Sweeping Magazine- November 2017

Sweeping November 2017 VOLUME 41 #10

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

In Business Are You dealing with Reality or Fantasy Sweeping Uncle Sam’s Chimneys in Washington, DC

Sweeping the White House 3 Ways to Create Problem Solvers

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Departments President’s Letter 3 Editor’s Letter 5 Coach’s Corner 16 Technical Q&A 22 History Projects 24 Date and Events 32 New Members 36 Progressive Perks 37 Around the Tech Center 42 Classifieds 43 Darwin Award 44

Table of Contents u Dealing With Features

y

On the cover: Winston’s Chimney Service employees in front of the Supreme Court Building.

Sweeping November 2017 Volume 41 Issue 10

In Business Are You dealing with Reality or Fantasy

Sweeping Uncle Sam’s Chimneys in Washington, DC

Sweeping the White House

3 Ways to Create Problem Solvers

6 11 25 Ways 34

3

to

Create

Problem Solvers

November 2017

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 2017-2018

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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

Stainless Steel Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 705

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.

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STAFF

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

Megan McMahon Association Manager mmcmahon@ncsg.org

Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator dkasmer@csia.org

Darcy Marlett Director of Communications and Marketing dmarlett@ncsg.org

Claire Rutledge Program Coordinator crutledge@ncsg.org

Ashley Edridge Director of Education ashley@csia.org

Sara Sichting Systems and Records Coordinator ssichting@ncsg.org

Zach Zagar CSIA Marketing Director zzagar@csia.org

Annemarie Stockton Membership Coordinator astockton@ncsg.org

Charissa Benge Mahaffey Office Coordinator cmahaffey@ncsg.org

November 2017

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

Vice President, At-Large Director Dennis Dobbs (678) 290-8200 fireplaceservicecenter@gmail. com

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

Treasurer, Region 3 Ron Rust (803) 730-5858 tophatswp@aol.com Region 1 Matt Mair (603) 525-7905 matt@blackmoosechimney. com Region 2 Ed Ridgeway (856) 241-7999 masons@chimney-duct.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2017 – 2018

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

Secretary, At-Large Director Tom Hunkele (641) 774-8056 topnotchchimney@gmail.com At-Large Director Gregg Boss (636) 391-2226 englishsweep@att.net At-Large Director Jeff Peterson (913) 236-7141 jeff@potomacservices.net Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich (765) 966-5084 stuartk@saversystems.com

Bylaws Dennis Dobbs (678) 290-8200 fireplaceservicecenter@gmail.com

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

Ethics Andy Raycroft (703) 836-7858 andy@rooftopchimneysweeps.con

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 Greg 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 Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@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 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. © 2017 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

W

elcome ALL! So remember back in the early 90s when you would get the fresh yellow pages, open it up and be disappointed that your ad wasn't the 1st or wasn’t the biggest? Or worse you saw some loser had used a logo in their ad which they were not authorized to use? Well you could call up the chimney police and complain, but it’s already printed and there wasn't anything anyone could do till the next year.

Wow how times have changed with everything being online.

If your website has an error its changed in minutes. If a customer is mad hundreds of people know in hours. My favorite is when I read some really stupid post on some chimney page. I'm normally really good at biting my tongue and waiting a few minutes. I love when I go back and read that real professionals (almost always NCSG members) squash the stupidity to death.

One of the hot topics I’ve come across is business size. Many sweep companies are one or two truck operations while on the other hand there are a number of companies with 20 plus employees. There are perks to having large or small companies. There are many times when the thought has crossed my mind to stop all advertising and down size my company so I could have more control, but then other days where I just want to go play with cars and let the systems work and it continues without me for weeks at a time. The truth is your company can be any size, serving any size service area and still be profitable. I can tell you form experience that if you double your trucks in the field and number of employees

it doesn't always mean that you just doubled your profits.

If you want advice on any subject I’ve found it best to talk to similar sized company owners from other parts of the country. There are a number of sweeps I look up to and talk to regularly about every subject imaginable. The best place to meet sweeps like this is at NCSG annual convention.

Face to face, hanging out in the hallway or sipping a soda at the bar after hours. The NCSG is for all size companies. Your Guild is strongest when we work together, we will never all agree on anything, but together we have a voice to lawmakers, OSHA, EPA and anyone else who threatens our livelihood.

I owe the NCSG for helping me turn my business from a guy with a van to a smoothly running machine which has slowly grown every year. I’m not done learning or growing and I never will be.

Thank you to all the sweeps who came before me and helped me without asking for anything in return.

Be safe, Be profitable, Keep living the dream.

Jasper

President’s

Letter Jasper Drengler

President

3 S W E E P I N G November 2017

Top 5 Reasons to become CSIA Certified in 2017: 1. Join more than 2,000 of the most educated, qualified, and ethical chimney and dryer vent technicians in the country.

2. With more than two million pageviews on our website over the past two years, more homeowners are looking to hire CSIA Certified professionals than ever before.

3. Obtain national recognition of your accomplishment and dedication to being the best person for the job.

4. Earn quality referrals from professionals in affiliated industries, such as Realtors, home inspectors, fire fighters, etc.

5. Use CSIA’s (aggressively protected) trademarked logos on your advertisements, vehicles, and website.

C o m e s e e w h a t w e’r e a l l a b o u t :

w w w. c s i a . o r g

4 S W E E P I N G November 2017

G

reetings Sweeps!

This month’s issue we have two great stories about sweeping in Washington DC. The first come from CSIA President Chuck Hall. “Sweeping Uncle Sam’s Chimneys in Washington, DC” offers great advice about government contracting as well as unique stories of working in the US Capital and the Supreme Court. Over on page 25 read about this year’s White House chimney sweeping team and see photos from this year.

little better in this month’s Progressive Perks on page 37.

Have you ever been interested in serving on the board of directors? Check out this year’s call for nominations on page 29 for more information.

Editor’s

Letter Darcy Marlett Editor

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers,

Get into the Thanksgiving spirit with Association Manager Megan McMahon’s Around the Tech Center column. This month she covers what she is thankful for in her “chimney life.” Get to know our new Membership Coordinator Annemarie Stockton a

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In Business, Are You Dealing With

Reality Reality Reality

Fantasy Taylor Hill

Spark Marketer

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W

hen it comes to your business, are you numbing the pain or facing the music?

There are a lot of ways to numb yourself or shield yourself against reality -- some people abuse alcohol or drugs; some people lower their expectations and become apathetic; some people become cold and abrasive -- but when it comes to your business, no matter how you numb or delude yourself, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

In my life, I’ve known many people who would rather delude themselves than acknowledge reality. And honestly, I’ve never quite understood it. What is the benefit of putting your head in the sand, ignoring the facts, or distracting yourself? Yes, it may bring you temporary

November 2017

comfort or relief, but in the long-run, you’re only hurting yourself by looking at things this way. I guess I’ve learned far too many lessons the hard way to prefer delusion over reality. No matter how uncomfortable or painful it may be, I prefer reality 100% of the time. Here’s why.

Reality gives me the information I need to act wisely. No matter how great it may feel when I successfully convince myself that the money in our business bank account is endless, it’s not the reality. If I act and make decisions based on a false notion about where we are financially, I’ll make poor financial decisions that will only lead to more stress for future Taylor. I want to make life better and less stressful for future Taylor,

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not worse and more stressful.

Plus, shielding myself from the reality and making uninformed decisions doesn’t just impact my wellbeing, it also impacts the wellbeing of Carter and all of our employees and clients.

If we don’t have the money to make payroll, we lose valuable employees, who in turn lose income for their families. And without our employees, we cannot provide our customers with the level of service they expect and deserve, which will cause us to lose clients as well. All because I don’t want to deal with reality.

Reality allows me to shape the future and get closer to where I want to be. When dealing with reality, you may not be able to perfectly craft your future into what you want it to be right away, but you’ll certainly end up closer than you would living in a fantasy world. Take my financial example from above: wouldn’t it be better and less painful in the long-run if I looked at the numbers honestly and planned accordingly?

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It may not be fun and it may not be liberating, but I’d certainly prefer to deal with my current reality so that I can better shape my future reality into something I want to be a part of. I may have to put off some purchases or tighten up the purse strings, but I’ll be going into the future informed and taking steps with confidence, instead of jeopardizing the future of our employees and the company.

Are You Guilty?

You may think, “Oh, I’ve never done that. I always deal with reality.” But ask yourself:

November 2017

Do profit and loss sheets and balance sheets confuse you or make you so anxious you’d rather just ignore them and hope for the best every month?

Do you have a toxic employee that you’d rather ignore than confront?

Do you make promises to customers or employees that you know you simply can’t keep?

All of these are ways of lying to yourself or deluding yourself. They’re all ways of turning your back on reality in favor of what’s not real.

Why Do We Prefer Fantasy Over Reality?

Is Reality Ever Really Avoidable?

So why is it that so many of us try to avoid reality?

Well, sometimes reality can be uncomfortable, painful, and well, difficult to deal with. The reality of reality is that it’s not personal, but we take it personally.

We have a tendency to think of ourselves as victims, but also as the main suspects. If we owe a lot of taxes at the end of the year, we think the IRS is out to get us and make our lives miserable. At the same time, a part of us is angry with ourselves for not setting aside money for taxes on a quarterly basis. We blame ourselves, while still feeling victimized, which causes a lot of conflicting and unpleasant emotions.

Who would want to deal with that?

But do you see how we have to face reality at some point — either now or later?

Let’s use this same example.

The business owner that didn’t

set aside money quarterly for taxes didn’t want to deal with reality and the financial discomfort of setting that money aside. Maybe he had a lot of monthly bills and just didn’t see how it was feasible to set that money aside. But did the problem go away? No. It simply showed up when he did his taxes and was told how much he owed to the IRS. Ignoring reality didn’t do anything for this business owner but take the pain of reality and roll it up into a bigger pain for the future.

What could he have done?

Would it have lessened his pain if he had set aside what little he felt he could so that he at least had some money to put towards taxes at the end of the year? Probably.

What about the business owner who can’t look at the accounting numbers without having a panic attack? What could he do? Most of us who get panicky when looking at the numbers do so because we don’t understand them or we’ve decided we’re “just not good with numbers.”

There’s fear there and perhaps feelings of inadequacy. But what if that business owner decided to work through the temporary discomfort by educating himself or asking someone for help?

It may not feel that great at first, but once he goes from not understanding to understanding, he can wipe out a million future anxiety attacks and create a future in which he’s empowered and informed.

What about the business owner who’d rather not confront the toxic employee? There are people who seem to enjoy confrontation and there are

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people who would rather die than confront someone. Then there are those of us who understand that confrontation is a necessary part of life and that it doesn’t have to be an aggressive thing. By ignoring reality (the toxic employee), this business owner may be able to temporarily put off the discomfort of confrontation, but he’s not helping himself out over the long-run. There’s a good chance he’ll end up with a toxic workplace, disgruntled and unhappy employees (who may quit because of the toxic employee and the toxic workplace), and a whole host of HR problems and daily headaches. He can either deal with one toxic employee or a future filled with toxicity and

problems. Once again, he’s not saving himself any trouble, he’s just pushing it into his future.

What about the business owner who makes promises he knows he can’t keep just to make employees or customers happy in the present. Seems like a great way to keep the peace and make the present more enjoyable, but what happens when the Don comes to ask for his favor? Instead of dealing with the customer or employee’s feelings of disappointment, the business owner will now also have to deal with the customer or employee’s feelings of betrayal. Trust will be broken and it’s possible the relationship will not ever fully recover.

Which situation is worse?

W.W.F.Y.W.Y.T.D.?

Reality doesn’t go away, so it’s time to stop acting like it will. Push through the discomfort, and when you feel like deluding or distracting yourself, remember future you.

What would future you want you to do? Do that instead.

Taylor Hill is Co-Founder and Crew Chief for Spark Marketer, a local online marketing company specializing in marketing for service businesses across the US. He loves the chimney industry and is passionate about helping service business owners navigate the Internet oceans filled with sharks and unsavory pirates. He’s also co-host of the Blue Collar Proud (BCP) Show, the podcast that’s all about having and living the blue collar dream, and co-author of Blue Collar Proud. @sparkmarketer, facebook.com/ sparkmarketer, @taylorkhill @bcpshow

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Sweeping Uncle Sam’s Chimneys in Washington, DC

By Chuck Hall

A

re you thinking about expanding your business to government contracting?

Here’s what it’s like to sweep for the Supreme Court and Congress.

Working in the Washington, DC market puts Winston’s Chimney Services in contact with a virtual Who’s Who of Washington politics. We have congressman, senators, vice presidents, current and former cabinet members, former governors, joint chiefs, and Supreme Court judges on our client list—kind of like if you work in Los Angeles, you have TV and movie celebrities on your client list. Like working for celebrities in other industries, working for DC celebrities can be interesting, but not necessarily glamorous.

There are historic government buildings of every type all over the United States, and they all require maintenance and repair, so there’s plenty of work for different trades including chimney and air duct companies. In this article, I share some of our experience working on the United States Capitol Complex so you can decide if a similar market in your area is a possibility for you.

Chimneys and Fireplaces at the United States Capitol Complex The United States Capitol Complex includes the Capitol, the Capitol Visitor Center, seven congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the United States Supreme Court building, and others. We work at the Capitol and the Supreme Court buildings.

The Capitol building, which originally consisted of two wings but not a dome, was started in 1793, completed in 1813, and burned down by the British the very next year. Repairs, renovations, and improvements, including the dome, were finished in 1868, making it the Capitol we know today. Its 19th-century flues, which were renovated with terracotta clay many years ago, have offsets and narrow in some areas. The terracotta flues vent into stainless steel horizontal flues attached to a fan system on the roof. The working fireplaces are mostly in senators’ and representatives’ offices, and about half of them are used regularly. Many of the other fireplaces in the Capitol building were disabled and are used only for decoration. Congressional and senatorial

November 2017

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does take time to develop a trust relationship with a government client. Our business development process actually started five years ago. Here’s a recap of our experience:

offices are often quite impressive, and the fireplaces, working or not, are works of art.

Construction on the U.S. Supreme Court building started in 1931 and finished in 1935. Its flues, which are lined with terracotta clay flue tiles, are relatively straight compared with those in the Capitol. Eight chimneys serve 15 wood-burning fireplaces in the judges’ chambers as well as the meeting and dining rooms. The Capitol building can be a pretty busy place, but the Supreme Court building is like a library, very quiet, where everyone, including chimney sweeps, speak in hushed voices, and all treat the justices with the utmost respect and deference.

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The flues in both buildings are vented into horizontal passageways connected to the chimneys, which have fans running 24/7. All the fireplaces are masonry, except for a factorybuilt unit in Congresswoman Pelosi’s office.

Developing Business with the Federal Government In June of this year my company, Winston’s Chimney Service, performed fireplace flue repairs on five of the 15 fireplaces in the United States Supreme Court building. However, it

November 2017

In August 2012, we received a call from the Architect of the Capitol’s office about the fireplaces in the US Supreme Court Building. (The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the Capitol Complex.) The AOC representative asked us to bid on sweeping and inspecting all 15 fireplaces. I submitted a bid, but we lost.

Two years later they called again and sent an RFQ (request for quote). I filled it out, sent it in, and three weeks later we had a date on a weekend in mid-October to knock out the job. They wanted the fireplaces cleaned before the burning season started, so we had to reschedule jobs and juggle personnel around to accommodate them. When I asked about doing the work between January and September next time, I was told, “When the money is released in the budget, it can be done, and never before.” The latest we did one year was in the middle of November, and we always have

to do the work on weekends. This year I found out we won the bid on September 28, and we’re scheduled to work the weekend of October 21-22.

Regardless of the job, we always get short notice, and if Congress goes into emergency session over our scheduled weekend, we stand down and reschedule.

After submitting a report with our recommendations for the Capitol Building in 2014, we followed up and were told that no repairs would be done at this time. (In fact, every time we submit a condition report, we are told that no repairs will be done at this time.) Two months later, however, I received a call from the AOC at the Supreme Court asking if we would be interested in inspecting several of the fireplace flues in the judges’ chambers. After we inspected and reported on four of them, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a request to meet with several staff members to discuss how we could repair the flues. The first item on the table was removing the existing tiles and installing stainless steel.

They had done a bit of research, and after a short discussion they decided against it due to the disruption to the offices and their inhabitants.

After that meeting, I brought up resurfacing the flues with Heat Shield to the Supreme Court building staff and provided information about it to them. They brushed off that solution, too, and then returned to the idea of installing stainless steel inside the existing flues. They had fans in operation, but I wanted one of their engineers to run the numbers, verify the proposal, and sign off on downsizing the flues. It became evident that the fans worked better on some of the fireplaces

than others. Those repair discussions died right there, which was in November of 2014.

We continued our annual sweeping, inspecting, and reporting. In 2016, a new person contacted me about repairing some of the flues using the Heat Shield method. Several on-site visits later, we presented a proposal. A month later, I got word they wanted to do five of the 15 fireplace flues in June of 2017.

In addition to the stop-and-go of contracting, there’s a lot of a lot of hurry up and wait on the job. Wait to get checked into the building. Wait at the end of the basement garage until one of the justices leaves the area. Wait down the hall until a justice leaves her office. Wait until one of the justices finishes in their office at 9:30 at night.

Hurry up and wait. It’s par for the course on jobs like these.

But even if the timing is bad, I can’t lie: it’s an honor to sweep the flues in the Capitol and Supreme Court.

Unusual Working Conditions If you work on a government or historical building, get used to the idea that you’ll be watched (I mean, escorted) all the time. The AOC supplies our escorts from the HVAC division of maintenance, and they’re with us every second we’re on the job. If we are found in the halls without our escorts, they may lose their job.

Along with our HVAC escorts, one or more Capitol police officers stay with us at all times. As far as I know, there are no hidden cameras in the offices, but they are everywhere outside of the offices—in halls, meeting spaces, lobbies, and every public area as well as on the grounds and in parking garages, elevators, and on the exteriors of the buildings. And taking pictures of anything outside the public areas is strictly forbidden unless it directly connects with the work being performed.

Working in an environment with eyes on you all the time and tons of security people frequently asking questions can wear on a guy. In our experience everyone is very professional, but if you work in a government facility, you’ll definitely know you’re in a government facility—meaning no one will take any chances with who you are and what you’re doing. Everyone is playing CYA (Cover Your…Posterior).

November 2017

13 S W E E P I N G

Dust Control: Special Problem, Practical Solution

But It’s Fun, Too! The AOC escorts can be great to work with.

Depending on which one we get, they’re a wealth of knowledge about the Capitol and its history.

They’ve pointed out bullet marks on the marble left by British soldiers during the War of 1812. One escort even demonstrated to us how the “Whisper Room” works. The half-dome shape of Capitol’s National Statuary Hall produces an acoustical effect that amplifies sound. Legend has it that, while serving in the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams discovered he could hear everything said from clear across the room, and so he eavesdropped on everyone in the House without leaving his desk.

14 S W E E P I N G

The escorts have also shared some interesting stories. For instance, I asked one of the older escorts, “Who are the ‘cool’ congressmen?” He told me that when he was newer to the job, he was in Rep. John Boehner’s office (before he became Speaker of the House) with an even younger worker.

Introducing him to Mr. Boehner, he said, “Mr. Boner, this is …”

The escort, realizing he was undoubtedly mispronouncing Boehner’s name, began apologizing. Mr. Boehner defused an incredibly awkward situation by leaning in with an easy smile and saying, “It’s OK. I’ve been called much worse.”

November 2017

One of the things we all think about when planning a job is dust control. Telling you the Supreme Court AOC is very concerned about the controlling the amount of dust, debris, and noise during the repair process is an understatement.

Actually, it’s an obsession. We already use plastic on poles and air movers for a lot of our jobs, but with limited access to windows and the 13-to-16 foot ceilings in the Supreme Court building, the plastic-on-pole set-ups we had on hand would be unsatisfactory.

We decided to go with 5x5-foot flat top canvas canopy enclosures instead. These units work perfectly. At $300 each, they are fast to set up and simple to use. Heavy-duty zippers lift the front flap towards the fireplace, and another set of zippers makes it easy to enter and exit. As I mentioned, fireplace flues vent into horizontal terra cotta lined flues constructed of brick and cement and located in the attic or catwalks of the building. The team at the Supreme Court building were tasked with locating each juncture where the vertical flue met the horizontal one and then cut an opening to match the flue size, which varied from 14½" x 14½" to 15 ½" x 15½". I depended on them to do their job correctly in order for me to do mine correctly. As we know, things don’t always work out perfectly; sometimes there are hiccups. We had several. Two of the openings

were cut 5 inches off-center, and another ended up under a low cross beam for the roof. Causing additional man hours and material lost. Just getting all the material and tools up through the tiny hatches in the catwalks was hard enough, this added insult to injury.

Getting Paid Like a lot of work we do in our industry, clients are getting accustomed to before-and-after pictures.

The AOC is no different. In order to get paid, we had to scan all the flues and include the scan with each report and invoice. I’m not sure how it works on the state and local levels, but in the old days, I had heard horror stories about having to wait 120 days plus to get paid by the federal government.

This type of delay could ruin a small business, but fortunately, slow payment is no longer the case.

The federal government started paying its bills faster after the Treasury Department rolled out the Invoice Payment Platform (IPP) around 2002.

Our invoices seem to take just under 30 days for the funds to hit our bank account.

I’ve been told the best way to do business with the federal government is to get on the GSA Schedule. This schedule loads your company info into a database containing lists of verified vendors that Federal Property Managers use to maintain properties they are responsible for. For many businesses, the cost of getting on the schedule, the amount of paperwork involved, AND the restrictions that can be imposed upon contractors

can be daunting, if not show-stopping. For us right now, being on the GSA Schedule is not the right plan; for others it seems to work nicely.

The bottom line for all of us is that there are a lot of public and semi-public properties that require maintenance all around the country. We at Winston’s were able to connect with some of them simply by talking to clients satisfied with our work. When we ask for referrals, we ask about referrals to entities as well as to people.

If you decide to pursue business with government entities, plan to have more patience and persistence than you might expect to have with private clients. If you lose a bid, try again, and be as accommodating as you can. In addition to the obvious benefit of acquiring more business, a job well done on a historic or prestigious building can ramp up your company’s reputation and build your business with other types of client.

Taking care of business doesn’t have to mean wading through bureaucracy. For example, for you and a well-trained staff it can be a short hop from hearing about a client’s B&B experience to discussing historic homes and public buildings, who takes care of them, and how your company can offer its specialty services.

Chuck Hall is president of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Contact Chuck at:charles@winstonsservices. com.

15 S W E E P I N G November 2017

Coach’s

Corner Jerry Isenhour

Is Buy-In An Issue, A Goal, Or A Problem

16 S W E E P I N G November 2017

Over recent years several words have appeared in business vocabulary. This month we delve into one of these, buyin, because it describes a common frustration among many members of our industry who have employees.

Buy-in by the members of our team means very simply that they buy into (or, believe in) the team, the mission of the team, and the company ‘culture’, another word often used today in business.

In today’s business world, culture and buy-in are virtually synonymous. By this I mean if an employee’s personal culture does not interface well with the culture of the company, then true buy-in may never occur. Some employees may, on the surface, appear to buy into what the company mission and goals are. They may actively participate in the culture building the team. But over the long haul of day to day contact, the lack of buy-in of that employee to the company culture becomes increasingly apparent. This can be noted by the concentration they must have to the company mission on a day to day basis, this in fact negating the effect of the culture building and team building the company may have invested.

As I study this from the aspect of an observer and coach of many businesses in various areas of the USA, it also becomes apparent that if one will simply step back and see from the 20,000-foot view, this can be easily seen. But often we are so busy with the work of running the business and doing our daily tasks, we simply do not have the time to observe the subtle aspects of the behavior of individual employees.

In consultation with other

coaches in similar industries, this is a common finding.

It is my opinion a successful business requires 3 items: LEADERSHIP: The company must have an effective leader, and the company management must include the perspective of both a visionary and an implementer. For more on these two personality types I highly recommend the book Traction, by Gino Wickman.

To me this is required reading by any business owner, and it can be obtained at most book retailers and through Amazon.

I also suggest the book by Dr. John Maxwell, The 21 Laws of Leadership. For me, these are two vitally important reads for any business leader. Most leadership coaches will share with you that “Leaders Are Readers”, and reading means the old-fashioned way, with a printed book. Audio books will never place the knowledge in the brain cells that a real book does. As a leader one must build their knowledge on an ongoing basis and understand their entire life and career they are a student.

CULTURE: In the world of business, culture is most clearly defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization. Many companies now actively work to build a culture in their company even going so far as to organize culture retreats and mission building workshops for their team. But the true test of the culture is the outcome of those meetings, and the longterm ability to maintain a company culture at the place the leadership and team agree

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12:45PM–2 PM LUNCH provided by Olympia Chimney Supply

1/24–1/26, 2018

8:30 AM–10:30AM CULTURAL DYSPHORIA by Christian LeBlanc

2PM–4PM PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS: THINK LIKE A FIRE INVESTIGATOR

by Dennis Dobbs 4PM–5PM OLYMPIA CHIMNEY PRODUCT SHOWCASE/GROUP MINGLE

DAY 2 8:30AM–10:30AM PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION REPORTS by Michael Segerstrom 10:45 AM–12:45 PM IF YOU’RE IN BUSINESS, YOU’RE IN SALES by Suzanne Turner 12:45PM–2:00 PM LUNCH provided by Olympia Chimney Supply 2:00 PM–4:00 PM ESSENTIALS OF A HEALTHY EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP: ATTRACTING AND RETAINING GREAT EMPLOYEES by Colin Healey 4:00 PM–5:00 PM OLYMPIA CHIMNEY PRODUCT SHOWCASE/GROUP MINGLE

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18 S W E E P I N G

it should always be. Sustaining the culture is a leadership challenge and success requires one to be on an ongoing task of sustaining this on a daily basis.

Culture is a diet of excellence!

SYSTEMS The mortar that holds it all together is the systems and processes that are established to control the product and services the company provides to its customers. In other words, a company without systems is similar to a traveler without a GPS or map to take them to the destination, without the map often one can be lost and unsure of where one is in the voyage.

However, your buy-in by your staff member will be affected by two forces: POOR LEADERSHIP If the leader of the team does not, himself, constantly exhibit the culture that was established, the system is doomed for failure.

Because poor leadership is what wrecks the culture and the buy-in. The leader must lead by example. This includes how he speaks, what he says, how he behaves, and the way he operates on a daily basis.

No one is a perfect leader. Very few will ever master all of the 21 laws of leadership John Maxwell presents. The reason is simple, we are all human, and as humans we have our individual failings. But this is the gold nugget for the true leader, i.e. being someone who can admit his own faults in life and in his role. Once the leader can admit his own faults and share that he is working to improve, then his team will see that, and be inspired to follow his example.

But one of the hardest parts of leadership is deciding when a person must leave the team, that the damage they ae doing

November 2017

outweighs the benefits, and if a person is damaging the culture, then the damage can be severe, long lasting and will likely worsen with time. As such a part of the leadership role is to have the strength to make and carry forth that decision, at times this is made worse as that person could be a friend or even a family member.

BAD TEAM MEMBERS The other flaw in the team is when we have team members who do not fit in. If the leader allows a weak or disconnected person to remain on the team, that person will be an energy and morale drain for the entire team. In other words, he can suck the culture right out of the team. If such a person exists in a company, then there is only one alternative if the person cannot change, and that is they must leave the team. There should be no individual who is irreplaceable. In fact, if your business has someone you feel you cannot live without, then I sincerely suggest there is a problem in your systems. There is no company that can exist where the loss of any single individual would halt the efforts of the team. (I mean what will you do if that person is hit by the bus tomorrow, then you are unprepared. And this is a world where none of us know what tomorrow holds do we?)

So HOW do you get the right team, one that will build and exhibit the right culture and have the buy-in you are looking for? It starts in the following order: PROPER HIRING: The practice of accepting warm bodies must stop, warm bodies that do not boost your operation, and may prove to be a drain on your resources is not a good

way to operate. This is where the leader must make the hard decision. Experienced managers know this. All too often we hold onto people longer than we should, and even though we may have the short-term benefit (the person produced revenue for us today) the longterm damage could well be that at the end of the year you are at a loss. And the damage that could be inflicted on the rest of your team may be so severe that it cannot be undone.

It is amazing how often I have seen and heard a sigh of relief in a company after a bad team member leaves. Everyone knew he was a problem. As a leader was it not a failure on our part to not see this or act on it? And does this damage your standing as the leader? So often it does.

FIRST DAY AT WORK: Joe Crisara, a coach from the plumbing world who I network with, shared a story of a new hire a company had made. On his first day at work the new hire was supposed to undergo orientation with the boss, but something important came up and the Boss instructed him to go clean and straighten the truck he would be working out of (he was an experienced person and could do the job).

The Boss was tied up for a few hours and when he finally had time to check, the new guy had quit his job. When he contacted him, the boss was told the new hire quit because his first day in the job was to clean up a mess left by a previous employee.

His reasoning was that he was not interested in working where he would be cleaning up after the mistakes of others.

So how does this relate? It relates because it is a common practice for service companies when a new guy comes to work. We

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So, these are the processes that require deep thought. You as the leader set the stage that is the performance template for your entire team. When done right, it will produce the phenomenal performance that builds your sales, builds your profits, gives you great reviews and testimonials, and results in having a growing group of enthused customers. The change starts with you. Until the leader decides it is time for the dedicated change in his style and his processes, then the buy-in and the culture he so eagerly wants cannot occur.

If the right culture and employee buy-in are important to you, then what changes will be required of you, of your systems, and your way of doing business? Yes, it’s a deep question for sure, and I sincerely hope you can see the vision with clarity and decide to make the

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put him in a truck and with a worker that likely does not know how to train properly, and this in effect sets the stage for the career of the new hire. It is not different in life. The very emotions you have, the fears you carry, and your personality were likely formed before you could walk. In fact, it is said that at the 5th grade level the personality is formed for life.

And from that point forward change will be difficult and at times impossible. As a coach and trainer, I regularly see this exhibited in the classroom.

To grow the right culture, to have the buy-in we so desperately seek, we must change how we select and properly orient our new hires. Some of our industry members are now practicing this process and are building culture rich machines that perform in immaculate ways.

Pellet Wood

www.z-flex.com 2017-05-08 3:56 PM changes that will be required.

A great culture and a group buyin awaits you. But to gain them it will take CHANGE and it will take SUSTAINING the change.

If you are ready, only the man in the mirror can stop you!

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.cvccoaching.com He can be contacted at jerry@cvccoaching. com or by phone at (704) 425-0217.

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

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Technical

Q&A

Michael Segerstrom

NCSG Technical Advisory Chair

Question:

How often are codes updated, and are these updates retroactive?

Answer: Accurate answers to these questions may at times seem to be elusive, depending on the state, and what it has adopted as specific codes.

All of the states have adopted various International Code Council codes, with many states using National Fire Protection Association standards as code for specific applications.

Navigating this may be a little difficult. One example, is what is used as the gas code. Some states recognize the NFPA 54, which is known as the National Fuel Gas Code. Other states may have adopted the International Fuel Gas Code, which is an ICC document.

A more clear example would be what a state adopts for chimney construction. Many states will use the International Residential Code, or the International Building Code, or both. Whereas some states that utilize the ICC codes, will specifically adopt the NFPA 211 as the chimney construction code.

And on top of these differences from state-to-state, many states will adopt their own state specific version of an ICC or NFPA document. And then add to that, local or regional requirements and adoptions within that state.

22 S W E E P I N G

So the best place to start, is where we work locally. Contact the state we work in, find out what their codes are, and also check in with the local municipalities for any specific requirements.

November 2017

The ICC codes, and many of the NFPA standards that are used as codes, are updated every 3 years. But this does not necessarily mean that states will also update every 3 years.

Many states are on a six-year update cycle, with their update year being the year following the code update. This is another reason to keep in touch with our local and state authorities, to find out what version of what code is being adopted and when.

With many of the code updates, there may be very little changes to chimney construction or appliance venting requirements.

But there may be home construction codes that have changed, that affect the way chimneys and appliances perform. One example is how construction and energy efficiency codes have made homes tighter and tighter over recent years. This has resulted in less available combustion and make-up air for natural draft appliances and fireplaces. Being aware of these changes in codes and construction practices can help us diagnose performance problems in new construction, and existing construction that has undergone renovations.

Generally speaking, current codes are not automatically retroactive. There may be a few items in a new code, where it specifically indicates that it is retroactive based on a safety concern or major performance issue. There may also be local code enforcement officials or jurisdictions that may make a portion or section of code retroactive based on their concerns.

The most common aspect of retroactivity that the chimney service professional will encounter, is when making repairs to a chimney system, and/or installing certain listed products and appliances. Many of these products will require that the chimney, or some aspect of it, specifically meets current code when installing that product. One example of this would be chimney structure airspace clearances to combustibles. Listed stainless liner manufacturers will require that these clearances are present, or that the liner is insulated for certain applications if they are not.

It may take some research and a little time, but it's important to find out what codes are in place where we work, and when they may be updated. We can also keep an eye out for classes at the NCSG National Convention and other events that cover changes in codes and NFPA standards.

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S W E E P I N II G

History

Project F

rom the NCSG History Project archives, we have this photograph of a Polish chimney sweep delegation meeting Pope Saint John Paul II during his papacy 1978-2005.

Claire Rutledge-Sakha Program Coordinator

24 S W E E P I N G

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Back Row: Jay Walker, Howard Rowell, Ken Hoelscher, Thomas Rhines, Jeff Schmittinger, Dennis Stodola, Cleveland Pope Front Row Sitting: Denise Schmittinger & Rachel Vant

White House Chimney Sweeping Team 2017

I

recently returned from Washington DC. I was honored to be chosen to join a team of sweeps from all around the nation to sweep the White House!

There we swept and inspected with camera scanning equipment 28 fireplaces and chimney flues that.

Jeff Schmittinger has been organizing a team of sweeps about every 2 years since 1993. He received the Meritorious Service Award from the NCSG President Jasper Drengler at last convention for his work on this project for 24 years.

This year, in 2017, he announces to the team that this was his last trip, and he was passing the leadership role to his colleague and longtime friend, Howard Rowell, who has also serviced the White House Chimneys for the past 24 years. Howard is the past president of the Chimney Safety Institute of America andthe

By Jay Walker

National Chimney Sweep Guild. His leadership ability will serve him well at organizing the teams. Having one person in charge does make the continuity and cohesiveness of the structured event go smoothly. The fireplaces are challenging with very narrow smoke chamber throats with smoke shelves at the top of the throat adding a challenge to the sweepings and inspections. Many of the dampers are quite unique to those in other regions of the country according to other team members.

I have been blessed to have served on the team the last three trips. This trip we had new members: Cleveland Pope, Ken Hoelscher, Thomas Rhines, and Rachel Vant (Rachael is Jeff’s granddaughter and helped Jeff’s wife spread the drop clothes infront of each fireplace on the “stately stylish rugs”.)

The tradition of going over to Old Ebbitt Grill

November 2017

25 S W E E P I N G

just a block away from the White House to eat raw Oysters and sip a cold one is still going.

If you or someone you know who is a chimney sweep would like the chance to be part of the team it is by nomination from one of your fellow chimney sweeps. Send an email to Howard Royal at howard@royalchimney.com with the subject line White House Sweeps. The team will follow up with the nomination and what the requirements are to be part of The White House Chimney Team. There is a stringent security

background check requirement along with the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential.

Good physical condition is a must as it gets very hot on the roof-tops at the White House.

Jay Walker, native Tallahassean, swept his first chimney in 1981. Jay is President of Jay Walker Enterprises, Inc. (www.jaywalkerenterprises.com) Jay has served on the Chimney Safety Institute of America (www.csia.org) board and also service on the National Chimney Sweep Guild (www.ncsg.org) and past President of the Guild.

Past NCSG Presidents Award recipient Ken Hoelscher brought the equipment in on this trip

Jeff and Jay’s Wife Candy Walker at Old Ebbitt Cleveland Pope & Ken Hoelscher on Roof of the White House.

26 S W E E P I N G November 2017

From Left to Right: Jay Walker, Denise Schmittinger, Cleveland Pope, Jeff Schmittinger, Howard Rowell, Rachel Vant, Dennis Stodola, Thomas Rhines, Ken Hoelscher.

Jay Walker & Howard Rowell on Roof of the White House (South Lawn and Washington Monument in background.)

27 S W E E P I N G November 2017

Jeff and Rachel on top of the White House

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Call for Nominations: Board of Directors When you serve on the NCSG Board of Directors, you help lead the chimney industry into the future and can develop leadership, management and communication skills that will serve you in your business and personal life. You can make an immediate difference in the chimney service industry by helping to determine the organizations' strategic plan and annual budget.

The NCSG Governance Committee is now accepting nominations for the following positions.

Region 2: 2-year term

NCSG board members are responsible for:

Region 3: 2-year term

• Attending four board meetings each year: Two of the meetings are held at the CSIA Technology Center in Indianapolis (Spring- typically held for three days, Summer- typically held for two days), the November meeting is usually held online via and via teleconference and the fourth is held immediately before the NCSG convention at the host city. Travel and lodging expenses are reimbursed for board members attending, with the exception of the convention meeting only.

• Participating in the NCSG members-only and board of directors' electronic discussion lists.

• Welcoming new and reinstated members to the organization via phone calls and email • Connecting members to regional legislation affecting the industry And NCSG board members receive: • Complimentary NCSG National Convention registration for you and your spouse while you serve on the board.

• Networking opportunities at board meetings which help develop life-long friendships with business associations from across the country.

Represents: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Represents: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Region 4: 2-year term Represents: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio

Region 6: 2-year term Represents: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

At Large Director #2: 2-year term Represents: National Membership

Nomination DeadlineDecember 19, 2017 The newly elected directors will be seated at the April 17, 2018 board of directors meeting in Portland, OR. If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact NCSG Governance Chair Tom Hunkele at topnotchchimney@gmail.com or NCSG Association Manager Megan McMahon at mmcmahon@ncsg.org.

29 S W E E P I N G November 2017

2018 NCSG National Convention Featuring: Opening Keynote: Bill Stainton

Bill Stainton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning TV producer, writer, and performer; an author; a business humorist; and an internationally-recognized Beatles expert. He blends the business smarts he learned from twenty years in corporate management with the show biz sparks he garnered from working with people like Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Bill Nye the Science Guy to create entertaining and enlightening presentations enjoyed by audiences around the world!

Closing Keynote: Frank King An award winning, syndicated humor columnist and radio talk show personality Frank King has written jokes for Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, and Dennis Miller for the last two decades. As a CertiďŹ ed Laugh Coach, Stress Reduction Specialist, and Professional Comedian since 1985 he oers time-tested tools for using humor to turn pain into punchlines, losses into laughs, and messes and stresses into successes.

April 18-21, 2018 Double Tree Hotel | Portland, OR November 2017 www.ncsgconvention.org

NCSG/ Oregon Guild Member Rates Primary

NCSG Convention 2018 • April 18-21 • Portland, OR Through 2/14/18

2/15/183/15/18

$499 (399)

$549 (449)

After 3/15/18 $599 (499)

Spouse $199 $249 $299 st 1 Additional $349 ($249) $399 ($299) $449($349) 2nd Additional $299 ($199) $349 ($249) $399($299) 3+ Additional $249 ($149) $299 ($199) $349($249) Single Day $199 $199 $199 Banquet Only $79 $79 $79 Child Banquet 5-12 $39 $39 $39 Tradeshow Only $69 $69 $69 NOTE: First Time Attendee prices for members are in parenthesis ( ).

Company_________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ City, State, Zip _____________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________ □ Check here to opt-out of emails from exhibitors

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Through 2/14/18

2/15/183/15/18

After 3/15/18

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$599 $649 $699 (499) (549) (599) Spouse $299 $349 $399 st 1 Additional $449 $499 $549 2nd Additional $399 $449 $499 3+ Additional $349 $399 $449 Single Day $299 $299 $299 Banquet Only $99 $99 $99 Child Banquet 5-12 $39 $39 $39 Tradeshow Only $99 $99 $99 - Opening Night ReceptionAdditional Registration Required $30/per person. Join us for heavy appetizers, a cash bar, games, fun and catching up with old friends at Portland’s Punch Bowl Social Wednesday night.

Please write your name as you’d like it to appear on your badge.

Check if wanting an additional information packet mailed (primary packet emailed with registration confirmation).

Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Registration Total $ ___________________ Opening Night Tickets ($30/each) Qty: ________ Ticket Total $ ___________ 2018 Convention Patch ($3/each - Pickup on-site.) Qty: ________ Patch Total $ ___________ GRAND TOTAL $ ___________ MAIL TO: National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 PAYMENT INFORMATION FAX TO: (317) 837-5365 CALL: (317) 837-1500 Payment Method: □ Check # ___________ REGISTER ONLINE at www.ncsgconvention.org □ Visa □ MC □ AmEx Account # ________________________________________ Card Security Code ______________ Exp. __________ Office Use Only O2CR C2F AUTH__________ Name on Card ____________________________________ Org ID___________ Profile ID____________ Signature ________________________________________ Rec’d By__________ Date ____________ Refund policy: Prior to 2/15/18, 90%; 2/15/18-3/15/18, 75%.

No refunds are available after 3/15/18.

November 2017

Dates and

Events November 2017 November 6-12, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 3rd - 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 November 9, 2017 NCSG & CSIA Board Meeting GoTo Meeting

32 S W E E P I N G November 2017

November 13-19, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered

by Noon November 10th - 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 November 20-26, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon November 17th - 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

December 2017 November 27 - December 3, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon November 24th - 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 December 4-10, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon December 1st - 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 December 11-17, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon December 8th - 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 December 18-24, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon December 15th - 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 December 25-31, 2017 CSIA (online) – Must be registered by Noon December 21st - 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

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33 Call your favorite Lock-Top distributor today!

AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR OVER 25 YEARS

November 2017

S W E E P I N G

3

Ways to

Create

Problem Solvers

M 34 S W E E P I N G

By Chuck Roydhouse

any business owners and managers complain that their crew leaders are not able to find solutions for themselves. The managers feel that they are constantly being pestered with questions that the Lead Technician should be able to work through. The question to ask yourself is “who trained the employees not to think and who is providing the answers”. Is that you?

If you want this this behavior to change, you must establish new habits when advising the crew members on finding answers as well as accepting that mistakes will be made as the crew leader takes initiative. If you are patient, a much stronger team will emerge which in turn will build a more successful business.

Your focus should start in three areas.

1) MEETINGS Meetings should be approximately 30 minutes long in order to maintain focus and productivity.

These meetings should be weekly one on one

November 2017

meetings with and agenda and direct report. This will eliminate any discomfort created in group sharing and build rapport and gain understanding of each employee’s team. By limiting the discussion to the relevant crew leaders you are able to drill down on the needed topic or topics. This will create and efficient transfer of information and allow for quick resolution to the stumbling blocks being discussed. Quarterly meetings are the time to engage the entire company and should be held just after the close of the quarter. This is the time to evaluate where the company is and where it is heading. Provide a review of sales performance offer recognition and present an outline of upcoming plans.

2) USE DATA Managing with data and not raw emotion is important to the success of your company.

You should never make decisions based on feeling alone. Many tools are available for data management. A CRM or customer relationship management system can be used to manage sales,

operations, client engagement/retention, and pricing. By monitoring all of these components in the CRM you effectively evaluate the business and its performance. You must look at all of the sales components including leads, calls, and contracts. You should hone in on why proposals are lost. Price is not typically the reason.

Reviewing large quantities of data can drive you nuts if you try to respond in too many directions. The key indicators are trends and averages and they may allow you to manage what you are seeing.

3) MENTORING The most difficult part of managing is mentoring the crew. This is more of an art than science.

Some have an innate ability to mentor. Most of us must learn this skill by practice and being coached. To foster a good relationship between both parties, there must be a mutual understanding, agreement on goals/performance, encouraged growth and constructive feedback provided. Best business practice requires defined roles in your company. The next step is to ensure that the persons in each role is suited for said role. A great way to help determine correct role placement is using a behavior assessment tool. These tests allow you to determine who is wired for certain tasks based on a personality type.

Persons who enjoy a routine might not make a good project manager. However they could be a great choice for maintenance work, which is structured and repetitive.

Things to keep in mind as a mentor: • Credibility • Communication • Confidence • Cooperation • Commitment • Consistency • Caring The foundation for leading others effectively is built

on trustworthiness. You must do your job well and be of strong character. Always be making deposits in the “trust bank”. This will build relationships, but be advised withdraws from the “bank” lessens the trust.

In order to be successful in this process you must see things from the other person’s perspective.

DO NOT impose your understandings and beliefs on them, rather use their understanding and beliefs to encourage them to choose a particular action. Consistency is key. Strive for incremental changes over a period of time.

Habits are created by multiple repeat of the task or choice. Be patient change is slow.

By focusing on meetings, data, and mentoring you can mold the team into a group of solution finders that will push your company to the next level.

Chuck is a graduate of Shepherd University with a degree in Fire Science and Safety. He has served on the CSIA Board of Directors since 2014, holding the positions of Chairman of Educational Development and CSIA Master Sweep Committee, CSIA Treasurer and is currently serving as CSIA Vice President.

Contact chuck@roydhouseeffect.com / www.roydhouseeffect.com

35

Wohler Chimney Maintenance Tools • Gas leaks and air quality meters • Temperature and infrared gauges • Measure draft and differential pressure Contact your local distributor!

The Measure of Technology

November 2017

S W E E P I N G

New

Members

NEW YORK

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

INDIANA

NORTH DAKOTA

ARIZONA

Matters of the Hearth | Matt Hanby | Findley Lake

Trinity Chimney Service | Josh Merson | Elkridge

Multi-Services | Gary Jennings | Newport News

Indy Masonry Services | Evan Sutton | Indianapolis

Nodak Inspections | Richard DeBrunner | Williston

Chimney Cricket Tucson LLC | Michael Jones | Oro Valley

NEW JERSEY CALIFORNIA

Chimney Elves | Mark Martnick | Shamong

All Seasons Fireplace | Rick Newsom | Yucca Valley

PENNSYLVANIA

November 2017

REGION

S W E E P I N G

REGION

36

REGION REGION

REGION

REGION REGION

4 54 5 65 6 6 FireTec LLC | Justin McDaid | Prospect

REGION

REGION REGION REGION REGION

REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION REGION

1 21424325435365

Progressive

G

reetings!

My name is Annemarie and I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Member Services Coordinator here at the National Chimney Sweep Guild.

I am a 2016 graduate from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a Bachelor of Science.

Immediately after graduation, I moved to Boston to spend a year of service with AmeriCorps. While there, I served in an underserved community. It was an invaluable experience that really developed a dedication to diversifying and deepening relationships.

Ultimately that is what led me here — a place where I can work with and for diverse individuals while contributing to such an incredible global community of Sweeps! Going forward, I’m excited to share some amazing member benefits and perks with you all!

Perks

By Annemarie Stockton

Better Performance, Better Pricing, Best Warranties

The Finest in Masonry Weatherproofing Products

Save up to 25% with WeatherTite CrownTite Price Warranty

$ 189.95 20 Year

vs.

CrownCoat™

WaterTite/wb

$ 220.00* 15 Year

Price Warranty

Flexible Crown vs. CrownSeal™ Price Warranty

$ 183.95 20 Year

$ 121.95 12 Year

FlashTite

$ 216.00* 10 Year

Price Warranty

vs. ChimneySaver™/wb $ 163.00* 10 Year vs.

FlashSeal™

$ 43.95 10 Year

$ 56.00* 7 Year

Your satisfaction is 100% GUARANTEED! “We got tired of other crown materials peeling off... I am so thankful we found WeatherTite products...

What a difference! We won’t use anything else.” Mark Price New Buck Chimney Service

Available from: New England Chimney Supply • 888-900-8106 * Competitor pricing as listed in 2016/17 Olympia Chimney Supply catalog. Actual cost may vary.

Call: 800-711-9672 Receive free shipping on your first order

www.weathertiteinc.com November 2017

37 S W E E P I N G

CSIA UPDATE November 2017 Report

www.CSIA.org

Renew your Chimeny Sweep Certification with Education Credits Some of you probably enjoyed taking tests in high school, while others probably would have preferred to slam their finger in the door of their car than to take a test. Did you know you can renew your Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS) certification without taking CCS exam every three year cycle?

Before you make the decision to pursue renewal

by CEU, know there are three ways to renew your certification.

More Courses Thanks to a long-standing partnership with the National Fireplace Institute (NFI), additional subjects are available for CEUs with them. Make sure the course description includes “CSIA CEUs” or it is likely not elligible for CSIA credit. All of the courses are online and cover a wide range of subjects like:

You can renew your CCS one of three ways.

• • •

•

A full list can be found at www.nficertified.org.

• •

Complete the one day in-person review/exam, or the online CCS review and in-person proctored exam; Earn 9 CEUs and pass the exam; or earn 48 CEUs.

CEU’s must be earned during three-year renewal cycle, failure to renew your certification may result in loss of credits earned.

Why renewal by CEU? First, you avoid the exam. However, aside from getting a pass on the CCS exam and possibly the review session, you learn new skills and expertise to help you excel as a sweep in performance and safety.

Courses that count towards CEU are both online and in-person. Examples of the more than 40 CSIA courses include: • • • • •

Chimney Physics; Inspection and Report Writing; Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances; Masonry Repair for Chimney Professionals; and Roof System Specific Rope Access Training.

Visit csia.org/education to see a full list of courses

Gas Log Installation and Troubleshooting; Installation of Factory Built Fireplaces; and Tools and Tips for Service Calls.

If you own your sweep company or are involved with administration, there are even more courses available to you. NFI offers eligible courses on health insurance, marketing, sales, and much more.

Your 48 credits must be earned in the three-year certification period and must be divided as followed in these areas: (12) Technical; (8) Codes & Standards; (6) Communication & Liability; (6) Health & Safety; and (16) Elective (including Business).

Renewal through CEUs does take some long-term planning and it is not advisable to wait until the final year of your certification to begin taking classes. This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and most importantly, avoid taking an exam.

ADVERTISEMENT

November 2017 Report

Newly Certified Chimney Sweeps Alabama Dustin Burroughs | Top Hat Chimney Sweeps | Opelika

Minnesota James, White, III | Jack Pixley Sweeps | Spring Lake Park Derek VonSpreecken | London Chimney Sweeps | Golden Valley

California Alicia Young | All Seasons Fireplace | Yucca Valley TJ Sanchez | White Glove Chimney and Duct | Redding Nick Hollister | Right Way Enterprises | Newbury Park

Montana Michael Richardson | White Heating & Air Conditioning | Billings

Colorado Jarrod Panzer | A Clean Sweep | Greeley Benaiah Adams | Mountain Home Stoves & Fireplace | Steamboat Springs Illinois Craig Etter | Wiegmann Woodworking & Fireplaces | Damiansville Tom Ewen | Excel Fireplace & Chimney | Peoria Indiana Stephen Birch | Indy Masonry Services | Indianapolis William Bishop | Chimpro | Noblesville Richard Osinski | Firedawgs Cleaning Services | Indianapolis Jacob Sutton | Indy Masonry Services | Indianapolis Evan Sutton | Indy Masonry Services | Indianapolis Kansas Zachary Horn | Full Service Chimney | Olathe Dustin Youngken | Full Service Chimney | Olathe Kentucky Jordan Alexander | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington T. Ryan Ball | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Kelvin Damrell | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Brady Swan | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Colin Cook | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Maryland David Asbury | Charmed Chimney Service | Baltimore Kasey Pruett | Charmed Chimney Service | Baltimore Massachusetts Sean Flynn | Firesafe Chimney Services |Ware Michigan Jason Burdette | Gorton Chimney & Fireplace Co | Horton Timothy Gorton, Sr. | Gorton Chimney & Fireplace Co | Horton Jason Wallace | Doctor Flue | Tecumseh

New Jersey Christopher Taramelli | Ryan & Sons Chimney Contractors | Landing New York Ryan Wickwire | North American Chimney & Gutter | Bay Shore North Carolina Tyler Baldwin | Smoke Alert | Garner North Dakota Richard DeBrunner | Nodak Inspections | Williston Ohio Kevin Daniel | Abbey Road Chimney Sweep | Brookville Seth Heizer | Dave Barrett Chimney Sweeps | Logan Alan Keefer | Chimney Care Company | Loveland Michael Zak | Chimney Care Company | Loveland Oklahoma Paden Hall | Hearth & Pool Services | Tahlequah Pennsylvania H. Nevins Parkinson | Bradigan’s Heating & Air Conditioning | Kittanning Dean Oldt | Wells & Sons Chimney Service | Gilbertsville Ed O’Sullivan | Newtown Fireplace Shop | Newtown Tahj Perera | Wells & Sons Chimney Service | Gilbertsville Matthew Maresh | Jamison Chimney Services | Oreland Kyle Marshall | Anderson’s Chimney Sweeps | New Cumberland Andrew Qualls | Anderson’s Chimney Sweeps | New Cumberland Joe Lewandowski | Alliance Chimney and Energy | Ardmore Virginia Brian Brinson | Potomac Services | Sterling Gary Wedekind | Rusty’s Fire Place & Chimney | Hamilton Wisconsin Josh Acker | The Chimney Guy | Menasha International Balsoianu Mircea; Romania Simion Cristian Virgil; Romania

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www.CSIA.org

Newly Certified Dryer Exhaust Technicians

CERTIFIED

DRYER EXHAUST

TECHNICIAN

Connecticut

Missouri

Ryan Foley | W&K Property Services | East Hartford

Brien Pippen | The Appliance Care Co | Belton

Hawaii

North Carolina

Rickey Cunningham | Cunningham’s Air Systems Cleaning Specialists | Pearl City

Nikelas Butrico | Smoke Alert | Garner

Chris Morris | STL Chimney |S t. Charles

Tennessee

Kentucky T. Ryan Ball | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Lucas Gullett | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Blake Giles | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Brady Swan | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington

David Eppich | Coopertown Services | Memphis Texas Pedro Aquilera | 1st Choice Chimney | Irving

Jordan Alexander I Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington James Tabor | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington John Wes Thornton | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Kyle Nunn | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Kelvin Damrell | Barnhill Chimney Co | Lexington Michigan Howard Pollard | Vent Corp/Pollard Heating | Dearborne

ADVERTISEMENT

November 2017 Report

Upcoming Classes & Events 2018 CSIA live courses will be announced soon Stay tuned to your email, social media, and our website for updates.

CSIA Certified Online Learning Available Can’t wait for the 2018 live schedule? Earn CEUs weekly by registering for any of our more than forty online courses at: csia.org/elearning. Topics cover health and safety, codes and standards, technical, communications and liability, and business. Multi-user health and safety courses are available.

Interested in taking multiple courses in the same week? Save money by bundling your courses For additional course details, please visit www.csia.org/education.

Do or Do Not, There is No Try for a Master Sweep With the imminent return of Luke Skywalker to the big screen next month, it seems like a great time to challenge all CSIA certified sweeps to complete additional training.

Contact Us: Mailing Address 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 Telephone (317) 837-5362 Email: Office@CSIA.org

Did you know CSIA offers Master Chimney Sweep certification, a rank attained by only 33 sweeps to date. Will you be number 34?

MASTER

To apply, you must be an active CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and must have held the CCS credential for a minimum of ten continuous years. There are also additional course requirements and a National Fireplace Institute requirements for the application process. You are encouraged to fulfill your destiny by learning more at: csia.org/mastersweep.

Twitter: @Chimney_Safety Facebook: /ChimneySafety ADVERTISEMENT

Around the

Tech H Center.

Megan McMahon Association Manager

42 S W E E P I N G November 2017

appy Thanksgiving Sweeps!

Thanksgiving is the time of year set aside for us to give thanks for the all the good things in our lives. This got me thinking about what I’m thankful for in my “chimney life.”

1. Our members — For more than 40 years the members of the NCSG has served as the backbone of our organization. We quite literally couldn’t do it without you all.

2. Our volunteers — Whether you have served on the board of directors, taken a shift at convention, written for Sweeping, attended Sweeps Week or much more thank you from the bottom of all our hearts for volunteering your time to make our organization stronger.

3. Our veteran team — I could not thank this awesome group of individuals enough for everything they have done during their time with the Guild and more importantly to me, over the past few months. I am truly honored to work amongst such amazing people.

4. Our new team — Over the past month it has been fantastic to welcome new smiling faces to the Tech Center. Our three new team members have all jumped in with both feet to serve our wonderful members and certified sweeps for which I am extremely grateful. It is a pleasure to have them join our team!

Be sure to take a minute to meet them when you see them around convention.

I hope you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Classifieds 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.

Work for a Growing Company!

Chimney Solutions, based in Atlanta, GA, is looking for Salespeople and Installers with the desire to move up within our company. A $1000$2000 signing bonus is available, depending on certifications. Pay will be commensurate with experience. Relocation is available for the individual that meets our needs and qualifications. Send resumes to dpace@ chimneysolutions.com or visit our website at www.chimneysolucations.com.

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 noncommissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified as, please contact Sara Sichting at ssichting@ncsg.org or 317-837-1500.

43 S W E E P I N G November 2017

Darwin

Award Photo from a prefabricated system that someone extended by cutting a hole in the cap and connecting a piece of pipe to just the inner flue and then installing another cap on the single piece of pipe.

James Mueller of A-1 Safety Chimney Services in Carol Stream, IL

Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief?

Send it to editor Darcy Marlett at dmarlett@ ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Include a few words about the scene and location.

Ad Index CVC Coaching

704-425-0217

www.cvccoaching.com 43

Copperfield 800-247-3305 www.copperfield.com Firesafe Industries, Inc.

800-545-6607

7, 19

www.firesafeinc.com 5

Gelco www.gllchimneyproducts.com

23

ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com 28 Lindemann Chimney Company

44 S W E E P I N G

866-629-8006

www.lindemannsupply.com 9

Lock-Top www.gllchimneyproducts.com

33

National Chimney

800-897-8481

www.nationalchimney.com

Inside front cover

New England Chimney Supply

888-900-8106

www.newenglandchimneysupply.com 21

Olympia Chimney Supply

800-569-1425

www.olympiachimney.com 17

Roydhouse Effect Inc

410-863-0157

www.roydhouseeffect.com 24

Sand Hill Wholesale & Mfg., Inc

800-258-5496

www.sandhillwholesale.com 4

SaverSystems, Inc

800-860-6327

www.saversystems.com 32

Smoktite 866-439-0069 www.ventechindustries.com 10 WeatherTite Inc.

800-711-9672

www.weathertiteinc.com 37

Wohler USA

978-750-9876

www.wohlerusa.com 35

Z-Flex 800-654-5600 sales@z-flex.com 20

November 2017

your way across the show floor.

Find the products to help increase sales tempo. HPBExpo 2018.

North America’s largest indoor-outdoor industry showcase electrifies businesses and produces hit after sales-charting hit. From the expansive show floor to the adjacent Outdoor Burn Area just outside the venue doors, no other event allows you to preview products the way they were meant to be experienced. New business strategies and relationships are waiting to be discovered amidst the exciting buzz of Nashville.

REGISTER TODAY AT HPBExpo.com/register.

EXHIBITION: MARCH 8-10, 2018

µ

EDUCATION: MARCH 7-9, 2018

µ

Bright Ideas in Music City.

MUSIC CITY CENTER

µ

NASHVILLE, TN

JOIN US HERE Registration is now open to join the NCSG in beautiful Portland, Oregon April 18-21, 2018!

Find out more and register at: www.ncsgconvention.org