Sweeping Magazine - February 2020

Sweeping February 2020 VOLUME 44 #2

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

Creating Habits & Hitting Your 2020 Goals Faster Board of Directors Nominees Meet a Member: Gene Padgitt

thiS yeaR iS di eReNt Gain unexpected insight and learn how to grow your business.

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Departments President’s Letter 3 In Case You Missed It 3 Sweeps Say 4 Editor’s Letter 5 Tech Q&A 18 Upcoming Events 22 Coach’s Corner 24 Membership Memo 28 New Members 33 Around the Tech Center 34 Classifieds 35 Darwin Award 36

Table of Contents Sweeping February 2020 Volume 44 Issue 2

Features Creating Habits & Hitting Your 2020 Goals Faster

2020 NCSG Board of Directors Nominees

The Pete Luter Innovation Award Retuns

Meet a Member— Gene Padgitt

6 11 17 26

1 S W E E P I N G February 2020

Smoke Chambers and Cast in Place Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 706

Factory Built Fireplace Installation and Replacement (866) 283-8667 Ext. 701

Dryer Vents (866) 283-8667 Ext. 707

Gas Appliance Venting, Gas Logs and NFPA 54 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 702 Oil Appliance Venting and NFPA 31 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 703 Chimney Inspection, Documentation and NFPA 211 (Levels of Inspection) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 704

Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (866) 283-8667 Ext. 708 IRC and NFPA 211 (Code Questions) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 709 Customer Service and Customer Communication (866) 283-8667 Ext. 710 General Sweeping and Repair (866) 283-8667 Ext. 711

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Masonry Fireplace Construction and Restoration (866) 283-8667 Ext. 700

2 S W E E P I N G

STAFF

Resources 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365

Megan McMahon Executive Director mmcmahon@ncsg.org Annemarie Stockton Director of Communications and Marketing astockton@ncsg.org Russell Dimmitt Education Director rdimmitt@ncsg.org Charissa Benge Mahaffey Certification Coordinator cmahaffey@ncsg.org Penny Seals Academic Coordinator pseals@ncsg.org

February 2020

Sara Sichting Systems and Records Coordinator ssichting@ncsg.org Tammy Bruner Program Coordinator tbruner@ncsg.org Natalie Spruell Office Coordinator nspruell@ncsg.org

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2019 – 2020

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 firsthand 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.

Region 6 Bob Ferrari (530) 941-5818 bob@flueseason.com

Vice President, Region 4 Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (515) 249-6337 topnotchchimney@gmail.com

Treasurer, Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com

At-Large Director Steven Scally (603) 895-8746 firesidesweeps@comcast.net

Secretary, Region 1 Matt Mair (603) 525-7905 matt@blackmoosechimney. com

At-Large Director Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com

Region 2 Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787 wissahickonvalleysweep@ yahoo.com

Stainless Steel Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 705 To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (866) 283-8667 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question:

President, Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01@gmail.com

Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartk@saversystems.com

Bylaws Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

NFPA 211 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Ethics Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com

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

Governance Tom Hunkele (641) 774-8056 topnotchchimney@gmail.com

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

Government Affairs Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

Technical Advisory Council Michael Segerstrom (908) 253-9190 chimneysweeps@optonline.net

International Relations John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

Scholarship Committee Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net

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

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 Layout and design by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor David Bruce at red2designbureau@gmail.com. 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 publication’s 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. © 2020 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

H

ello fellow sweeps!

I was just chatting with someone outside of our industry about how companies in our line of work differ so much from state to state in how codes are enforced and companies operate.

Most trades are very similar from state to state with most differences having to do with different weather conditions like snow load or average temperature.

As I find myself working in some southern states, I’m shocked at how little concern the frost line is or expansion joints or insulation and ice and water shielding.

In one state I have to pull a permit to install a multiflue cap but in another I can cut open a wall, install a header, frame a chase, set a fireplace, wire it up and finish it off without a single

person looking at it. In some areas that would require five or six contractors and inspections.

When we come across bad work it’s easy to wish for more regulation on our trade, but when regulations are suddenly proposed they are often misguided by people having no clue how to perform the work or inspect it.

President’s

Letter Jasper Drengler

President

Bottom line, know what you are doing, sub out what you can’t or shouldn’t be doing and keep an ear out for others making the rules you have to play by.

Be safe, be profitable!

Jasper Drengler NCSG President

NEW! NCSG Brainery

In Case You

Missed

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NEW! NCSG Members have access to a selection of some of the best classes offered at previous conventions. Earn CEUs from your tablet or computer for free!

Simply log into the members only section of NCSG.org and click on “NCSG Brainery” from the Quicklinks menu.

3

Register Now for Orlando!

Registration is now open for the 2020 NCSG National Convention in Orlando, FL! From the opening keynote to the closing banquet celebration, you won’t want to miss a moment of all we have in store!

Register Here: www.NCSGConvention.org/register

Nominations for Meet a Member Do you know a friend or colleague doing great work in our industry that deserves a little recognition? Nominate them to be featured on NCSG.org and Sweeping magazine in the Meet a Member feature.

Send names to Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org.

February 2020

S W E E P I N G

Sweeps

Say

What was the best course you’ve ever taken in the chimney industry?

4 S W E E P I N G February 2020

“Best course I’ve ever taken was the F.I.R.E. Service 5-6 day Fireplace and Chimney Inspector Course. The big takeaway was that I learned how to properly inspect fireplaces and chimneys.” Michael Segerstrom, Bridgewater Chimney Sweeps, LLC “I was in one of the early chimney physics classes, which laid the foundation for understanding the house as a system. And F.I.R.E. made me a professional.”

Bob Ferrari, White Glove Chimney and Duct “Business classes: anything from Mark Stoner, Mike Boudart and Lindemann Chimney’s management staff. Inspection classes: anything from Ryan and Segerstrom. Also any class whatsoever done by Jim Brewer, Jerry Isenhour and Chuck Roydhouse, as these gentlemen have such an amazing array of overall knowledge concerning chimney services and the appliances that go along with our industry.”

Bob Faughnan, Champ’s Chimney Sweep, LLC

Look out for each month’s Sweeps Say question on Facebook!

H

appy February, Sweeps!

I am excited to be taking over as the editor of Sweeping Magazine!

I have gotten to know many of you in my previous position as the Guild’s Membership Coordinator, and I am proud to continue to serve the industry in my new role as the Director of Marketing and Communications. Stop by and say hi at convention or whenever you’re visiting the Tech Center!

Bios for our 2020 Board of Directors Nominees are in!

Make sure to read through those on page 11. The new board members will be seated at the March 31, 2020 board of directors meeting in Orlando, Florida.

We’re gearing up for our 2020 Convention in Orlando , April 1–4 and I hope you are, too!

From the opening keynote to the closing banquet, this will sure be a convention to remember.

We are offering both business

and technical sessions, so bring the whole team to get some topnotch education (not to mention earn CSIA and NFI CEUs).

But make sure you’re getting in those registrations before March 1 when the prices go up!

For those of you attending, the Pete Luter Innovation Award is back! Read Vic Imgarten’s article on page 17 to learn about the background of the award and entry guidelines.

Winners will be announced on the last day of the trade show at the 2020 Convention.

This is such an amazing award that honors innovation, so make sure to check that out.

Lastly, there are still plenty of convention volunteer opportunities available! Read all about your volunteer options in this month’s Membership Memo.

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, help out the Guild, and even earn a gift from us as a thank you for your time. I hope to see you there!

Editor’s

Letter Annemarie Stockton

Editor

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5 S W E E P I N G

4 Tips For Effectively Creating Habits & Hitting Your 2020 Goals Faster

By Taylor Hill Spark Marketer

I

t’s February and we’ve all got our inspirational 2020 goals. “This year is going to be different,” we say. But ya know what, we said that last year, didn’t we?

What we really need is a way of taking those intentions and turning them into actions.

Actions that we can repeat and build upon to create change in our businesses and our lives.

6 S W E E P I N G

I know I could sure use a more tangible and effective plan, so I did a little thinking and digging into how to effectively create new habits. I put together some of my favorite tips right here. I hope they help you reach your 2020 goals faster and with a little less overwhelm!

1 — Frame it right.

What makes bad habits hard to break and good habits hard to make? A lot of it is mindset.

When we want to break bad habits, we think about what we’re losing. For example, if you drink two glasses of wine every night but you want to cut back to just weekends, you think about how you’re losing your preferred way to relax. It feels like denial or loss.

February 2020

Same thing goes with forming new habits that require a little disciple or work. For example, if you want to lose weight, you automatically think about what you have to give up — whether that’s comfort, time, or comfort food.

I’ll have to go the gym, even when I don’t feel like it or don’t have time.

I’ll have to give up pizza night and cut back my drinking.

I’ll have to say “No” when the waitress asks if I want bread, even though DUH, I do want bread.

No wonder we don’t feel excited about breaking bad habits or creating good habits.

But what if we focused on the gain and the good instead of the loss? For example, cutting back your drinking to just weekends means: • You’ll save money.

• You’ll feel more rested throughout the week because your body won’t be processing alcohol while you sleep.

• You’ll consume fewer calories each week, meaning you may even lose weight.

• You’ll enjoy that weekend wine even more!

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Just a little shift in your focus will help you stick with your new habit instead of giving up when it’s hard.

forward to. Then, once that small habit was formed, you built on it with, “Today, I’m going to take the dog for a two-block walk.”

2 — Start with one small action and build on it.

And once that was a habit, you built upon that: “I’m going to take the dog for a walk of the whole neighborhood.”

Why have habits failed us in the past? Because we were focused too broadly. Instead of a simple, single action or a “best next step,” we tried to tackle the whole thing.

Holding the entire goal in your mind is a surefire way to get overwhelmed and decide that maybe you don’t really want change all that bad.

But what if instead, you chose one small action or step to focus on and you built off of that?

For example, instead of focusing on the overall goal, “I have to lose 5 lbs,” what if you said, “I’m going to take the dog for a walk around the block today”?

Next thing you know, you’ve built a habit that you enjoy that gets you closer to your goal of losing weight. You broke down your big, lofty goal into little manageable steps that felt a lot less overwhelming.

Marie Forleo, author of Everything is Figureoutable, speaks to this a lot in her book and her workshops. She encourages readers to do a “daily practice” to create habits and achieve goals faster.

And the next day, you said the same thing.

Her argument is that when you say “I want to do by next year,” it’s too vague for your brain to actually make progress. It’s far easier to get overwhelmed than it is to start.

And the next day…

That’s where her twice daily practice comes in.

Until that walk around the block was a habit that you actually enjoyed and looked

Part one: In the morning, after writing down your goal, you write:

8 S W E E P I N G February 2020

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negative feelings that cause new habits to fail.

“The ONE thing I will do today to make progress on this is .”

That’s one action to focus on that day, instead of the whole goal. It’s easier to take bites out of a sandwich than it is to eat the whole thing down in one gulp.

Part two: In the evening, as part of your daily practice, you write: “I’m proud of myself for taking the following step(s) today to figure this out. Here’s what I learned.”

Then, you write out your answers.

Why does this work so effectively? Because: 1. It’s a daily practice, which forms a habit.

2. It simplifies the complex, focusing your energy on ONE thing, not the WHOLE thing.

3. You take the time to recognize the progress you’re making towards your goal, which keeps you feeling energized instead of discouraged.

#3 Tell someone else or involve someone else so you have an accountability partner.

Whenever you can involve someone else in your new habit, you’ll see greater success, because we don’t like to let others down — especially not our four-legged family members!

For example, if your goal is to create a fitness habit and you decide to start taking daily walks with the dog, you’ll probably succeed in creating that habit. Why? Because the pooch depends on you and looks forward to your walks, too.

10 S W E E P I N G

You don’t want to tell little Bagel “No” when she nudges your leg and then runs to the front door, do you? Of course not.

Sometimes simply telling someone about the one small action you’re going to take can make your more likely to follow through as well.

For example, if a goal for 2020 is to read more business books, you might tell your team that you’re going to read a chapter of a book every Sunday and come in on Monday with a little nugget of knowledge to share.

Knowing that they’re expecting you to do that reading every Sunday now makes you more likely to do it. It’s a motivator that works, without the

February 2020

#4 Schedule it.

And finally, don’t just tell yourself or others you’re going to do something, schedule it. If you don’t, life will get in the way and you’ll find other things to do, like scroll through Facebook.

Give your new habit the same priority you would give to a meeting or appointment.

Block that time in your schedule, and you’ll be much more likely to follow through.

Good luck! I’ll be rooting for you while I’m working on my own 2020 goals!

Taylor Hill is co-founder and CEO of Spark Marketer, a Nashville-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. He’s also co-author of Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles For Building A Kickass Business You Love, and co-founder of the award-winning app, Closing Commander™, which helps contractors close more estimates effortlessly. Taylor regularly speaks at service trade shows and conferences across the country, and he’s passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates. @sparkmarketer, facebook.com/sparkmarketer, www.sparkmarketer.com, www.about.closingcommander.com, @taylorkhill

2020 NCSG Board of Directors Nominees Here are your nominees for the upcoming election of NCSG directors. Please note that the following nominees are running for twoyear terms (2020-21). New board members will be seated at the March 31, 2020 board of directors meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Voting Members in region 3: Ballots will be mailed on February 16, 2020. Ballots must be postmarked no later than March 17, 2020.

Seat: Region 2 (One Nominee) Representing: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Bill Thornton I’m a father of eight, married, my wife’s name is Mary.

Our hometown is Ambler, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia.

I started my company — Wissahickon Valley Sweep — in Ambler in 1995.

11

Currently, two of my sons, Joe and Will, along with 2 employees work alongside me to keep the chimneys upright and clean in our area. My wife, Mary manages the office. We are a full service chimney company and hearth retailer.

S W E E P I N G

These past few years on the NCSG board has helped me understand how the Guild helps all sweeps in our great country. If reelected, I will continue the Guild’s mission.

February 2020

Seat: Region 3 (Two Nominees) Representing: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Ron Rust Ron Rust, owner and operator of Top Hat Sweepers, has been in the industry since 1982 and has been an active member of the South Carolina Guild and the NCSG for most of those years. Rust has built his Columbia South Carolina business on the foundation of giving back to the community which has blessed his family so greatly. He now welcomes the opportunity to give back to the chimney sweep industry, lending his experience and enthusiasm to the NCSG. Rust has served two terms learning about the functions, goals and needs of the Guild and hopes to continue to serve and to become more valuable to the organization.

A graduate of Midland’s Technical College and the University of South Carolina School of Business, as well as a small business owner and chimney sweep for over 30 years, Rust has vast experience and proven leadership abilities which have been honed through involvement in the South Carolina Chimney Sweep Guild, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Columbia Homebuilder’s Association. “My goal is to help improve the industry through involvement of more members in the Guild. We need to continue to add value for the members and to inform them of the opportunities open to them because of their membership.” He is a proud CSIA Certified Sweep® and Certified Dryer Vent Technician®.

Matt Blackmon

12 S W E E P I N G

My name is Matt Blackmon. I have two wonderful boys, Hunter and Jamison and an amazing wife, Kathryn. I was born in Florida and raised in western North Carolina. I enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18. I served with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines including two deployments as an infantryman. The second of which was to Afghanistan in 2010, the deadliest year since the invasion. I received a Purple Heart for shrapnel and was awarded for valor for heroic actions on the battlefield. Afterwards, I taught infantry tactics to officer candidates at The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia. I was medically retired after seven plus years.

I moved back home with the intention of getting a degree so I enrolled in college and quickly realized it wasn’t for me at that time and that I had a lot of personal issues. I almost lost everything including my family and after a year plus of struggling I was able to adapt to life after the military. I moved to Virginia to take a job and to be closer to friends I had served with. I quit that job and went back to school. While in school I found a job with another chimney company and quickly fell in love with this industry and for the first time in awhile I felt like I had a purpose again. I parted ways with that company to pursue the American dream, business ownership. Since our start we have grown at a tremendous rate and have become a dominant force and industry leader in our region, setting the standards for other companies. We have embraced technological advancements in the industry, along with adopting our own innovative techniques. We are humbled to be in the position we are and for that we have donated to various veteran-based organizations since our start. I formed a non-profit organization called Combat Boots to Top Hats, that is geared towards helping veterans get into this trade. We know firsthand that a lot of vets have a decent amount of skill sets obtained while in the service and they would be a huge asset to any company. With this organization we will combat the veteran homelessness and suicide statistic by providing valuable jobs. I will bring a work ethic that is unparalleled and will offer the utmost dedication to further advance the industry. My valuable skills, pure joy and appreciation for our industry will continue to drive my dedication to everyone I will represent.

February 2020

Seat: Region 4 (One Nominee) Representing: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio

Jeff Keefer Jeff Keefer has been in the industry for 36 years with the Chimney Care Company and is CSIA certified. He was first certified in 1986. His wife of 32 years recently joined the company. He is the father of four adult sons. He is a graduate of the HPBA Government Affairs committee. He plays the accordion. He has a desire to enhance communication of the association’s vision and benefits to its members. He knows that what exists today as the NCSG has been built by the selfless efforts of many and he hopes to continue the journey forward through new challenges. He believes our Guild’s ability to lead for our industry to the quickening changes from our clients’ preferences to restrictive government regulations will be the key to our future. He also encourages members to take advantage of the many opportunities the Guild offers for support, success and camaraderie. He has gratefully received and attributed most of his business’ success to the help, instruction and encouragement from fellow Guild members over the decades.

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Seat: Region 6 (One Nominee) Representing: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Uth,.

Washington, Wyoming

Jesse Peralta Jesse first started in the chimney sweep industry at the age of 15 years old.

He grew up in the family business learning the trade as a high school student and then part of college. After spending some time in college studying business he decided to pursue a career with Trugreen. While at Trugreen he became a sales rep and moved up the corporate ladder. He held positions as a marketing manager assistant, then a satellite marketing manager out of Eugene Oregon. Then he became a marketing sales manager and ran an office out of Cleveland Ohio. After 5 years with the company he decided that he missed the Pacific Northwest and moved back to Portland, Oregon. Upon arrival to Portland he began another career as a lumber trader. In 2005 his father had the family business up for sale. After careful consideration he purchased the business from his father as an investment opportunity and hired the company’s first employee. In 2008 when the recession hit the promising career as a lumber trader faded away and he fell back on the business he purchased. In 2010 he jumped full-time into Chimcare and began the expansion of the company. As current CEO/President, Jesse has grown the company by 3,000 percent and is the Northwest’s largest chimney sweep company. Since 2005 Jesse has taken the business from having 0 employees to now having over 35 employees. Chimcare is also currently operating in 3 states (Oregon, Washington and Ohio) and has one of the largest footprints in the United States.

14 S W E E P I N G

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The Pete Luter Innovation Award Is Back

By Vic Imgarten

Clean Sweep St. Charles, Missouri

A

fter a year hiatus, it is back.

Some may ask what, some may ask why, but like the person it’s named after, it left us way too soon.

When The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) shuttered last year, not only did the industry lose a great trade magazine, we also lost the Pete Luter Innovation Award — the only award for new products for the chimney sweep trade.

Like many people in our trade, Pete Luter left his mark in many ways, some more unique than others. Let’s face it, we are all somewhat of a group of inventors, doers and hands-on, make-ithappen bunch. The difference is some have the ability or foresight to bring an idea to market.

I am proud to bring back the Pete Luter Innovation Award to the sweep industry. Products for consideration may be anything a sweep might use while performing the work or anything a sweep might sell to a client.

Background of the Award The award started as the Inventice Award in 2007. “The idea was to encourage innovation of new products for the chimney sweep trade,” recalled retired Chimney Sweep News publisher Jim Gillam. “Jerry Isenhour and I had observed how the Vesta Awards, sponsored by Hearth & Home magazine, fostered the development of new products for the hearth industry and how vendors sought that recognition. Jerry, who had served as a Vesta Awards judge, encouraged me to bring something similar to our trade.

“We changed the name of the Award program in 2011 to honor the late Pete Luter, who introduced the spinning tools that revolutionized how people sweep chimneys,” Jim added.

Over the years, the Inventice/Pete Luter Awards

have highlighted some new products that have become leaders in their category, such as the Paint ‘n’ Peel brick cleaning system from SaverSystems.

Sometimes innovations do not catch on or the company does not have the resources to support the new product adequately in the marketplace.

There have been a few of those now forgotten products, too, in the history of the Pete Luter Awards. In every case, the Award program has provided an opportunity for vendors to showcase their products for the chimney sweep trade.

Judging the Products We invite vendors with products newly on the market to present them for judging at the NCSG trade show. A small group of judges — handpicked convention attendees — will evaluate the products. I will choose judges to represent a variety of experience and geography.

Judges will evaluate the products’ usefulness and degree of innovation. Judges may also consider the products’ safety, marketability, convenience and any other factors they deem important.

Entry Guidelines Products intended for use by chimney service professionals or their customers are eligible.

The item must be new to the marketplace since the last NCSG convention. The product must be available for purchase, not a prototype. The product must be on display at the NCSG Trade Show.

Judging will take place at the trade show. I will present the Pete Luter Innovation Award during the last day of the show.

The entry fee is $200, payable to Chimney Exchange. We will accept entries up to ten days before the convention.

February 2020

17 S W E E P I N G

Technical

Q&A

Michael Segerstrom

NCSG Technical Advisory Chair

Question: I regularly check my state’s codes for changes, so I’m aware when there are any. Is continuing education really that important then?

18 S W E E P I N G February 2020

Answer: Yes it is!

help us more safely do our work.

There are several reasons that continuing education is important and learning about code changes is just one.

And then there’s certifications.

Certain industry certifications allow renewal completely through obtaining a specified minimum number of CEUs. That means that once we take and pass the initial test and recieve our certification, we may never have to take the test again! For some folks, this is very important, as not everyone is a good test-taker.

Other certifications will have an option to retake the test, but still require a lesser minimum amount of CEUs. So if we do hold certifications, it’s likely that CEUs can play an important role in maintaining them.

When national codes change, states don’t always adopt the current version. So researching what our states are using and which version is important.

But taking actual classes on code changes can help give us a much better understanding of what these code changes mean, and how they may affect us.

Also, there are periodic changes to standards that apply to our work. NFPA 211 being the most relevant standard, recognized as a best industry practice, and adopted as code in multiple states.

The NCSG will often have classes at convention that cover changes to codes and standards, and even federal regulations like those that apply to wood stoves. Taking classes on these changes gives us the opportunity to learn things in detail, and to also ask questions.

The more accurate information we have, the better we are able to serve our clients and protect ourselves.

Continuing education has become vital to spreading the word about chimney professional and technician safety. Personal safety has recently come to the forefront, and available classes help us learn about the latest methods and equipment for safe roof access, fall protection, head protection, respiratory protection and much more.

Without taking additional classes, we may never find out about what’s available to us to

Continuing education can also simply make us better at what we do. With more classes available to us than ever, we are able to hone our skills in specific areas and subjects. There are hands on classes available to us for fireplace restoration, fireplace replacement, masonry work, chimney relining and more.

These types of classes give us the opportunity to see and learn hands-on valuable methods and tips, as well as cover the basics, if it’s something we are new to.

Hands-on safety and roof access classes are also available to us.

There are also many classroom trainings available, covering almost every aspect of what we do. These classes have become much more frequent, are held in multiple cities or locations, and are often very affordable.

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Live webinar type classes are also available in the online offerings. These classes can be taken one at a time, and online education providers also offer subscription type services. Online classes can also be crucial, if we find ourselves about to renew a certification and we are short just a few CEUs. These are just a few of the more important reasons that continuing education can and should be a big part of our policies. There’s always a benefit regardless of the company size, and even regardless of the services we offer.

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Upcoming

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February 2020

February 19-21, 2020 Warrior Leadership Conference Join in for motivational and business speakers while raising money for veteran organizations that help veterans experiencing PTSD and TBI. The Westin Dallas Downtown Dallas, TX For more information, please visit warriorleadershipconfrence.com February 20-22, 2020 Chimney Expo Join in the fun with speakers, training and trade show.

Valley Forge Casino King of Prussia, PA For more information, please email contact@ certifiedchimneyprofessionals.com or visit chimneyexpo.com February 20-23, 2020 North Carolina Chimney Sweep Association Winter Continuing Education Weekend CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Review & Exam (Contact CSIA for EXAM registration only) Join in the fun with speakers, training and auction.

Waynesville Inn and Spa Waynesville, NC For more information, please contact NCCSA (980) 7219943 or visit ncchimneysweeps.com/upcoming-events

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February 2020

Coach’s

Corner Jerry Isenhour

How Much Profit Went Down The Drain in 2019?

A

s you finalize and review your numbers for the year of 2019, do you have any concept of the amount of dollars that were converted from profit straight into waste over the last year? This most certainly is one of the key numbers each business manager should be fully aware of and formulate a plan to reduce this waste, transferring these funds back to the profit column.

Perhaps you hear people express what their gross income was for the year, those who are really into their numbers can even tell you where dollars came from in regards to product or service categories. Others may share what their profit percentage was. Many share more intimate details about their financial numbers. But often one number is left off the list, and that is what percentage of the gross income ends up in the toilet from waste. But this is a number that each manager should be aware of, as waste comes directly off the business profit line.

Profit is one of the most important parts of measuring the value of a business. If you were to call a broker and ask them to value a business, they would ask about your numbers.

The valuation of a business is based off the financial records, and profit. The actual return on investment, commonly called ROI, will be a part of the formula to determine an accurate value.

It’s not the only thing, but you better believe that ROI will be a part of the price established to value the business.

24 S W E E P I N G

The amazing thing about waste is that the amount that

February 2020

can be reduced will have a tremendous effect on the dollar amount of the profit. Profit is also measured in percentages, in other words how high is the percentage of profit when compared to the gross income.

And the transfer of waste to profit results in more percentage points of profit than the waste cost is. You see, every dollar of waste requires sales to cover it. The lower the percentage of profit, the more you must sell to compensate for it. Thus, raising sales without reducing waste will only result in higher dollar amount of waste.

If 2020 is a year you desire to raise the value of your business and your profits, maybe it’s time you concentrate on the lost dollars that waste inflicts on your business.

Where does the waste originate?

A leading cause is bad handoffs of information, where one person does not properly transfer the information to another in the company. The larger the company, the more people involved, the more fumbles and bad handoffs of waste will become. This is one of the things that scare many owners and managers when considering growing the company; this fear of fumbles and human failures will restrict their thinking and their desire to grow. But no matter if growth is your goal or simply raising the value and the ROI, waste deserves a hard look. Effort made to reducing waste will result in a less chaotic work environment and a company that has a much better culture. Some even view this as more chaos

than they want to deal with and some even decide the answer is to cut back operations to a level they can control and have less chaos.

Other factors that come into play are the three answers that often are the answer when mistakes happen, they are: • There is a no Standard Operating Procedure to guide the task that the error occurred.

• The Standard Operating Procedure is wrong.

• Someone did not follow the Standard Operating Procedure.

Eliminating waste requires a process; it takes work. Eliminating waste dollars requires the following steps: • Identification of waste

Think about it, assemble your process and strategy to cut the flow of profit dollars to the waste pipeline. Grow your profits and your ROI. Isn’t that the purpose of the free enterprise system, to deliver to each business owner the profits for them to obtain their personal dreams?

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. A Past President of NCSG & CSIA along with serving in several volunteer industry positions over his career. 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.cvcsuccessgroup.com He can be contacted at jerry@cvcsuccessgroup.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217.

You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and Youtube channel CVC Coaching.

• Tracking of waste • Measurement and costing of waste • Development of the systems to eliminate the cause Moving through the process will require the buy-in of every member of your team and a team approach to the resolution.

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February 2020

Meet A

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Gene Padgitt Meet Gene Padgitt of HearthMasters, Inc. in Independence, MO. This long-time member of NCSG shares his experience as a chimney sweep and accomplished Certified Heater Mason.

What is a question you get asked most about being a chimney sweep/chimney sweeping/ the industry?

These days it is “How old are you?” I’m 63 and still working, which includes climbing ladders and scaffold, which surprises some people. But I love doing this work and will keep on doing it until I can’t any more.

How did you get started in the industry?

I got laid off from Safeway foods and was thinking about starting my own business when I saw an ad in Mother Earth News that described how much money you could make as a chimney sweep. I asked my future brother-in-law, who was a chimney sweep in Seattle, what he thought about the idea and he said it could be very profitable. I decided to spend the $1,600 and ordered the August West system with the giant vacuum and manual that described how to do the work. Turns out it was a little more complicated than that.

What advice do you wish you had received when you were getting started?

I wish I had joined the NCSG earlier and had gone to every single convention, as well as work with another seasoned chimney sweep for a year before I started on my own. I had to learn the hard way for the first few years. I believe that my first NCSG Convention was in 1989.

26 S W E E P I N G February 2020

What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

What are your best strategies for overcoming it?

I’d have to say the biggest challenge is designing scaffold, roof protection, and roof scaffold for large jobs and tall chimneys. Some of the roofs, such as the 12/12 or 12/16 pitch roofs are very difficult to access, especially when the chimney is in the center of the house. When we do large restoration projects, we need to have the scaffold set up just right. So I am on the job to supervise this portion to make sure it is done exactly right.

Who was your most famous customer?

Frank White, the KC Royals player. He had peacocks on his property that screeched all day long, but Frank was very nice.

Have you ever attended NCSG Annual Convention & Trade Show? If so, what was your favorite takeaway?

Yes, many times since 1989. Always learn something new and different, like the latest ChimScan Camera.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Learning to build masonry heaters and brick ovens and becoming a Certified Heater Mason. This is a real art and I love designing and building heaters and ovens. Got a lot of help at the Masonry Heater Association. I’ve won 13 awards for my masonry work, so that’s pretty cool, too.

Have you ever had to make your own tool to solve a particular problem?

Yes, several. I made a tile inserter/breaker tool 30 years ago and we still use it today. I never patented it, but my wife wants me to do so.

Weirdest thing you have ever found in a chimney?

A photo from the 1880’s. Amazing that it survived. I left it with the homeowners.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Restore old houses to their original condition, then sell or rent them. This is more of a second job because it is our retirement income. I also raise chickens for fresh eggs and have an organic garden. And fishing, of course! I just wish I had more time for fishing. Maybe when I semi-retire in two years I’ll get to do that more often.

What is, in your opinion, the most valuable part of being a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild?

The camaraderie with other sweeps from around the world is the best part, especially at conventions. It’s nice to hear how people do things and what challenges they face in their regions.

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27 S W E E P I N G

Membership

Memo

By Annemarie Stockton Director of Communications and Marketing

A

re you interested in strengthening your leadership skills, bolstering your network of professionals, and engaging in meaningful conversations and comraderie?

If so, the NCSG can help with that. Volunteering at the 2020 Convention and Trade Show offers an opportunity to do a variety of tasks and work with a diverse group of individuals in a great atmosphere. Last year, we had nearly every volunteer spot filled, which was amazing.

I’d like to break that record and have every spot filled this year!

Volunteers are needed for: Unloading/loading the truck Registration booths Scanners for sessions Auction Night Chimney Chase 5k In case you haven’t registered already, NCSG 2020 Convention is in Orlando, Florida from April 1st-4th. There are a few ways in which you can sign up to volunteer:

1

An online sign up form. Visit www.ncsgconvention.org/ volunteer to see all available volunteer opportunities and pick your slot(s).

28

2

Send me an email. If you would like to ask me a specific question about what is available or how you can pick the slot that is best for your schedule, send me an email at astockton@ncsg.org.

S W E E P I N G February 2020

3

Give us a call. Don’t want to mess with a computer? No worries, anyone in the office can help you get signed up. Just call (317) 837-1500.

Without the help from volunteers like you, the NCSG Convention just simply wouldn’t be possible. Your generosity year after year is what makes this event so incredible and unparalleled. We at the NCSG thank you in advance and cannot wait to see you in April!

For more information about the 2020 Convention, visit NCSGconvention.org and join our Facebook group, NCSG Convention 2020 Attendee Hub!

CSIA is committed to your education and certification success. Be it business or technical training, we are here for you. The Board of Directors and professional staff have worked diligently over the last 9 months to plan and execute curriculums and opportunities for you and your team to learn and thrive in this great profession.

Roydhouse Round Up

by Chuck Roydhouse, CSIA President president@csia.org

“In America, with education and hard work, it really does not matter where you came from; it matters only where you are going.” - Condoleezza Rice As I have conveyed to you many times in the past, CSIA is all about your education and success in our trade. Since both hands-on and academic study is not a static endeavor, we must constantly hone our technical and business skills – much like an athlete continuously practices to be the best they can be.

Michael Phelps, “The Baltimore Bullet”, did not become the most decorated Olympian in the world by sheer luck. He practiced physically and mentally each and every day to achieve greatness.

According to the dictionary, a professional is one who is extremely competent in a job. The world we live in today is fast paced and everchanging. Do not get left behind. “Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid”, said John Wayne.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America, The Chimney Success Institute of America and CSIA Surefire eLearning are all in place to help you and your employees become, maintain and evolve with our industry. This choice of education will only make you better prepared for the challenges that are always ahead of us.

Over the next 4 months alone, we are offering: • Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® Review and Exam, March 13 at HPBA in New Orleans, LA and March 31st at the NCSG convention in Orlando, FL • CSIA 2 Day Masonry, March 18th in Hudson, NY, May 7th in Finksburg, MD, and June 29th in Nashville, TN • The NCSG Convention April 1-4 in Orlando, FL will have a plethora of CEU opportunities designed to educate and aid in certification maintenance • April also offers OSHA Compliant Rope Access and Safety in Bell Buckle, TN on the 27th and 28th, and the CSIA National Training Academy in Plainfield, IN April 27-May 2 • May offers OSHA Silica Awareness and Personal Protective Equipment in Manchester, NH on May 4th. Also, a CSIA Certification Review and Exam in Scranton, PA on May 15th • June takes us back to Nashville, TN for First Aid/CPR/AED and Hazardous Waste on June 19th. June 22nd kicks off another CSIA National Training Academy in Plainfield, IN. As you can gather and as promised, CSIA is not stagnant. We are on the march to ensure you have access to the best education, training and certification credentials.

But we are not done yet…. Can’t make every class?

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csia news The Prior Structure

CSIA is not a one trick pony and is committed to the investment and betterment of our trade through superior education offerings in our industry.

Continuous education is a duty and responsibility that each of us must adhere to in order to better ourselves, employees and our industry. I will leave you with two thoughts: “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” - B. B. King “Education costs money, but so does ignorance.” Baron Claus Moser

Chuck Roydhouse President CSIA CSIA is the Standard of Excellence in the Chimney & Venting Industry!

February 2020

We want to make a formal introduction of one of the newer members of our training team here at the CSIA Technology Center: The Prior Structure.

This marvelous training tool was constructed at Sweeps Week last June. The structure features a two-flue chimney to replicate what is commonly encountered in the chimney technician’s everyday world. We have constructed a masonry chimney that contains a utility flue with and attached water heater and a masonry fireplace. The structure allows trainees to experience all the things found in a residential home with a basement with cleanout, fireplace and a roof experience.

Incorporated during construction were over a 100 known defects for the trainees to identify.

We will be using The Prior Structure during our CSIA National Training Academy, our inspection classes for chimney technicians, and in training for outside groups such as home inspectors, building inspectors and retailers. The possibilities that this tool opens up to us are amazing. Make sure you come check it out this year!

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February 2020

New

Members

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KANSAS Certified Fireplace and Chimney • Ryan Berry • Topeka

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MICHIGAN Advanced Chimney Sweep • Luri Arreola • West Olive

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FLORIDA Tom Love Enterprises LLC • Thomas Love • Jacksonville

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MARYLAND AR Bowen Hearth Solutions • George Bowen Jr. • Prince Fredrick

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2 24 34 345 5 56 6 WASHINGTON Lint B Gone Dryer Vent Cleaning • Dinah Danby • Seattle

WISCONSIN High Rise Chimney • Jacob Haley • Twin Lakes

33 S W E E P I N G February 2020

Around the

Tech Center.

Megan McMahon

Executive Director

34 S W E E P I N G February 2020

The NCSG/CSIA office team is in full convention mode for Orlando!

You can still grab discounted pricing through February 29, so make certain you submit your registration forms before then!

Also, be sure to grab your opening night tickets for an evening at Main Event Entertainment enjoying great conversation, bowling, billiards, arcade games and more with fellow sweeps! We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando and introducing you to the new team members.

Classifieds CHIMNEY SWEEP & REPAIR COMPANY FOR SALE CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year! Regular 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 Natalie Spruell at nspruell@ ncsg.org or 317-837-1500.

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S W E E P I N G

Darwin

Award

“Someone has obviously not been through the CSIA chimney physics class! I assume that no building permit was pulled when they added this dormer‘s second floor onto the house. Let’s hope they do not ever have a chimney fire.”

—Timothy Weaver, Abbey Road Chimney Sweep in Memphis, Tenn.

See a chimney in your area that had you scratching your head? Send it to the editor, Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Include a few words about the scene and location.

Ad Index 36 S W E E P I N G

Approved Industries 866-439-0069 info@approvedindustries.com 15 Copperfield 800-247-3305 www.copperfield.com 7 CVC 704-425-0217 jerry@cvccoaching.com 8 Duct Cleaners’ Supply 800-634-2822 4viper@ductcleanerssupply.com 20 Firesafe Industries, Inc. 800-545-6607 www.firesafeinc.com 5 Gelco www.gllchimneyproducts.com 22 ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com 13 Lindemann Chimney Company 866-629-8006 www.lindemannsupply.com 9 Lyemance www.gllchimneyproducts.com 27 National Chimney 800-897-8481 www.nationalchimney.com Back page New England Chimney Supply 866-513-2378 www.newenglandchimneysupply.com 21 Olympia Chimney Supply, Inc. 800-569-1425 www.olympiachimney.com 19 Rodstation USA 508-985-3746 www.rodstationusa.com 14 Sand Hill Wholesale & Mfg., Inc 800-258-5496 www.sandhillwholesale.com 25 SnapLok Rotary Sweep Systems 702-790-4197 www.snaploksystems.com 23 Z-Flex 800-654-5600 sales@z-flex.com 4

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STOP BY AND SEE US BOOTH# 400/402

STRONGER & BETTER THAN EVER!

Premier Flex Lite Liner We are always working to improve our products to meet our customer needs. So, if you are a light weight/ heavy wall user, you will love the improvements to our Premier Flex Lite Liner. The liner can be shaped for oval or rectangle applications. Order today at nationalchimneystore.com or call us at 800.897.8481. We look forward to hearing your feedback.

Order at: nationalchimneystore.com