with a complete evaluation of the system

these products alone is not an adequate

creosote from the chimney surface, it

by a qualified chimney professional. The

substitute for mechanical chimney cleaning

removes the resulting loose soot and

CSIA and the National Fire Protection

and inspection because it does not

creosote from the chimney, fireplace, or

Association recommend annual

provide the same level of protection to

wood stove. A substantial percentage of

inspections.

the chimney system. Current promotional

fireplace and wood stove chimneys do not

claims for some of the products may be

provide a straight path from the firebox to

For more information about chimney safety

the outside. If chemical chimney cleaning

or to respond to this bulletin, call Melissa

products perform as claimed and cause

Heeke, CSIA Director of Communications

debris in the chimney to fall, that debris

& Marketing at (317) 837-5362 or visit

still needs to be removed from the smoke

www.csia.org. CSIA is a non-profit,

shelf, baffle, catalytic combustor, or offset

educational organization focused on the

in order to ensure a properly functioning

prevention of chimney and venting hazards.

KANSAS

chimney.

Adopted: November 2001

Greg Barley • Home Safe Hearth & Chimney Inc. • Wichita

Chemical products that claim to clean or

HEARTH Education Foundation (HEARTH),

assist in cleaning chimneys are not new.

is an independent, nonprofit organization

Indeed some of these chemical products

that serves the public interest by

are used successfully by professional

promoting safety, understanding and

chimney sweeps in conjunction with the

responsibility in all facets of the residential

mechanical cleaning of a chimney. In some

fireside.

Congratulations to Our New CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps

RHODE ISLAND Jonathan Kopec • A-Tec Chimney Sweep Inc. • North Smithfield

VERMONT Matt Lowry • Smokestack Lightning, LLC • Vergennes

situations a chimney can develop a hard or

When renewing a credential earned after September 1, 2009, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® is required to: • Submit a minimum of 9 CEUs earned within the preceeding 3 years (in any category) before testing. NOTE: This requirement will not apply to CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps already holding the credential on September 1, 2009 until their next 3-year certification cycle. • Pass a one-hour exam based on Successful Chimney Sweeping (2009) and NFPA 211 (2010) • Pass a ninety-minute open-book exam based on the 2006 IRC® • Agree to pay the Annual Certification Fee. • Sign CSIA Code of Ethics. OR • Submit appropriate number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in the relevant categories. • Agree to pay the Annual Certification Fee. • Sign CSIA Code of Ethics.

Annual Certification Requirements Upon earning the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® credential, your certification is valid for one year. You will need to recertify annually by paying the annual certification fee. This fee will be invoiced annually prior to your expiration date. Please note that your credential will require renewal every three years by submittal of the minimum 48 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in accordance with the CSIA Credential Renewal Policy or by passing the certification exams and either submitting a minimum of 9 CEUs or completing a CSIA Review. If your annual certification fee is not paid prior to your certification expiration date, your credential will be considered lapsed and you will immediately lose all rights and privileges of the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® credential. The following terms will then apply if reinstatement of the credential is desired: If you do not pay your annual certification fee by your expiration date, the following timeline will begin: • Within 90 days from the date of expiration, if you submit payment in full for the annual certification fee, your credential will be reinstated and you will be considered a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® in good standing, maintaining your original annual expiration date and certification number; • If more than 90 days and less than 12 months beyond your expiration date, you will be required to Pay the current annual certification fee and current testing fees and test again. Doing so will reinstate your previous annual certification expiration date and certification number. You will still be required to pay your next annual fee within the next 12 months. • If more than 12 months beyond your expiration date, you will be required to either participate in a CSIA approved certification review course or submit evidence of 9 CEUs that were accumulated during the time your credential was active. In addition you will be required to pass the CSIA certification exams. Upon successful completion, a new certification number will be assigned and you will have a new annual certification expiration date.

CSIA Position on After-Market Parts for Listed Products The CSIA recommends the use of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts on any product listed by a nationallyrecognized listing agency. Using only OEM parts and replacement parts maintains the original integrity and performance characteristics of the product. If, however, after-market parts are installed, the CSIA recommends the following:

• The use of the after-market part does not conflict with policies established by the authority having jurisdiction.

• The installer explains the installation of the after-market part and the reason for its use to the homeowner.

• The after-market part is designed and manufactured to perform in the same manner as the original and does not alter the basic design and operation of the system.

• The installer documents that the homeowner acknowledges and authorizes the installation of the after-market part. – Adopted at the May 2008 Board of Directors meeting.

CSIA 2013 Education Calendar As of 10/22/12 - Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Chimney Safety Institute of America prior to making travel arrangements.

Chimney Physics March 4-5, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center Diagnosis and resolution of chimney performance problems, solving air pressure problems, identifying the symptoms of indoor air pollutants, determining combustion air requirements for vented appliances in a two-day in-person format. CSIA CEUs: 3-T 3-CS 3-HS 3-CL NFI CEUs: 4 E

June 28, 2013 | Richmond, VA

CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® Review

July 9, 2013 | Oceanside, CA

February 7, 2013 | Arlington, VA

August 2, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center

April 3, 2013 | Branson, MO

August 9, 2013 | Kansas City, MO

August 1 , 2013 | CSIA Technology Center

September 13, 2013 | Atlantic City, NJ October 18, 2013 | Latham, NY

In-person intensive review sessions help candidates prepare for the CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® exam. The review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study.

November 15, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center

CSIA CEUs: 1.25-T, 1.25 CS, 1-HS, 1-CL NFI CEUs: 4 E

In-person intensive review sessions help candidates prepare for the exams. The review sessions are not a substitute for advanced study.

CSIA CEUs: 1.25-T, 1.25-CS, 1.25-HS, 1.25 CL NFI CEUs: 6 T

National Chimney Sweep Training School April 29 – May 4, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center June 24 – 29 , 2013 | CSIA Technology Center August 12 – 17 , 2013 | CSIA Technology Center September 30 – October 5, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center Fundamentals of sweeping and inspection of chimney systems, equipment operation, health and safety considerations and step-by-step instruction in codes, clearances, standards and practices.

Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances July 15–19, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center Service and installation, including appliance standards, combustion requirements, pipe sizing and installation, troubleshooting, carbon monoxide testing and fuel conversion. CEUs: 4-T 4-CS 4-HS 4-CL NFI CEUs: 16 T

Inspection and Report Writing May 16–17, 2013 | CSIA Technology Center Chimney inspections and evaluations, report writing including regional and environmental influences, effective photo documentation, digital organization and administrative procedures.

The CSIA Technology Center is located near Indianapolis, Indiana.

Hate to travel? CSIA’s online education is now offered weekly!

CSIA Certification Review Sessions, Chimney Physics, Lining Masonry with Stainless Steel and eLearning!

Good for you, your business, and your busy schedule.

Now you can access more of the industry’s favorite seminars in a self-paced, online format. It’s easy with CSIA’s eLearning program — offered every week! Need to renew your CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential? You can now earn all of the CEUs entirely online. We offer individual sessions in affordable bundles so you can earn just the CEUs you need: $39 per session, $99 for 3 sessions or $149 for 5 sessions.

Online review sessions also available weekly!

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Happy New Year! I am sure many of you have heard that as you get older time seems to go faster – well it does! I do hope you had a productive busy season and a safe and wonderful holiday. Now it is time to look at a new year and how you can find ways to work smarter and have more time for you and the things you like and want to do.

discuss how they may be of help to you and your company. I also invite you to stop by the NCSG trade show booth to discuss any questions you might have about your membership. I will be there on Friday and Saturday and I hope to meet you then. Looking forward to seeing you in Branson, MO!

I encourage you again to take a look at the many discounted benefits the NCSG offers. Many of these are designed to take a lot of the load off your shoulders so you can do what you do best. If you don’t have a username and password to access the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website just give us a call and we will set you right up. This is where you will find the necessary information to get you started with many of your NCSG benefits. Now is the time to also start thinking about the NCSG Innovation 2013 convention and trade show in Branson, MO. It takes a lot of manpower to make the NCSG conventions a success so I would like to encourage you to give a few hours or more and sign up to help at registration, be a scanner at the business and technical sessions, help as a runner for the CSIA Auction or help at other various events during this time. Just give me a call or drop me an email at dcornelius@ncsg.org and we can get your name on the volunteer schedule. Again, several of the member benefit providers will have booths at the NCSG trade show in Branson. This is a great time to stop by and

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1-800-582-1392 JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 25

NCSG Innovation 2013

April 4-7 at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO No matter how you define success, you will find something at NCSG Innovation 2013 that will stretch your imagination, test your technical abilities and get that light bulb over your head to appear. From many perspectives, one common theme has tied together all of NCSG’s convention and trade show events. That theme is innovation. Innovation is “doing outside of the box” to make both work and personal lives more comfortable and enjoyable. American chimney service businesses must remain on the cutting edge of innovation and our convention is your ticket to a more successful future! About Branson The NCSG Innovation 2013 Convention and Trade Show will be held at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Missouri. Branson is located 40 miles south of Springfield and nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. Southwest Missouri is home of some of the most picturesque and breathtaking natural views in the country. Rest assured, we realize that we may have a little competition for our attendees’ attention and we’re working on creative ways to keep them engaged and on the tradeshow floor.

Chartered Cruise and “Made in the USA” Dinner Show Showboat Branson Belle -- Additional $29/person Registration Required. -Join fellow sweeps and industry friends for a two-hour chartered dinner cruise aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. The evening’s entertainment is a show called Made In The USA, featuring Janice Martin, the world’s only aerial violinist, and the five-member allmale vocal group The ShowMen, in a patriotic musical tribute to America! NCSG Innovation 2013 attendees and guests can experience this ALLIN-ONE dinner, show and cruise at a significantly discounted rate which has been even further discounted through a generous sponsorship from Olympia Chimney Supply. *Chartered Cruise and Dinner Show tickets are available for an additional fee ($29/person) through the regular registration process.

About Chateau on the Lake The Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center in Branson, Missouri is perfect for all kinds of stays. Pack up the family - small dog included - and come for a vacation. No matter what type of getaway you seek, our extraordinary “Castle in the Ozarks” is here for you. Chateau on the Lake in Branson is the only AAA Four-Diamond Lake Resort in Missouri! It has complimentary indoor and outdoor parking, three amazing restaurants, first class relaxation at Spa Chateau and a full service Marina on Table Rock Lake. Hotel reservations are now being accepted for NCSG Innovation 2013 at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO. Just call 1-888-333-LAKE (5253) and mention that you’re with the National Chimney Sweep Guild to lock in rates starting at $129 for a mountain view and $134 for a lake view.

For more info, visit www.NCSG.org/innovation!

NCSG Innovation 2013 • April 4-7 • Branson, MO NCSG MEMBER RATES Primary Spouse 1st Additional 2nd Additional 3+ Additional Single Day Banquet Only Tradeshow Only Senior Members

Until 1/9/13 $399 199 349 299 249 179 69 49 $100

1/10/13 - 2/14/13 $449 249 399 349 299 179 69 49 $100

After 2/14/13 $499 299 449 399 349 179 69 49 $100

Company___________________________________ Address ____________________________________ City, State ZIP ________________________________ Phone ______________________________________ Fax ________________________________________ Email _____________________________________ Check here to opt-in to email from exhibitors.

STANDARD Until 1/10/13 After RATES 1/9/13 - 2/14/13 2/14/13 Primary $499 $549 $599 Spouse 299 349 399 1st Additional 449 499 549 2nd Additional 399 449 499 3+ Additional 349 399 449 Single Day 279 279 279 Banquet Only 89 89 89 Tradeshow Only 79 79 79 Child banquet tickets are available for kids 12 and under.

Chartered Cruise and Dinner Show Showboat Branson Belle -- Additional Registration Required. -$29/person - Join us aboard the Showboat Branson Belle on the evening of April 4 for the spectacular “Made in the USA” dinner show and a two-hour cruise on Table Rock Lake. Advanced convention registation closes March 14!

REGISTRANT INFORMATION Please write name as you would like it to appear on your badge. Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Registration Total $ ___________________ Showboat Branson Belle Tickets ($29/each) Qty: _______ Cruise Total $ ___________________ 2013 Convention Patch ($3/each - Pickup on-site.) Qty: ________ Patch Total $ ___________________ PROMO CODE ___________________ GRAND TOTAL $ ___________________

MAIL TO: National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 FAX TO: (317) 837-5365 CALL: (317) 837-1500 REGISTER ONLINE: NCSG.org/innovation NCSG also accepts direct debit payments. Please contact Candice Bradbury at (317) 837-1500 or cbradbury@ncsg.org for more information.

For Office Use Only O2CR C2F AUTH _______________ OrgID ________________ Profile ID ___________________ REC’D BY _____________ DATE ______________________

PAYMENT INFORMATION Check # ___________________ Payment Method: Visa MC AmEx Account # __________________________________ Card Security Code _____________ Exp. __________ Name on Card _______________________________ Signature ___________________________________ Cancellations must be made in writing and sent to: NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Refund Policy: Prior to 1/9/13, 90% ; 1/10/13-2/14/13, 75%; No refunds are available after 2/14/13.

NewNCSG Members

NCSG REGIONS REGION 1

MASSACHUSETTS Lynette Zarek • ISE Engineering • Attleboro Kenneth Nicolan • Kenny’s Masonry & Chimney Sweeps • Norton

CONNECTICUT Justin Hayes • Four Seasons Chimney and Roofing, LLC • Watertown

REGION 2 NEW JERSEY Christopher Davis • Davis Brothers Masonry & Chimney Sweep • Mays Landing

REGION 1 Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

REGION 3 GEORGIA Bucky Hicks • Elite Pest Control & Wildlife Removal, Inc. • Loganville

REGION 4

REGION 2 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

INDIANA Tim McAvene • The Original Chimney Sweep • Richmond

KENTUCKY Micah Weigold • Hearthside Chimney & Masonry • Florence

MICHIGAN John White • Dr. Sweep Inc. • Mt. Clemens Scott Kirkland • Fired Up Chimney Services • Fenton Jeriah Bendixen • Master Sweep Chimney Service LLC • Auburn Hills

REGION 5 TEXAS

REGION 3 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

REGION 4 Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio

Shane Haught • Shane’s Chimney Care • Abilene

REGION 6 IDAHO Shaun Jackson •Safer Chimney LLC • Boise

NCSG Charter Members Paul Bourque Huntsville, AL

John Cline, Menlo Park, CA

Don Leavitt San Diego, CA

Dale Meisinger, N. Augusta, SC

David Harris Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Eva B. Horton, Greenwich, CT

Dan Wheeler Santa Rosa, CA

28 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

Alan Hisey, St. Louis, MO

Harry Richart, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

REGION 5 Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin

REGION 6 Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

BY MARK MCSWEENEY, CAE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

esolution, sticking point, determination, zeal, ardor, earnestness, resolve, drive, vigor, iron will, tenacity, perseverance, fortitude, commitment, devotion, compulsion, firmness, dedication…Pick a word, but they all represent a conscious act; a decision to do something. Sometime over the past month or so, most of us have likely at least thought about making our New Year’s resolution. The mere idea of a resolution to kick off the year as a fresh start is a multibillion dollar industry. For most people, making the resolution is the easy part; making the resolution happen tends to be a little easier said than done. If 2013 started for you without some resolve to change something up in your life, I have an idea you are welcome to steal. If you haven’t done so already, resolve to figure out what the social media buzz is all about and what it might mean to your business plan this year. While there are all sorts of different views and stories about social media out there, clearly it is not a fad that is going to eventually give way to the good ole days. Last year, consumer giant Proctor & Gamble announced they were significantly scaling back on their multi-billion dollar annual ad budget to take advantage of free impressions in the form of “Likes” and status updates offered by Facebook. Just this past month even the Pope finally succumbed and jumped into the scene by sending out his first Twitter message. Since September, CSIA has picked up over 200 new followers on Twitter and more than 250 new fans on their Facebook page.

Perspective

thirds of small businesses report spending more time on social media than they did the previous year having realized the need and value of social media marketing. For many, while they don’t argue the impact of this ever growing virtual marketing monolith, the breadth of it all is overwhelming. Believe me, there may be a number of things that NCSG has done over the past couple of years to get us and keep us active in this space, but there are still countless additional steps that could be taken…many of which we see from our association counterparts. So knowing we are all in this together, and that we will all likely be faced with even more social media decisions in 2013, I scoped out some advice from a variety of sources to see what I could put together for those wanting to figure all of this out for their business. Mandy Arnold, president of Gavin Advertising, published a simple, straight forward list of do’s and don’ts for those trying to determine how to best reach their real customers in the virtual world. She advises to think realistically. Don’t expect a windfall immediately, but be sure you’re getting a decent return on the amount of time you are investing in learning and using a new marketing and technological platform. Be visual. When posting information about your business and services, include pictures and even video to add depth to the information you are sharing. Photos and video get attention, but remember to ensure that the images you post are consistent with your business image.

Now no one is suggesting that we all abandon the art of the handshake and face-to-face relationship building in exchange for virtual networking, but any successful business needs to be prepared to go where the customer are, and the customers are online in increasing record numbers.

Be authentic. Provide an experience for the customer that delivers a message they can trust about the personality of your company rather than just propaganda. You want your social media presence to build an atmosphere that customers respect and trust rather than just throwing out a sales pitch.

According to Nielsen’s 2012 Social Media Report, total minutes of mobile app usage have increased 120%. The greatest growth, while still dwarfed by social medial giants Facebook and Twitter, has been with Pinterest, Tumblr and Google+. Pinterest saw a 1047 percent (yes, that’s thousand) increase in unique visitors in 2012. PC users spent more than two billion minutes on Tumblr, growing that network by 55 percent. Google+ enjoyed an 80 percent increase in unique visitors as they reached 500 million users. By the way, have you checked out the new apps available from both NCSG and CSIA?

Be accessible. Provide an opportunity for easy feedback and interaction. Always include “Like” and “Follow” buttons wherever possible, making it easy for people to subscribe to your media. If they can’t do it easily, they won’t do it at all.

This past October, email marketing firm Vertical Response conducted a survey of small businesses across the country and found that 43% of them spend at least six hours a week on social media, with seven percent spending over 21 hours a week on Facebook and Twitter alone. According to that same survey two-

Watch your language. Social media is public, and what you have to say and how you have to say it can speak volumes about you and your company. Certainly this includes the avoidance of foul language and derogatory comments, but it also includes proofreading what you post before you send it out. If spelling

Don’t overpost. I can’t begin to tell you the number of people I have stopped following on Twitter or removed from my Facebook because they simply post non-stop and I simply had better things to do with my time than have to decipher which of their posts were important and which were not.

JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 29

and grammar are not your strong suits, then find someone who can proofread for you. Right or wrong, potential customers will make assumptions about you and your business based on the way you communicate. The growing social media scene has given small business owners yet another way to promote their businesses online for relatively little investment. In fact, time is the most significant cost when it comes to social media. As a small business owner, you are busy running all aspects of your businesses, so you likely don’t have a lot of extra time to spend on social media. It’s important to have a plan and set goals for your social media activity, and learn as much as you can about the various social networks you plan to venture out into so you can reduce the learning curve and avoid wasting time. Alyssa Gregory at About.com provides seven tips for getting started in social media: • Pick One Social Media Site to Start. Most small businesses that are active in social media participate on more than one site, but trying to do too much too fast is not only overwhelming but it can also prevent you from learning how to effectively use each site. Choose one site to start with and focus your attention there first before moving onto others. • Create a Social Media Time Budget. You could easily spend hours each day getting up to speed on all the popular sites out there. While that may be a good way to learn the ropes, you

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may not have the time, energy or interest in putting so much of yourself into social media. Instead, create a time budget that limits your social media time to a daily or weekly total that you can fit into your schedule relatively easily. • Clarify Your Social Media Goals and Objectives. Once you know how much time you will be spending on social media sites, you will need to make sure you are clear on your goals. Know what you want to accomplish and what you truly want to get out of your efforts. Are you interested in generating jobs, finding others in the industry to network with, establishing yourself as an expert in your market? • Outline Your Approach. There are all sorts of different ways to use social media sites for business. One way is not necessarily better than another, and no single way is the right way for everyone. The key is knowing what your intended approach is before you start. Will you be a communicator, provide an industry-related news feed, present a mix of business and personal information? Outline your intended approach and work it into your goals as you get started. • Complete Your Social Media Profiles Consistently. Each of your social media accounts will include some kind of profile. Profile fields may include a bio, websites, blogs, location and a picture. Be sure to completely fill out your profile on any social media sites you use and keep the information relevant and professional, as well as consistent from site to site. You you’re your customers recognize you when they find you on multiple sites.

• Lurk and Observe. Sometimes the best way to get started on a new social media site is by signing up and then watching how the relatively experiences people do it. Each social media site has a very unique set of nuances, and it’s good advice to spend some time observing and learning the $ ins and outs before diving in head first. COST PLATINUM

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• Use a Social Media Dashboard. One of the biggest challenges with social media is time management. There are social media “dashboards” such as HootSuite, TweetDeck and others that can help you manage your social media time more effectively. These tools allow you to set up alerts and notifications, create groups, skim activity quickly, and schedule updates so you can automate some of the social media process. This is a lot to absorb, but it is the face of business in 2013 and it is likely the launching pad for whatever is next for us all in 2014 and beyond. Be brave and if nothing else, resolve to have fun with it. Until next time, I wish you and yours an enjoyable and prosperous Happy New Year!

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30 SWEEPING JANUARY 13

Darwin Awards Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief? Send it to Melissa Heeke at mheeke@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168.

This customer asked me if I would “certify” that this stove was installed to code and that it was “safe” to use! Their house inspector said that it was ok like it was. - Submitted by Scott Davis of F. Scott Davis Chimney Sweep, Inc. in Wake Forest, NC.

Display Ad Index Page #

Advertiser

Phone

Email or Website Address

Ahrens Chimney Technique

800-582-1392

ahrenschimney@qwestoffice.net

21-24

Chimney Safety Institute of America

317-837-5362

www.csia.org

Copperfield

800-247-3305

www.copperfield.com

ENERVEX Inc.

800-255-2923

info@chimneyfans.com

Firesafe Industries, Inc.

800-545-6607

www.firesafeinc.com

Gelco, Lyemance, Lock-Top

800-334-2154

www.gllchimneyproducts.com

ICP

508-695-7000

www.chimneycaps.com

Lifetime Chimney Supply LLC

877-234-7473

www.lifetimechimneysupply.com

Lindemann Chimney Company

800-722-7230

www.lindemannchimney.com

MC Refractory

760-956-1884

www.mcrefractory.com

National Chimney Supply

800-897-8481

www.nationalchimneysupply.com

Olympia Chimney Supply

800-569-1425

www.olympiachimney.com

Sand Hill Wholesale

800-258-5496

www.sandhillwholesale.com

SaverSystems, Inc

800-860-6327

www.saversystems.com

Smoktite

866-439-0069

www.smoktite.com

Sweeps America

866-880-3473

info@SweepsAmerica.com

Whitecaps

800-335-2534

www.whitecaps.com

Wohler

978-750-9876

www.wohlerusa.com

JANUARY 13 SWEEPING 31

Dates & Events

Classifieds

January 21-25, 2013 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review - CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses - Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 25, 2013 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam Oreland, PA Sponsored by Jamison Masonry Restoration, LLC For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org January 25-27, 2013 North Carolina Chimney Sweep Guild Winter Meeting Waynesville, NC For more information, please contact Tom Albert at (828) 456-9775.

NEW R P ODUCT

January 29-31 2013 Dayton, OH The “How To’s” of Building a Profitable Business brought to you by Jerry Isenhour and Hope Stevenson For more information, please contact Barb Andricks at bandricks@olympiachimney.com

Gotta chimney question? Sizing? Codes? Call Royal Edwards! Make Royal your tech department. CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support. Continuing Education special bonus – ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE. CALL NOW 813-982-0219 GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195. Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit www.elitesoft.com to download a free trial version. “California Dreaming”! Thriving chimney sweep company soon to be available in northern California’s beautiful, Tri-Valley wine country - ownership transfer date April 5, 2013. This well established company has an easy 400K per year potential for a one or two person operation. Contact: www.keeperofthechimneys.com CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35 word classified free each year! Regularly classified ads are $2/word or $1/word for NCSG members. Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Megan McMahon at mmcmahon@ncsg. org or (317) 837-1500.

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Spread the word, not the pest.

Twitter.com/DntMoveFirewood Join us on Facebook to get up-to-date information and safe burning tips!

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National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168

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