NCSG Innovation 2012 Buena Vista Palace • Orlando • February 15-18
Orlando is the place to be for NCSG Innovation 2012! Plan NOW to be there February 15-18 for another great year of national-caliber chimney education and professional networking.
RESERVATIONS ARE NOW OPEN AT THE BUENA VISTA PALACE! Call (866) 397-6516 and mention that you’re with NCSG or visit www.NCSG.org to lock in rates starting at $139/night. Note: There is an additional $10.95 daily resort fee which includes free wi-fi access and parking during your stay. If your family perked up a little when they heard the word “Orlando”, we’ve got you covered. Our group rate runs February 9-22, so you can sneak in a few days before or after the convention for some time with the world’s most famous mouse or exploring any number of Orlando’s exciting destinations. All eyes (and ears) on chimneys for Innovation 2012 in Orlando, February 15-18!
September 2011 Volume 35 #8
Table of Contents Features 14 Advanced Health Care Directives
P.20
20 Marketing on Google 22 How To: Easily Start a Fire Every Time with Less Smoke
23 Showcase Your Talents with 3 New Contests
P.29
Departments 3 Moving Forward 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Industry Watch 10 Technical Q&A 12 Chimney Sense P.31
18 CSIA Update 24 Sweeps Advantage Coupons
Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology (ISSN# 10416692) is published 11 times annually, by the National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Annual dues to the National Chimney Sweep Guild are $459 for Voting Member Companies and $689 for Supplier Member Companies, of which $80 goes toward a subscription to Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology. Additional annual subscriptions are available for $80 by contacting the National Chimney Sweep Guild at the office of publication (NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168
25 Progressive Perks 26 New NCSG Members 28 Dates & Events 29 Perspective 31 Darwin Awards 32 Classifieds
SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 1
ResourcePage
NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD
COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND TASK FORCES FOR 2011-2012 Bylaws Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Governance Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com
NFPA 211 Representative Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com
Convention Site Selection Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Government Affairs Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 sootski@aol.com
NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Discussion List Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 margepadgitt@comcast.net
International Relations Victor Imgarten (636) 477-9966 stlswp@accessus.net
NFPA 54 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com
Ethics Mark Stoner (615) 459-2546 ashbusters@aol.com
Long Range Planning Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Public Awareness Task Force Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 margepadgitt@comcast.net
Finance Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 mark@chimneyguy.com
Membership Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com
Technical Advisory Council Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 info@fireplaceservicescenter.com
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question: Dennis Dobbs Technical Advisory Council Chair Installation or Service of Direct Vent Gas Appliances 317-203-0088 x: 1 Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes 317-203-0088 x: 2 Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 317-203-0088 x: 3 John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing, Relining or NFPA 31 317-203-0088 x: 4
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves 317-203-0088 x: 7
President, Region 3 Jay Walker (850) 562-4692 • president@ncsg.org Vice President, At-Large Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 • chimneygal@aol.com Treasurer, Region 5 Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 • mark@chimneyguy.com Secretary, Region 1 Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 • sootski@aol.com Region 2 Bob Fleer (410) 544-7600 • bobfleer@aol.com Region 4 Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 • margepadgitt@comcast.net Region 6 OPEN SEAT FMI: Randy Brooks NCSG Governance Chair (805) 646-8961 • hearthhunter@aol.com At-Large Directors Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 • fluesbrothers@yahoo.com
Jay Walker Dryer Vents 317-203-0088 x: 8
Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 • info@fireplaceservicecenter.com
John LaBrosse International Residential Codes 317-203-0088 x: 9
Fred Joy (785) 986-6432 • joyfredm@live.com
Randy Brooks NFPA 211 and Customer Communications 317-203-0088 x: 5 Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining, Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing 317-203-0088 x: 6
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry 317-203-0088 x: 10 Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining 317-203-0088 x: 11
Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney. Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with first-hand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or SweepingAds@indy.rr.com Design by Laura Houser Design • laurahouser.com • (317) 213-7497 NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press release and articles to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping Editor at mheeke@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release. NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publications’ standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2011 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
2 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
NCSG BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012
Supplier Representative Edmund Poplawski (570) 504-7107 • epoplawski@olympiachimney.com
STAFF 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365 Mark McSweeney, CAE Executive Director mmcsweeney@ncsg.org
Megan McMahon Office Manager mmcmahon@ncsg.org
Melissa Heeke, CAE Director of Communications & Marketing mheeke@ncsg.org
Sara Sichting Certification Coordinator (CSIA) ssichting@csia.org
Ashley Eldridge, COI, CPP Director of Education ashley@ncsg.org
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcornelius@ncsg.org
Candice Bradbury Director of Finance cbradbury@ncsg.org
Donna Lee Kasmer Program Coordinator dkasmer@ncsg.org
JAY WALKER NCSG PRESIDENT
T
he fall season is upon us. Hopefully you and your team have your game faces on and are ready to exceed your customers’ expectations.
Occasionally I hear from some members that say that NCSG membership is just a magazine they get each month. This magazine, while surely a great communication tool to our members, is your constant reminder of our organization at work for you and the industry as a whole. But like everything else in life, you get out of something what you’re willing to put in to it. Do you want to thrive and do your best to increase your bottom line? While NCSG is always actively seeking new members to help grow the team, we are especially concentrating on upgrading existing member benefits. Membership includes much more than a magazine.
Moving Forward
If you’re not taking advantage of these benefits and are not attending the annual convention, have you already reached that point where your business runs itself? I think not. We all need help running our businesses smarter and finding better ways to exceed our customers’ expectations. Registration for the NCSG Innovation 2012 convention and trade show opens October 1. Start planning now to be in Orlando in February. You will be glad you did. Once on-site be sure to introduce yourself to other sweeps. Use the time between classes and events to talk to others and build your network. Convention is your opportunity to make friends for life and to learn from each other. The Orlando event will prove to be the largest trade specific event
Here are a few ways to get the most out of your NCSG membership: • Use the discounts available to you from some of the top vendors in the country. • Use www.NCSG.org as a tool to use to educate your clients. • Take advantage of the government affairs alerts which may affect your business in your state. • Attend the NCSG annual convention and trade show and let it recharge you. You’ll return with new ideas for implementation in your company and may purchase some of the new products and tools to make your work life more efficient. • Discounts available for NCSG members from the only nationally-recognized chimney sweep certifying body, namely the Chimney Safety Institute of America. • Actively read and ask questions on the NCSG discussion list. SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 3
for chimney and venting professionals in the country and will have a wealth of education available and many opportunities to network with fellow chimney sweeps. It is a small investment of time and money that will reap more benefits once you have returned to your place of business and begin the implementation that will move your company to the next level.
information, please contact our Public Awareness Task Force Chair Marge Padgitt at ympadgitt@yahoo.com. Start collecting those photos now and dig out old pictures you’ve kept on file. These must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the convention in Orlando. See page ____ for more details on the contests.
Very soon, NCSG will be able to split your membership dues up for payment on a monthly basis to help with your cash flow. We have heard this need from many members in the past and are working on the details to make it happen. We will certainly let you know when this option is available.
On the morning of July 26, I awoke in my sleep at 3:30am. After tossing and turning with no ability to go back to sleep, I pulled up the NCSG Discussion List to see a note about the shocking news that yet another longtime member, Steve “Blackie” Blackburn, had crashed his plane on the way to a MIX Group meeting. Blackie will always be remembered as one of the innovators and as one of our most generous colleagues in the country. While many others were much closer to Blackie than myself, I will always remember our conversations, not only as fellow sweeps but as brother Masons.
As always member sweeps are encouraged to share experiences and expertise by submitting technical and business articles for the magazine. We can all continue to learn more from each other. One way that NCSG is helping this process along is by three new contests. The first contest is for best Darwin Award picture, the second is a Best Fireplace Face Picture (Doesn’t have to be built by you. Just submit the photo.), and finally, we’re running a contest for Best Masonry Construction(work DOES have to be your own). Winners will be recognized in each category at the annual convention in Orlando. If you need additional
As always, sweeps luck to you and your family and God Bless. Jay Walker NCSG President President@ncsg.org
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Editor’s Letter
MELISSA HEEKE NCSG DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
T
ake a deep breath. If you’ve found a few moments to read this month’s issue of Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology, you deserve it. Hopefully the season has been kind to you so far this year and you’re in good shape for a safe and sane remainder of the calendar year. This month, we’re looking at how to creatively make the most of your existing resources and protect yourself for the future. Jay Walker demonstrates ways to get the most out of your NCSG membership in his column on page 3, Dennis Dobbs mentions some creative uses of rubber-backed rugs in his column on page 12 and the guys from Market Hardware are back with more creative web tips and techniques with
an article on Marketing on Google. Are you ready for SEO, PPC or GMP? Learn what these terms mean and how you can creatively work with Google to advance your business with Griffin Davis’ article on page 20. One of our most popular speakers from the NCSG Innovation 2011 convention in Hartford, Brian Noe, shares advice about Advanced Health Care Directives starting on page 14. Planning now for the uncertain future is a very wise move. Thanks for reading this month! All the best for a safe and successful season,
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6 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
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Industry Watch New Masonry Heater Education Program Available The Masonry Heater Association of North America has recently developed the HMED (Heater Mason’s Education & Development) program designed for masons and people interested in learning how to build wood-fired masonry heaters. The program is designed to: • Provide an education program that starts with basic information and skills training. • Provide a standard curriculum that will be delivered in facilities throughout North America. • Provide opportunities to earn continued education credits for various certification programs. • Promote safe building practices for everyone interested in building masonry heaters. • Establish a training system that is specific to North America. MHA’s HMED program provides an excellent opportunity for someone to learn the basic theory and construction of masonry heater, a necessary step before taking on the task of building masonry heaters. The program was developed due to increasing interest in Masonry Heaters as an alternative method to heat homes.
Classes are currently scheduled for: September 17 – 20, 2011 in Perth, Ontario, Canada, level one, modules 1 &2 November 04 – 07, 2011 in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, level one, modules 1 &2 The Masonry Heater Association of North America hosts an annual workshop where masons can get hands-on practice building woodfired masonry heaters and bake ovens. Instructional books on how to build and operate masonry heaters and bake ovens are available on the MHA’s website. For more information on masonry heaters, education classes or membership in the Masonry Heater Association of North America, visit www.mha-net.org Industry Watch Policy NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology editor, via email at mheeke@ ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.
“We are a supplier who knows how you feel.” “Since 1969 we have been out sweeping chimneys. Every day. We are out there in the trenches just like you. Sweating. Freezing. Getting dirty. Making homes safer. Partner with us and we will help you grow your business. We will help you solve your challenges. Unlike our competition, we’ve been there and have the shirt to prove it.”
www.lindemannchimney.com PH: Albany, NY 877.722.7230 Atlanta, GA 866.450.3111 Chicago, IL 800.722.7230
8 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
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Technical Q&A
Q
DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR
I’m installing a new wood-burning insert and liner; do I really need to insulate the liner?
A
flue temperatures throughout the system, less creosote build up and increased efficiency. The emissions generated from the appliance would exit the chimney faster with less residence time.
The insulation of a flexible or rigid liner is a smart choice and increases the safety within the flue area. Keep in mind that most masonry chimneys do not meet proper clearances to combustibles.
Most wood-burning appliance manufacturers either require, or highly recommend, the use of stainless liners with their appliances. Currently the most widely-used reburn technology splits the incoming air into three directions as it enters the combustion chamber: the base of the fire, the airwash (which keeps the viewing glass clean) and below a baffle through a series of tubes where oxygen meets unburned wood gases and reignites, lowering the overall emissions and increasing the stove’s efficiency. An insulated liner is a must for optimal performance on any highefficiency appliance
Flue gases tend to cool down more as they rise in an un-insulated liner with the end result being increased creosote buildup and reduced draft therefore reducing the efficiency of a modern stove. On the other hand the effects of an insulated liner would be higher
We probably all have our favorite liner companies that we deal with regularly. Before the busy season, it would be a good idea to check with your liner and stove manufacturers to make sure of their requirements.
Yes. In the past some manufacturers’ instructions for installing their liner systems were vague about whether or not to insulate their liners. But now the instruction manuals are usually worded to where there is no doubt about the need to insulate.
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SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 11
Chimney Sense
DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR
A Sticky Subject
T
hose who know me well, know that I love learning knew techniques and I love gadgets. I’m in favor of anything that can make my life easier by saving time and frustration. My hat is off to those inventors who have come up with products such as the ridge hook, the insert puller and the stove lift. Occasionally I have my own eureka moments and stumble upon something that is somewhat useful. Not long ago I went to a local uniform shop to look for a pair of coveralls since I always seem to rip mine. As I was wandering around, I discovered that these shops have more to offer than just uniforms. This particular shop has a large selection of used carpet mats, you know like the ones you see in doctor’s offices and convenience stores that protect patrons from slipping. Not wanting to pass up on a good deal, I walked out with three mats after only paying twenty dollars for them. My intentions were to use them as rug runners in customers’ homes while installing wood stoves or while doing demolition work. But I have already found other uses. I’ve used them on the roof top to protect the roof around chimneys when doing tuck pointing and pouring crowns. I have also used them to prevent overspray when doing
waterproofing. During the extremely hot weather over the summer, I used them on low-pitched roofs to protect shingles from being marred from my foot traffic. Other uses have included protecting stoves from damage while they are being transported on my stove lift and well, I’ve also used them for what they were designed for, cleaning mud of my shoes before walking into a customer’s home. One fellow sweep informed me of his technique for staying on a metal roof. I haven’t tried this one yet and don’t encourage you to either. His technique is very simple. He takes a bottle of cola and pours it on the roof causing it to become tacky so his shoes will not slip. After the job is completed, he just hoses it off. Now that’s a uniquely refreshing use of cola! I think it would be very intriguing to have an inventor’s table at the next business round table at convention where we can share our favorite homegrown techniques and gadgets. Who knows, the next great invention that could possibly change our industry might be discovered at such an event. Maybe we could all learn to work smarter not necessarily harder.
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HOSE MASTER REPRESENTATIVE FOR COPPERFIELD CHIMNEY SUPPLY
Maybe it was your parents, your friends, even your spouse. They had their doubts when you went into “chimneys.” Then you started bringing home the money, making the mortgage payment, buying a new car, going on vacations. Suddenly you were “brave… a visionary…a role model.” Felt good didn’t it? But now that you’ve achieved the first rung of success, what’s next for your business?
And in the end, that’s what makes it the most profitable, and the one you should consider using. You will find UltraPro in the Copperfield Pro Book or online at www.copperfield.com. Need an UltraPro sample? No problem… just shoot me an email at sootybob@hosemaster.com and I will send you one.
I’ll tell you. Now your challenge is being as profitable as possible. You’ve already proved you can get jobs, you’ve proved you can run a business. Now it’s a matter of squeezing more profit from the jobs you do. And you’ve already got a good start. Among other things, you know that great signs on your truck are free advertising. You know that using rug runners pleasantly surprises customers and lead to referrals. And you’ve probably figured out that Forward Scheduling can turn a one time customer into a customer for life.
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So here is the next lesson to learn. Ease means speed, and speed means profit. Whatever you do on the job-site, if you can make it easier you have made it faster. Not wild, error prone rushed speed. But calm, safe, confident speed. That’s what brings you more profit, higher wages for your employees, and a 401k plan for everyone. Now when it comes to my specialty, chimney liners, there is one hands-down leader in ease and speed. HomeSaver UltraPro – manufactured by Hose Master and distributed exclusively through Copperfield Chimney Supply. HomeSaver UltraPro uncoils easily, right out of the box. It does not kink so time is never wasted in trying to straighten the liner, and it is so strong that if you drop something on it, it won’t crush. It’s remarkable, and for these reasons UltraPro is the easiest, safest, and fastest liner to install. It is also the only patented liner of its kind.
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Advanced Health Care Directives
A
dvanced Health Care Directives (AHCD) may also be known as a living will, personal directive, advance directive, or an advanced decision. Others may recognize different types of an Advanced Health Care Directive such as a Health Proxy or Five Wishes.
Many people may find Advanced Health Care Directives confusing due to varying laws defining AHCDs on a state to state basis. More confusion can also be derived from generational development of federal and state laws defining AHCDs. Some states have defined specific types of AHCDs, such as a Living Will, and some states may not recognize certain AHCDs at all. This may increase the complexities of AHCDs even further when you reside in multiple states or move to a new state.
Some AHCDs can be very straightforward to complete due to family support or simplicity of a living situation. Others can become very complex due to family structure or an extensive household or business balance sheet. Due to this potentially complex nature of AHCDs, it is prudent to think over the details of what would be right for you before going to the internet to find ‘free’ forms to complete your Advanced Health Care Directives. It is important to determine how comfortable you are with completing legal forms online; knowing your state’s laws, and determining the level of sophistication you are seeking for your wellbeing. If you feel comfortable enough to complete your own forms, it may not be a bad idea to show your forms to your medical professionals for their opinion.
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But for many of you, who have gone through the hard work to reach success, it may make more sense to spend a few dollars and use an attorney in conjunction with your other Board of Advisors to develop a comprehensive estate and business succession plan. It is important to make a plan for the future of your achievements to make sure that the determination and sweat behind your success, as well as the love, friendship and financial support given to your family, friends and trusted employees is not lost in case of a health emergency or accident. So, what does an Advanced Health Care Directive do? An AHCD can help provide for the carrying out of your health care wishes (such as a Living Will) or it can designate a person (agent) to make health care decisions for you (such as a Health Proxy). Note that these two documents are very different regarding values and beliefs, and in the way they are executed. A Living Will tends to allow an individual to state what level of health care is desired in the event of incapacity, usually due to terminal illness. Health care included in the event of incapacity is usually defined to be ‘life prolonging treatment’, such as resuscitation or feeding ‘through a test tube’. Defining what level of health care is appropriate for a Living Will can be a fairly straight forward series of decisions. Some Living Wills are written in a ‘checklist’ format. This format allows you to ‘check’ yes or no, sign, authorize, and be good to go. No one can (easily) change your decisions so your opinions on desired care can be securely spelled out. But what if you are temporarily incapacitated in a way that is not due to a terminal illness, but perhaps due to a stroke or an accident? This is when a Health Proxy should be considered. A Health Proxy allows you to direct who will be responsible to make health care treatment decisions for you. A Health Proxy may also be known as a Health Care Power of Attorney. Attempting to define what level of health care you would desire in the event of a temporary incapacitation is far more difficult than decisions made in a Living Will. How many health emergencies could you encounter? How many different treatments are available? How would you keep up with advancing medical technology and treatments? Would you be covered by your medical insurance? This is where a Health Proxy steps in to play. A Health Proxy requires you to name an agent to make health care decisions for you in case of temporary incapacitation. To make this decision you need to ask yourself; what qualifications would you like to see in your agent to make quality of life and possibly death decisions for you? A major consideration may be having the character to be able to make a tough decision with confidence. The agent, especially SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 15
if he/she is a family member, may be strongly lobbied by other family members and friends who may have differing emotional and passionate opinions on what the agent should do for you. Imagine trying to satisfy every different opinion (if possible) or trying to make a decision while simultaneously calming the people who disagree to maintain family harmony. Other considerations when selecting an agent could include, but are not limited to, having medical knowledge or experience, understanding your character and wishes, availability if you need him/her, or whether your agent knows your doctor and/or attorney and/or family. I had a client and friend who recently experienced a health emergency when her husband was in surgery for a small tumor. After two hours of surgery, a member of the medical team came out to the waiting room and asked her if she wanted them to remove a gland and surrounding tissue, which they confirmed was cancerous. The medical team felt he would only have three months to live if the procedure was not done. Easy decision, right? Wrong. Removal would result in dry mouth with loss of control of an eye and facial expression on one side of his face, along
16 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
with other lesser complications. There was no guarantee to the severity of the paralysis, but some state of paralysis would definitely be a result of the surgery. The importance of this decision is being felt by this client and her loved ones as this article goes to press. Everyone should complete Advanced Health Care Directives as soon as practical. AHCDs are relatively inexpensive and can be changed over time so it is never �too early� to complete. These decisions can spare your loved ones from what is sure to be an emotional and potentially agonizing decision in the event of a health emergency or accident. To this effect, ensuring that the appropriate people are aware of your AHCDs is vital. Provide your family, agent(s) and medical professionals with copies of your AHCDs. It may also be prudent to have a copy with you in the event of a sudden health emergency or accident. Your lasting financial and emotional legacy may depend on Advanced Health Care Directives. AHCDs will benefit you, but may benefit your loved ones even more.
SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 17
CSIA Update
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CONNECTICUT Thomas Boucher • Rich and John’s Complete Chimney Service, LLC • Woodbury
Attention all CDETs: Let your CDET designation bring you more work.We have a contract to clean clothes dryer vents for a national chain of hair salons.We need sub-contractor CDETs to help clean dryer vents for this new program! This is a great opportunity to help your cash flow by scheduling work during your slowest months of the year! If you would like to be considered for this work, please go to http:// DryerVentCleanersOfAmerica.com/sub.html <http://dryerventcleanersofamerica.com/sub. html> and tell us about you and your company. Thank you, Alisa LeSueur, CDET #14, Dryer Vent Cleaners of America PS: Organization membership is NOT required.
IRELAND Paul Brown • Touch of Glass • Portlaoise, Co. Laois Pat Byrne • Pat Byrne Electrical & Property Maintenance • Courtown, Co.Wexford Alan Power • Beara, Co. Cork Alan Rogers • Dunsany, Co. Meath Seamus Naughton • MacMahon Hardware Chimnmey Cleaning • Co. Galway NEW MEXICO Marc Black • Bailey’s Chimney Cleaning & Repair • Sante Fe TENNESSEE Mark Harris • Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc. • Smyrna Clyde Knox • Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc. • Smyrna
Please visit www.csia.org to verify that your contact information is correct.
Get a Free IRC! Now when you purchase the three study manuals needed for the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep exams (2009 Successful Chimney Sweeping Manual, 2010 NFPA 211 and 2006 International Residential Code), from CSIA, you save $80.That’s like getting a free copy of the IRC! The CSIA 3-Book Study Set can be added to your registration for the National Chimney Sweep Training School, in-person and online review sessions or you can buy the 3-Book Study Set on its own. Don’t need all three? No worries.The manuals are still available for sale a la carte.
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w w w. C S I A . O r G
BY GRIFFIN DAVIS
Marketing On Google: SEO vs. PPC vs. GMO Which Are You Ready For? In 2011, your chimney sweep business must be on Google’s page one. The questions are where and how? Should you aim for (A) “sponsored links,” (B) the “loxcal maps,” or (C) “organic” results area. Or maybe it’s a combination. We’ll help you figure it out.
A: Paid Search – aka Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is online advertising that can guarantee “page one” rank on Google, Yahoo, and Bing. It is the fastest, most measurable way to generate inbound leads.
B: Google Maps Optimization (GMO) Google Maps listings are the “map” section that Google produces after a search which includes a zip code, city, or state. After you create your Google Maps listing, “optimization” helps get you to page one for your most important geographic & industry keywords.
C: Search Engine Organization (SEO) is the process of managing your Website’s content and organization to improve its ranking in the “organic” search results. Done right, SEO provides the best long-term results.
20 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
What you need to know
Boil it Down...
Paid Search advertising provides instant results. After successfully bidding to have your site posted among sponsored listings, it will show up immediately. While it may seem expensive, Paid Search beats the yellow pages on cost, lead quality, and measurability. Paid Search is quick and easy, but you have to stay up to date on costs, results, which keywords are working well, and which ones aren’t.
PPC provides quick, if not immediate results. SEO can be more affordable, but commonly takes 3-6 months to achieve success. Google Maps is the cheapest resource, but to get the most out of it, you’ll have to invest lots of time and energy. Which is best for you? It really depends on your goal. Do you want to dominate, compete, or just participate in your local market? To dominate you need all three. To compete, I recommend PPC plus SEO or GMO. To participate, SEO or GMO will work. Still unsure? Call the firm that built your website and ask them to guide you through the pros and cons of PPC, SEO, and Google Maps. If they cannot help, find and compare the answers you get from at least two other web marketing firms.
Search Engine Optimization takes a few months to work because search engines have algorithms that are very difficult to solve. So, if you’re going to rely on Search Engine Optimization, you’ll find that there are hundreds of factors that determine which websites get posted first in search results. Also, buyer beware: everyone and their mother is selling SEO, but only a small fraction know what they’re really doing. When done properly, SEO is the best way to improve and maintain your search engine rank over the long term. Google Maps Optimization is a “no-brainer” because it’s low-cost, high-reward. It helps make it easier to reach new customers and to remain competitive in your local market. But, it takes a lot of work and skill to be found among the top few listings.
Griffin Davis is VP of Marketing for Market Hardware, Inc. (www.markethardware.com) and contributed this article. Griffin has worked in Internet Marketing and Small Business marketing since 1993. Market Hardware helps chimney sweep professionals compete on the Web with Website Design and Search Engine Marketing services. Ask Griffin any Website Marketing question by emailing Griffin@markethardware.com or calling 888-381-6925.
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How To: Easily Start a Fire Every Time with Less Smoke Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to easily start a fire every time with less smoke? It’s possible, But you will have to discard your previous experience and approach this new method with an open mind. Most people learned the old “log cabin” style of building a fire with the smallest kindling at the bottom. You are about to learn the top-down method, which is exactly the opposite of what you were taught. The top-down method works equally well in wood stoves, fireplaces and masonry heaters. In fact, the technique has been in use for hundreds of years with the large masonry heaters found all over Europe. It works just as well today as it did then. Start by placing the largest pieces of wood in the bottom of the fireplace or wood stove, with the ends at the front and back. Some wood stoves will have a deeper or wider firebox and this will certainly be a consideration when you’re cutting wood. Placing the wood with the ends at the front and back allows the air to mix well with the fuel instead of only hitting the broad side of the wood as it would if it were placed parallel to the opening. Some wood burners prefer to use hardwood for the bottom
row and softer (though no less dry) wood near the top of their firebox. The real key is to make the kindling small enough to easily ignite on top of the pile. All of the wood should be dry, but this is especially critical of the wood at the top Once you have placed the bottom row, stack 4-5 smaller levels of wood on top of the first layer until your wood is stacked to about 1/2 of the height of the fireplace. At this point you will begin placing your kindling (the smallest pieces of wood). Again stack smaller and smaller pieces until there are simple wood shavings on top. If you wish to cheat a little you can place a crumpled up piece of newspaper on top. In any case, the stack should not go above the fireplace opening. The shavings at the top should be small enough to light with a single match. As the fire burns from the top to bottom, it will continue to ignite the wood below. This method is a “light it and you’re done” procedure. No more fiddling with larger pieces of wood falling on the struggling new fire. Notably, only a little smoke is created as the fire burns cleanly from the top of the stack. This brightly burning fire makes it less likely that the fireplace will smoke as it heats the chimney without the interference of loads of wood resting on top of it.
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Showcase Your Talent with Three New Contests from NCSG The National Chimney Sweep Guild is hosting a contest with several categories. The winners will be announced at the 2012 Convention in Orlando. The categories are as follows:
Darwin Award: Best of the worst chimney, fireplace, or wood stove installation. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something comes up that you just can’t believe. Get pictures and submit them in the contest. First, second, and third places will receive an award.
Best Fireplace Face Picture: Get pictures of some great work with cultured stone or other materials you’ve seen on the
ATTENTION All Chimney Sweeps Introducing the new business dealer alliance, sponsored by Rasmussen. Here’s What You Get FREE: • Advertising, branding strategies & collateral • Inside & outside sales strategies & training • Online PR development & distribution • Website development & SEO strategies • Live & online training events
job. Try to get the builder’s name if possible. One winner will receive an award.
Best Masonry Construction: Best of your own work, or work by your own company. Enter chimneys, fire-places, facial walls, masonry heaters, bake ovens, fire-pits, outdoor rooms, etc. As long as it is related to fire and masonry (brick or stone), you can enter it! First, second, and third places will be awarded a trophy. Judging will be done by a panel of experts in the industry. There is no charge for entering the contest. Photos of contest winners will be printed in SWEEPING Magazine, posted on-line at www.NCSG.org and sent to the media in press releases. Winners of the masonry construction category may use their awards in marketing materials and press releases. Start collecting photos now and dig out old pictures you’ve kept on file. All entries must be received at least 30 days before the annual convention February 15-18 in Orlando, Florida. Only NCSG member companies are eligible to enter. See the complete list of rules and entry forms under the Member;s Only section of the NCSG website at www.ncsg.org. Please contact Public Awareness Task Force Chair Marge Padgitt at (816) 833-1602 or ympadgitt@yahoo.com for more information.
1-800-381-4183 www.ultimatesweeps.com SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 23
2011 – 2012 SWEEPS ADVANTAGE COUPON PROGRAM Featured Coupons of the Month
Look for the 2011 – 2012 coupon offers in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www.NCSG.org. Here you will find information necessary to redeem these coupon offers and others from these participating vendors: AHRENS Chimney Technique • AirJet, Division of Continental Industries • Alpha American Company • Condar Company • Copperfield Chimney Supply • Duct Cleaners’ Supply • Dynacote LLC • Earthcore Industries, LLC • Enervex, Inc.(formerly Exhausto) • Firesafe Industries • Hearth Classics • Lifetime Chimney Supply• Lindemann Chimney Supply • Longleaf Lighter Company • Matters of the Hearth • Meyer Machine & Equipment • National Chimney Supply • Neuex Hearth Products • Olympia Chimney Supply • SaverSystems • Smoktite LLC • SNEWS - The Chimney Sweep News • U.S. Fireplace Products, Inc. • Ventech Industries, Inc. • Wakefield Brush • Whitecaps • Wohler USA, Inc. • Z-Flex. These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. Visit www.NCSG.org to learn more and to start saving!
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NewNCSG Members
NCSG REGIONS
REGION 1 VERMONT Mark Gunkel • Gunkel, Mark • Brattleboro RHODE ISLAND Philip J. Rondino II • A Colonial Chimney Sweep • Middletown
REGION 2 PENNSYLVANIA Wade Northey • Reed’s Chimney Sweep • Brookville MARYLAND Fritz Denig • On the Fritz, LLC • Beltville
REGION 1 Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
REGION 2 REGION 4
MICHIGAN Rick Brenner • Mr. Chimney Sweep • Saint Clair Bob Sciba • The Chimney Doctor • Midland
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
REGION 3 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
REGION 4 Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio
REGION 5
NCSG Charter Members Paul Bourque Huntsville, AL
John Cline, Menlo Park, CA
Don Leavitt San Diego, CA
Dale Meisinger, N. Augusta, SC
David Harris Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Eva B. Horton, Greenwich, CT
Dan Wheeler Santa Rosa, CA
26 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
Alan Hisey, St. Louis, MO
Harry Richart, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin
REGION 6 Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Dates & Events September 26-30, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 3, 4, 5, & 6, 2011 Online Codes & Standards Quizzes Available For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/quiz October 10-16, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 10-16, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 14, 2011 SaverSystems- Richmond, IN HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email stuartk@ saversystems.com October 17-21, 2011 Online Health & Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/safetyweek October 21, 2011 Albany, NY CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 24-28, 2011 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org October 24-28, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 1, 2, & 3, 2011 Online Codes & Standards Quizzes Available For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/quiz November 4, 2011 CSIA Technology Center CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 7-13, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
28 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
November 7-13, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 11, 2011 SaverSystems- Richmond, IN HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email stuartk@ saversystems.com November 14-18, 2011 Online Health & Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/safetyweek November 21-25, 2011 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 21-25, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 5, 6, 7, & 8, 2011 Online Codes & Standards Quizzes Available For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/quiz December 12-18, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 12-18, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 19-23, 2011 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 19-23, 2011 Online Health & Safety Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org/safetyweek December 19-23, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
Please send notice of your events for NCSG Dates & Events listings at mmcmahon@ncsg.org for inclusion here, in weekly posts to the discussion list and online at www.NCSG.org/dates. The event must be considered educational or informative for the industry (sales events and open houses will not be listed).
BY MARK MCSWEENEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Perspective
What’s In It For Me?
T
he world seems to be full of critics. We’re driven by a “what’s in it for me” mentality and when the perceived value of what we are doing wanes we tend to start looking for something else. Something easier. Something cheaper. Just this past month someone shared a story with me of a peer who opted to go with a competing credential because it was cheaper and the exam was less difficult. Interestingly enough the incentive wasn’t related to it being better and more valuable; it was easier and cheaper. I can appreciate the perception of value, and as they say, perception is reality. I also appreciate that an organization such as ours cannot afford to rest on its laurels. Our members do have choices and you want to ensure that you are receiving value for your membership dollar. That makes perfect sense, and we are driven to provide that return every day. Did you realize that NCSG has not raised its dues in two years and it does not plan to raise them next year either? Our partnering organization, CSIA, has not raised its certification fees in almost six years and, in fact, lowered its annual licensing fee this past year and intends to lower it yet again this year. Can you say that you have not raised your prices in three years… Let alone six? Despite successfully avoiding the temptation to increase prices amidst a continued volatile economy, sound leadership and
“Information is the seed for an idea, And only grows when it’s watered.” -Heinz V. Bergen
management have positioned both organizations on solid ground while continuing to add value to their respective services. Within the past year, NCSG has continued to work on identifying additional member benefits and improving upon others that have already existed. Consider the following as just a sampling of the enhancements that have been made. In an effort to keep rates competitive and coverage comprehensive, our industry’s leading liability insurance provider, Status Insurance, has worked with the Guild to convert carriers in anticipation of changes that likely would have had a significant financial impact on those within the program. In addition, at the urging of some of our members, we worked with Stratus to research and identify options to increase the levels of soot damage coverage for those desiring that supplementary layer of protection. President Jay Walker and Technical Advisory Chairman, Dennis Dobbs, worked with our staff to design an improved system for our members to contact volunteer TAC representatives. While the new system is only a few months old, we are beginning to see an increase in its usage and hope our membership will continue to find this service to be a valuable benefit. In the area of public relations, NCSG has introduced two new free services for members. Announced last year was the availability of a professionally-produced public service announcement that can be SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 29
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30 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
shared with local radio stations. The PSA is designed to encourage homeowners to have their chimneys cleaned and inspected, but more specifically to hire you as a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. These 30 and 60 second radio spots can be used as-is or alternate versions of them can be customized to include your company’s name and contact information. In addition to these radio pieces, traditional press releases were created for local use and encouraged to be used during National Chimney Safety Week. NCSG has created the template so that you, as an NCSG member, can easily pick up the ball and run with it in your area. NCSG’s website continues to see increased traffic from homeowners across the country. In a March 2011 NewsLink poll, our members said that more than 20% of their customer referrals come from ncsg. org and/or csia.org, second only to referrals from previous clients. This next year we plan to further enhance the look, feel and functionality of our website to make it an even easier for your potential customers to find your company. . In this ever-important consumer driven industry, the vast majority of our members offer their customers the convenience of credit and debit card payments for their services. Of course, banks charge fees to all of us as service providers for the convenience of accepting these payment options and many of our members have expressed increased concerns with the rates they are having to pay and subsequently pass on to the homeowner. This past winter, NCSG announced a new partnership with Complete Merchant Solutions that considerably lowers the rates and fees customarily paid for credit card services and the response from those utilizing this benefit has been very favorable. On the subject of payment, NCSG is excited to offer our members additional payment options for dues and registrations beginning this fall. For those who prefer to spread their expenses out for a more even cash flow, we hope this new option will make your dues investment an even easier decision for you. Keep an eye on your inbox for availability or give us a call to find out more. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, the Guild continues to host the NCSG Disaster Relief Network through our website. The network is an excellent opportunity for sweeps to reach out to one another in time of need, and this
service is actually not exclusive to members. When people are in true need, membership should not be a barrier to providing or accepting help. NCSG is humbled to be able to serve as this clearing house for aid when those in our industry need it the most. Speaking of being a clearing house, we continue to maintain the most comprehensive listing of industry educational events on our website. Whether members or not, NCSG encourages ongoing educational development for all sweeps and we believe in the value of making this information readily available in one spot… www.ncsg.org. And when it comes to providing as much valuable information as possible in one spot, members can continue to access the most inclusive collection of hard-to-find manufacturers’ installation manuals in the Members Only section of our website. We’ve added more than 100 new manuals this past year, so with well over 400 manuals now available to download, and new ones being added regularly, this resource can save sweeps considerable time and money as they encounter an otherwise unmanageable variety of appliances in the field. Of course, don’t forget NCSG’s representation on the NFPA 211, 31 and 54 committees. Skilled and knowledgeable volunteers continue to actively participate on your behalf with these code-making bodies to ensure the interests of sweeps are maintained as codes and standards influencing our industry are refined and revised. For over 30 years, NCSG has continuously hosted the sweeping industry’s largest and most comprehensive annual convention and trade show. Nowhere else will you find a larger gathering of sweeps from coast-tocoast coming together for the common goal of learning and exchanging information that makes them better sweeps and more effective business owners. We had a terrific convention this year in Hartford and excitement is building for a magical event in Orlando, February 15-18, 2012! Help us spread the word. There is a lot going on with your Guild and even more coming on the horizon. Membership in NCSG truly is one of the best values out there, and the stronger our association the stronger our industry. Until next time I wish you every success!
Darwin Awards Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief? Send it to Melissa Heeke at mheeke@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168.
Notice the melted siding. Keith Kunze Chimney Mechanix Shawano, WI
Display Ad Index Page #
Advertiser
Phone
Email or Website Address
17
Ahrens Chimney Technique
800-582-1392
ahrenschimney@qwestoffice.net
15
Barnhill Chimney Company
859-219-8736
www.barnhillchimney.com
30
Chimfex-Orion Safety Products
800-637-7807
www.chimfex.us
18
Chimney Safety Institute of America
317-837-5362
www.csia.org
16
Cobra Chimney Caps
503-463-0636
www.cobrachimneycaps.com
22
Communications Network Inc
800-875-8118
tkemper@comnetmessage.com
24 Copperfield
800-247-3305
www.copperfield.com
4
ENERVEX (formerly EXHAUSTO)
800-255-2923
www.chimneyfans.com
21
Firesafe Industries, Inc.
800-545-6607
www.firesafeinc.com
27
Golden Flue, Inc.
800-468-1052
www.goldenflue.com
13
Hose Master
800-221-2319
bobdaniels@hosemaster.com
19 ICP
508-695-7000
www.chimneycaps.com
BC
Lifetime Chimney Supply LLC
877-234-7473
www.lifetimechimneysupply.com
8
Lindemann Chimney Supply
800-722-7230
www.lindemannchimney.com
9
M&G DuraVent
800-835-4429
www.duravent.com
6
Meyer Machine & Equipment
800-728-3828
www.meyermachine.com
11
National Chimney Supply
800-897-8481
www.nationalchimneysupply.com
14
New England Chimney Supply
888-900-8106
www.NECS-BEST-FLEX.com
5
Olympia Chimney Supply
800-569-1425
www.olympiachimney.com
23
Rasmussen Gas Logs & Grills
800-782-1365
www.ultimatesweeps.com
12
RLH Industries, Inc.
800-289-2446
www.chim-flex.com
32
Sand Hill Wholesale
800-258-5496
www.sandhillwholesale.com
25
Specialty Supply Company
800-331-9234
www.specialtysupplyco.com
7 Thermocrete
866-439-0069
www.thermocreteusa.com
10
888-290-8181
www.usfireplaceproducts.com
800-335-2534
www.whitecaps.com
U.S. Fireplace Products Inc.
3 Whitecaps
SEPTEMBER 11 SWEEPING 31
Classifieds FIREPLACE, WOOD AND GAS HEATING PRODUCTS
Gotta chimney question? Sizing? Codes? Call Royal Edwards! Make Royal your tech department. CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support. Continuing Education special bonus – ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE. CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit www.elitesoft.com to download a free trial version.
It's Not Too Late For
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New marketing tool now available, go to: www.aviewfromtherooftop.com/ justforsweeps and learn how you can become “the” local expert
Grow your business and profits to the next level with the development of report writing skills, SOPs, and scripting designed for your company to activate your company and team into a star in your market area, with the goal of low liability level operations. For proven results contact Jerry Isenhour to add him to your team www.chimneyandventingconsultants.com jerry@chimneyandventingconsultants.com 704-425-0217
anywhere in the continental U.S. with a Fall Dating order over $1500 *To receive this offer, mention this ad at time of order. Subject to credit approval. Offer good for qualified orders from September 1 through September 30, 2011.
Same day shipping for orders placed before 2:00PM Eastern Time. Don’t have your NEW 2011-2012 Sand Hill Wholesale catalog?
Call for your free copy 1-888-SAND-HILL or fax your request to 1-800-958-5497
Visit us on the web @ www.sandhillwholesale.com
32 SWEEPING SEPTEMBER 11
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35 word classified free each year! Regularly classified ads are $2/word or $1/word for NCSG members. Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Megan McMahon at mmcmahon@ncsg.org or (317) 837-1500.
“I learned so much about an industry that I was supposed to be an expert in.” You feel like you already know everything. And, in reality, you probably do know more than most. But new opportunities exist: Now csia’s education can make you even more profitable!
NEW!
get all of the education, with none of the travel.
i wanted to thank everyone at the csia for the help you gave me to become certified. i learned so much about an industry that i was supposed to be an expert in. There was plenty i did not know or had been misinformed about. i am very grateful that the csia exists and am proud to be a csia certified chimney sweep. in short, the whole experience has made a more responsible and better informed chimney professional. Mark Loukedis aaa superior construction in Elmwood Park, NJ
Learn at your own pace at home, the office or anywhere you can access the internet.
~ CSIA Course Participant
Lining Masonry chimneys with stainless steel: oNLiNE - NEw!
csia eLearning The industry’s favorite seminars in a new online format allowing you to earn cEUs online. a new topic will be added each month!
This five-class self-paced online course covers chimney inspections, contracts and warranties, fireplace flue sizing, oil flue sizing, gas flue sizing, metal specifications, reasons to reline a chimney, the importance of a flue liner and why a chimney should be inspected as part of the lining/relining process.
Health & safety week
c&s Quizzes You can earn csia cEUs by taking these codes & standards quizzes. Two quizzes are available to be challenged during a 24-hour period of your choice during the first week of each month.
Each month, you have the opportunity to register for one of the many topics in our bank of online health and safety sessions. we’ll add a new session every month to help you keep on top of your company’s regular safety meetings.
Register right now at (317) 837-5362, dkasmer@csia.org or www.csia.org
w w w. c s i a . o r g
National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168
0811