August 2012

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7/27/12 3:10 PM

NCSG Innovation 2013 Convention and Trade Show

Hotel reservations are now being accepted for NCSG Innovation 2013 at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO, April 4-7, 2013.

Just call 1-888-333-LAKE (5253) and mention that you’re with the National Chimney Sweep Guild to lock in rates starting at $129 for a mountain view and $134 for a lake view.

Get ready for some R&R.You’re earned it!

August 2012 Volume 36 #7

Table of Contents Features 14 Plan… To Keep Your Profits

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17 Pellet Stove and Insert Servicing

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Departments 3 Moving Forward 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Chimney Sense 10 Industry Watch 12 Coach’s Corner P.29

16 Technical Q&A 26 New NCSG Members

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

27 Progressive Perks 28 Sweeps Advantage Coupon Program 29 Perspective 31 Darwin Awards 31 Display Ad Index 32 Dates & Events 32 Classifieds AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 1

ResourcePage

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or SweepingAds@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. © 2012 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500

2 SWEEPING AUGUST 12

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

STAFF 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365 Mark McSweeney, CAE Executive Director mmcsweeney@ncsg.org Melissa Heeke, CAE Director of Communications & Marketing mheeke@ncsg.org

Megan McMahon Office Manager mmcmahon@ncsg.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

Moving Forward

JAY WALKER NCSG PRESIDENT

M

y second favorite holiday is July 4th ! It’s a time to remember our nation’s past and celebrate the freedom we have today while paying tribute to those forethinkers that risked everything for what we have today. Personally, it’s also a time each year to spend time with friends and family at my Dad’s lake house. Slow-smoked BBQ provides the aroma for the day.

Kids and adults alike play in the lake water to cool off and our boat pulls tubers, skiers and gives relaxing rides. Then later in the evening, after the annual decorated boat parade, we sit with full stomachs, to watch the celebration of lights display once again (fireworks).

That evening, Phil and Sharon Mitchell welcomed me into their abode with open arms regardless of my attire. We ate grilled burgers from the grill and they had Florida State University baseball on the tube for me to enjoy (too bad we lost though – maybe one day we’ll win at Omaha).

Early, the next morning, I got directions to the local sportsman’s trading post, and was greeted by a privatized sportsman’s store.

Each department had a representative standing in front wearing uniform attire and speaking in positive upbeat language to impress this business owner. After being directed to the big and tall section of the store, a rep helped me find what I needed.

Shorts and Triple X Columbia shirts were a treat to see. At the

Since Independence Day landed on a Wednesday this year, I awoke early to drive back to my office, to do work as usual. Once the work day was over, I sit to write this message, reflecting on so much to be grateful.

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Since my last message, I was able to join fellow directors Diane Pilger and Phil Mitchell in the Northeast at Sweepfest.

My trip from Florida to New Hampshire was a journey. I drove to the Delta hub at the Jacksonville, FL airport to get a much less costly flight than that compared to my regular departure point in Tallahassee. When I left Tallahassee that early Thursday morning, and it was a humid 90 degrees. On my arrival to the Manchester, NH airport, the temperature gauge soared to 97 degrees.

On my drive toward Newmarket, NH, I kept a watchful eye out for a Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse or another department store that may carry some Triple X tee-shirts and big man shorts, as I had packed long sleeves and long pants for the duration of my stay.

Having not seen any, upon my arrival to the Mitchell’s, I sought advice from him for the next day.

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 3

cash register, I could see two employees smile when I spoke, and I quickly realized they must have heard my Southern accent.

So I asked them if they knew Jeff Foxworthy. They laughed and asked me if I was up here in Maine today to enjoy the cooler weather. I felt right at home and enjoyed the light sarcasm humor that I often use myself from time to time.

My experience at the store reminded me of my own business structure and the systems I have in place. Like most of you, I like to look at other business models often and compare them to my own. Every experience I had was a positive one, from when I walked in initially, until I left their good natured kidding around and laughter. Believe it or not, I will make the same trip again next week to a MIX group meeting. If time, I plan to visit that store again. And this time I will check a bag to bring more home.

Perhaps next time the temperature may be in the 60s – but I serious doubt I’ll get that lucky. (Note to self: Check internet for weather forecast before packing.)

After a quick drive to Maine to Ventech’s open house and a seminar by Royal Edwards, I was able to visit with sweeps from the area. It was a pleasure to visit with some familiar faces and meet new colleagues as well. We were graciously provided with a free Maine lobster lunch by Mike Varney. Then after a quick technical hands on seminar, I took a quick drive to see the NE coastal Atlantic Ocean and close by harbors. Upon arriving back to the Mitchell Homestead, I was able to help some veteran

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camping Sweepsfestees erect their tents for their weekend stay.

The first day of Sweepsfest began with State Guild meetings and I was welcomed to listen and be abreast to their upcoming agendas. Then, after lunch, seminars began and the packed agenda started its course to provide ongoing education for the next two days. On Saturday, after I personally spent quite a bit of money at the silent auction, we had barbecue and ice cream.

Then the Sootprints band relaxed the group. After joining a few sweeps around the barn fire and sipping some soothing elixirs, I laid down my head only to awake at 3:30am to start my journey back to the cooler weather in Sunny Florida. While this had been on my “bucket list” for some time, this was my first trip to an event in the Northeast What’s on your bucket list?

During this year’s annual planning meeting, your board of directors set some committees in place to continue with our ever-changing strategic plan. We saw the need to offer more business-type classes in the future, new membership promotion ideas, historic preservation of our past and much more.

I hope that each one of you were able to celebrate or at least reflect for a moment on our freedom which most of us take for granted. Until next time, sweeps luck to you and your family.

God bless.

Jay Walker NCSG President

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Editor’s Letter

P

MELISSA HEEKE, CAE NCSG DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

ellets! We have pellets! Are you servicing pellet stoves? If you aren’t, you might be missing an outstanding opportunity. This month, we’re focusing on pellets with a fantastic article from NCSG Technical Advisory Council member Bart Ogden of Home Safe Hearth & Chimney in Wichita, KS. He provides us with some background information on the popularity of pellet fuels and the work processes to consider when deciding to service these appliances. Another NCSG Technical Advisory Council member, Fed Joy of Top Hat Chimney Sweep in Hoyt, KS offers his input on sizing vent pipe for pellet stoves in this month’s Technical Q&A.

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Are you ready for the heating season? It’s right around the corner waiting for you! Take some time now to get your trucks, your office and your mental state ready for the incoming calls.

What will you do differently this season than you did in past seasons? Does your “last season self” have any advice for your “this season self”? Now is the time to implement those changes that you’ve been meaning to before the silly season really begins.

Until next time, I wish you all the best!

Chimney Sense

DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR

Tools, Tidbits and Techniques

E

arlier in my career as a chimney sweep I had spent many years as a one man, one truck operation only utilizing available help when doing relines and installs, usually the heavy and dangerous jobs. Here are a few useful tips that seemed to make life easier for me:

• Use a top mounted fan when removing dead animals from the chimney; this will pull the bad odors out of the home and away from your nose. Top mounted fans are also useful for sweeping on hot days and especially when cleaning out third degree creosote which emits a pungent odor that can infiltrate the home when pulled in by your powerful chimney vac.

• If you have a damper plate that cannot be removed and if you have hard time getting debris out from behind it, try visiting your local automotive exhaust expert and have them bend a piece of exhaust pipe sized to fit your vacuum hose into a J-shape.

• When trying to prevent dusting from occurring while cleaning an open fireplace, an easy way to keep your block off cloth over the opening is to secure it with strong magnets. Put your material between the magnets and the lintel plate.

• A good way to avoid customer complaints is to take a legal pad and write down your customer’s initial concerns before beginning your work.

• Never talk about one customer to another customer, they may be related!

• Always be respectful to your customer’s children and pets.

I would urge those who read this to comment on the NCSG Members Discussion List about your own tools and techniques.

Sweeps luck, Dennis Dobbs

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Industry Watch Wohler Helps Veterans Find Industry Jobs Wohler USA recently teamed up with VetsBuild Long Island, a United Way program that trains veterans in green construction and helps them network with those who are already in the industry.

and maintenance staff in the areas off gas, wood, pellet, and bio fuel. Bob brings a tremendous background in training with previous service to the following industry leaders: • Appliance Clinic Training (Southern California Gas Co) • Quality Assurance Manager (SoCalGas) • Energy Theft Inspectors Manager (SoCalGas) • Manager of Technical Services (Fireplace Manufacturers Inc.) • Manager of Training (Service Partners/Masco) • President of the Board of Governors for HEARTH (NFI) • Contracted Trainer for Monessen and Desa Throughout Bob’s over 25 year tenure as a trainer in the industry he has also served as President of HEARTH / NFI and was instrumental in the development of the industry recognized certifications under the National Fireplace Institute.

The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is 9.2%. With the help of sponsors like Wohler USA, VetsBuild Long Island plans to connect these veterans with the growing green construction industry. VetsBuild Long Island will provide them with free career counseling, job training, and job placement assistance.

The program also offers a hands-on energy boot camp with training in weatherization, home-efficiency upgrades, and the safe installation of high-efficiency boilers.

“We are honored to assist veterans as they transition into the civilian workforce,” says Peter Cullen, Chief Operating Officer of Wohler USA. “This program not only helps veterans and their families, but it also supports our industry, making it a win-win for all involved.”

Visit http://tinyurl.com/wohler-VetsBuild to view video coverage of the event, www.wohlerusa.com to learn more about Wohler USA and http://www.uvbh.com/vetsbuild.htm to learn more about VetsBuild Long Island.

Bob Wise joins Chimney And Venting Consultants Staff Chimney And Venting Consultants (CVC) is pleased to announce the addition of Bob Wise to the staff. Bob fills the role of Director of Education for the technical training for the hearth industry with a specialization in training of sales, installation,

Bob will be developing and presenting classes to fill a void in the industry with real world training. The training as offered by Bob will be offered in the CVC training facility in Concord, NC. Additionally will be offered as an on-line interactive training and presented at the client’s location if desired. The training will be designed with CEUs from both NFI and CSIA and will be geared to the needs of the industry and the clients of Chimney and Venting Consultants.

Please review our web site at www. chimneyandventingconsultants.com for more information on Bob and also on the classes that will be presented.

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

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Coach’s Corner

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

What is your War Plan?

Crisis Management

S

ome years back at Cincinnati, the first MIX group meeting in the industry was held. Clay Lamb who was functioning as the moderator for the group asked a question that, at the time, did not hit me as it did in later years. Clay asked: “What is your war plan?”

Neither Clay nor myself knew at the time that over the coming years this would be a question that would prompt us each to diligently search for an answer for. In business things often go wrong. It can be from a client complaint, or it can be extremely debilitating to the company and even more of a bad day for the business owner. When “bad things happen” is a phrase coined many years ago in a Diagnosis &Documentation seminar when I asked an attendee what would be the course of events when a certain scenario occurred. His response was that now familiar phrase in this industry… “Bad things will happen.”

Now as business owners, we must realize that the tide can turn at any time. It could be any number of issues. Just think, you are the CEO of FedEx and one of your delivery folks caught on video throwing a computer monitor over a fence into the person’s yard. Not only was it videotaped, it went viral on YouTube. FedEx was faced with a choice, deny it or deal with it. The way FedEx dealt with it turned a bad scenario into an excellent case with a great public relations release.

FedEx is not the only company to have to deal with things like this; Jet Blue hit the headlines due to the actions of a flight attendant. Recently American Airlines also had one of their flight attendants cause another bad day and bad things to happen.

When things like this happen in the national level, it naturally depends on the news of the day if the news will go viral But it is the very nature of the American news system that we hear more bad news than good news. Quite simply, bad news sells!

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These are things that each business owner can look at and learn from, or we can simply look the other way and not learn from the mistakes of others. One of the things I try to teach every client is to watch the efforts that large corporations make in so many ways and then take the ideas they present and turn them into the ideas that they as small business owners can run with.

This goes from marketing to total operations of the company.

This is a very low cost tuition for a business owner, that can pay bigger dividends than the cost of a college education at Harvard or Yale. This may even be referred to as the school of hard knocks.

I was once asked if I had a degree in business. I replied that I did not have a degree from a college, rather I had undergone extensive training in the very real world. And even though the education had been costly in many ways, perhaps it better prepared me for business than a college education might have. .

The battles I had to face likely best prepared me for the battles that many of my clients face.

In doing research for this article, I spoke with a close friend of mine who has a degree in communications and now runs and operates a restoration business. I asked him what in his college education prepared him for owning and operating his own business. He said that quite honestly it had not; most of what he used today to make his business successful was the ability to listen and to implement what he learned. He said that business and the clients change too frequently.

I also his thoughts on “Crisis Management” and again he said that nothing in the communication degree would have prepared him to deal with this public relations nightmare. I asked him what the overriding lesson from his college education, his time as an employee for a major corporation doing business worldwide, and then as an owner of a small business would be.

He said that the number one thing was a plan, a plan to deal with whatever arose. In other words he referred to what so many preach…. The need for systems.

So as mentioned earlier, as business owners we have to prepare our war plans and know our crisis management procedures.

We do this by listening to what the experts do. How often do we see where politicians could learn this simple process so many political issues would not be nightmares. Maybe President Clinton could have turned his situation into a positive if he had dealt with it properly, professionally and honestly from the start.

A part of business management, no matter how well we run our business, no matter how well our systems are set up and adhered to, the true leader in business will learn how to deal with the issue of crisis management. Today it is all too easy for a client to take things viral, maybe not to the extent of a FedEx issue, or not hitting the news like the airlines flight attendant going berserk.

But the consumer/client can still do massive damage. A simple stroke of a key, a bad review, bad press on Yelp, bad news on any review can wreak havoc. And this is an ability that the vast majority of the consumers have; they do not even have to have a computer, now they can simply do it with their smart phone.

In this day and time, the business cannot win in the argument, and all too often the business can pay the price over and over from a lack of a proper response. If one researches the famous

McDonald’s hot coffee episode, quick and effective management could have prevented this public relations issue. Look at McDonald’s right now, the press is out on the low nutritional value of their hamburgers. McDonald’s pulled out half the fries and inserted apple slices. Now they are able to publicize that they are now the good guys, who recognize the issue and are doing their part to make your kiddies healthy. They turned a negative into a positive. Would you be able to do the same?

So examine your own “war plan” when you have an issue arise.

Put the temper aside, use reason, think like the consumer and DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. This is the animal you have sought. This is the consumer of 2012, and with the consumer of 2012 you only win if you play the game by the rules.

My closing question is WHAT IS YOUR WAR PLAN MY FRIEND? About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. For more information about Jerry and how he can assist you individually, and your business in your quest for success and your rise to the next level, take a look at his web site www.chimneyandventingconsultants.com He can be contacted at jerry@chimneyandventingconsultants.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page Chimney & Venting Consultants.

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Plan…To Keep Your Profits

I

’d be willing to bet if you add up all the time, fuel and energy you waste during any given season because of lack of vehicle preparation, it would equal the profit on at least one reline job. And if you’re running more than one truck, lack of preparation can cause the dent in your profits to go up faster than the space shuttle.

I’d also be willing to bet that losing hard won profits because of lack of planning and organization is not something that’s likely to put a smile on your face. Let’s see what really simple steps can be taken to keep you smiling.

For the purposes of our lack of preparation discussion, we’ll consider the following to be in that category:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Running out of gas.

Not only does each of these “inconveniences” cost you money, they are downright embarrassing. I mean what would you think if your plumber had to go back to the shop for parts he should have had? Or, called to say he couldn’t make his appointment today because his truck broke down? How likely would you be to call the same guy again or recommend him to others? My point is, lack of preparation cannot only cost you time on the job, it can cost you repeat business.

Fortunately, most of these issues can be avoided by spending even a little more time in vehicle stocking and preparation. But planning to plan is not the same thing as actually creating a plan to address these issues. If it were, none of the above would ever happen. Right?

Arriving at a job site without the proper tools.

Arriving at a job site missing parts or pieces.

Spending excessive time trying to locate a tool you need.

Here is an important point to consider: if something Having a tool fail or break. is everyone’s responsibility, it ends up being no one’s Getting lost on the way.

Sweeping News (Snews)_Smoothcore_Z-Max_no booth_HR_March 29, 2012.pdf 1 12-03-30 2:12 PM Having your vehicle breakdown on the way to or from a job. responsibility. This is especially true about basic vehicle

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preparation and maintenance.

Suggestion: Give a specific person the responsibility to make sure each vehicle is in running condition each day, each week and each season. Then, put a gripe sheet in every truck so whoever is using the truck on any given day can register a concern about some lack of functionality, or a behavior or sound that might be an indication something is getting ready to fail.

Be sure to emphasize nothing is too trivial to report, even outside mirrors that are not operating correctly, or a directional signal that is not working or an interior light that has failed should be reported promptly.

Whoever you appoint to be the truck maintenance guru must also be on top of routine maintenance like oil changes, air filters, tire pressures, coolant, etc. And that person might also be the one to make certain the proper registration and insurance information is in each vehicle.

You can be sure as soot, any maintenance item you ignore will come back to bite you at the most inconvenient time. That’s a simple law of the Universe.

Sure, sometimes you’re just too busy to take care of everything promptly, but anything you’ve put off during the season needs to be addressed after the season at the very latest. That means someone has to be keeping track.

The truck maintenance person should have a tool maintenance counterpart, and, yes, there should be gripe sheets for suspect or dysfunctional tools, too. Just like with the trucks, a specific person needs to take responsibility for addressing issues around faulty or missing tools. And everyone who uses the tools must take the responsibility and time to fill out the gripe sheets when needed.

Well, you’ve probably guessed by now, someone must have the responsibility to see to it that each truck is stocked with everything it needs for the next day’s work…and I mean everything. Missing the smallest part is as bad as forgetting to put the liner in the truck.

Suggestion: No truck ever leaves your office without completing a checklist. Pilots use checklists for everything. Why? Because check lists keep them from overlooking something simple but crucial. They will work for you, too.

As for getting lost, hey, invest in a GPS. It will pay for itself very quickly.

Your customers may never appreciate your genius as a technician, or the enormous amount of knowledge and experience you bring to a job. It’s not their thing. But they will always note if you are on time, well organized, efficient and friendly.

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 15

Technical Q&A

BY FRED JOY TOP HAT CHIMNEY SWEEP, INC., HOYT, KS NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Q

I have a customer that wants a pellet stove installed. What size vent pipe should I use?

Connection on the back of the stove is 3 inch. Should I stay with 3 inch or switch to larger size?

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A

To determine whether to use 3 or 4 inch vent pipe, first calculate the Equivalent Vent Length (EVL). If you have over 15 feet of EVL, it is recommended you use 4 inch pipe (which is the largest you should ever use).

To calculate EVL use the following conversions: • 9 0 degree elbow or tee = 5 equivalent feet • 45 degree elbow = 3 equivalent feet • Horizontal pipe run = 1 foot per actual foot • Vertical pipe run = .5 feet per actual foot At altitudes of above 3000 ft., it is suggested to use 4 inch diameter vent at an EVL of 7 feet.

BY BART OGDEN HOME SAFE HEARTH & CHIMNEY, INC., WICHITA, KS NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Pellet Stove and Insert Servicing

W

hether you love them or hate them, pellet stoves are a part of the hearth business most of us have to deal with in one capacity or another.

Retailers have been particularly entrenched in a roller coaster ride of emotions with pellet appliances, depending on which region of the country they sell in and the current state of regional and national energy prices. Having ridden the huge surge in popularity in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and then bottoming out over the last couple of years it’s difficult to tell just exactly where the pellet industry is going to land.

According to Jack Goldman, President of the HPBA, recent rumblings from the EPA on revised efficiency and particulate standards suggest that it is entirely plausible that no pellet appliance currently on the market in 2012 would pass upcoming potential new standards. This leaves great uncertainty in the retailer’s mind as to the future viability of the pellet appliance industry.

Service technicians, on the other hand, have several issues they must deal with when it comes to pellet appliances.

Most notably, is that of understanding the three basic systems at work in pellet appliances. Those systems are 1) electricity, 2) pressure and flow and 3) temperature.

Once the certified service technician can grasp the interrelationships of these systems, and the basic path of service, he or she will be better prepared to approach and complete the service call successfully.

It is my opinion that if you choose to service pellet hearth appliances you should not only carry the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential, but you should also carry an NFI Pellet Appliance Specialist credential. In my area of the country, it is REQUIRED that you carry the NFI Pellet Appliance Specialist credential to service, repair or install ANY pellet appliance.

Neither of these credentials is easy to obtain and to successfully

When a pellet appliance malfunctions, the author’s technicians usually ask the client to leave it in its malfunctioning state so they can examine it as it malfunctioned. complete the exams you will need several weeks, if not months, of focused study. Rest assured, however, that once you hold both the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep certification and the NFI Pellet Appliance Specialist designation, you will be well on your way to mastering pellet hearth appliance servicing.

Additionally, I would highly recommend that you work closely with manufacturers of pellet appliances to obtain factory training. If you are somehow involved in the retail side of the hearth industry, you likely will have access to at least one brand of pellet appliance. If you are only involved in the service side of the hearth industry, try to work with a local retailer to obtain some factory training. If working with a local hearth retailer is not possible, do some internet research and contact some retailers who are not in your local service area and see if you can partner and coordinate with them to attend training with their particular manufacturer(s).

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 17

1. Electricity. Very simply, without electricity a pellet appliance will not operate. Electricity powers the control board, which distributes electrical power throughout the system. Numerous safety switches and sensors throughout the system are all electrical-dependent as well.

2. Pressure and Flow. Pellet appliances require the correct amount of airflow travelling through the system to start and sustain combustion. If something is partially or wholly obstructing flow through the system, a pressure-activated safety switch will shut the flow of fuel off in the unit.

These two photos are of the same pellet stove with a gasket leaking issue. Note how the symptom presents itself differently by backlighting the glass.

3. Temperature. Temperature is measured in the unit in several different areas from thermocouples to fan and limit switches.

Some of these limit switches are self-resetting, while others are a manual-rest type. Temperature must be maintained within a certain range for proper, safe operation of a pellet appliance.

The Basic Components of a Pellet Appliance System Any pellet appliance can be considered an air pump with a heat exchanger. This is important to realize as all pellet hearth appliances have several things in common. Each has a “path” of air flow. On every pellet appliance there will be an air intake, a combustion air fan system, a firebox, a heat exchanger, ash traps and a flue system.

Also present on any pellet system is a convection fan system to move the air through the heat exchanger(s) and into the room.

Common electrical components include a power supply cord, limit switches, fan switches, a pressure switch, an auger motor, a combustion air fan, a convection air fan and a control board, which coordinates the function of all the electrical components in the system. Potentially, there can also be remote controls or wall switches, battery backup systems, a thermocouple and a draft assist fan as well.

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance Many times when you are called out to repair a pellet appliance, you’ll find that the number one issue that caused the stove to start operating poorly, malfunction or to quit operating completely is the lack of servicing. In addition to the periodic maintenance/cleaning the homeowner/operator is to perform on a weekly or biweekly basis, pellet appliances should be serviced professionally and thoroughly after each season when at least one ton of pellets has been used. If more than two tons of pellet fuel has been used in a season, it is a NECESSITY that the system be thoroughly serviced. We’ve observed over the past several years, that the variance in today’s pellet fuel, even for a premium grade pellet has led to more and more ash accumulation in systems.

3 Basic Systems at Work Three basic systems at work in a pellet appliance system are 1) electricity, 2) pressure and flow, and 3) temperature. These systems are so interwoven that the constraints of this article will not allow more than a basic discussion of their principles.

18 SWEEPING AUGUST 12

Pellet appliances run the gamut of being very simply engineered to, in my opinion, incredibly over-engineered to the point where the simple testing of components is not even possible anymore and they are either a “go” or a “no-go” part.

The Right Tools for the Job As with any hearth appliance, it’s imperative that you have the proper equipment to complete the service call. The first piece of equipment you should ALWAYS have prior to servicing any pellet appliances is the installation/owner’s manual for the model you will be servicing.

If, for some reason, your client doesn’t have it, you can generally find current and archived manuals on the manufacturer’s website, providing they are still in business.

HINT: When your intake information is captured, ALWAYS ask the client to identify the make, model and serial number of the unit. If the client can’t tell you what make, model and serial number is specific to their unit, be very wary of servicing the unit. You’ll often end up making a second call on a unit

like this because you didn’t have the correct information to be properly prepared for the service call in the first place.

Physical equipment you’ll need will include, but is not necessarily limited to, a HEPA filtration vacuum system, electrical testing tools, an assortment of wrenches and nut drivers, a digital pressure gauge, several different styles of wire “jumpers” for electrical testing, a non-contact infrared digital thermometer and, of course, flexible pellet rods and 3” and 4” round brushes with leader spring. We typically use the same “inside box” for servicing pellet appliances as we do for servicing a masonry fireplace system or a factory-built fireplace system.

It should go without saying, but I’ll mention it here for reference, that you should place clean canvas runners and drop cloths from the front entry to and over your work area.

The Work Process The absolute first thing the certified technician should ask the client is “Did you have any issues with this system or is this simply your annual maintenance and service?” Then carry it a step further. If they responded “Yes, this is just our regular annual maintenance and service”, say this – “OK, so this is your regular annual maintenance and service and you didn’t have any issues with the system last year, correct?” You will be AMAZED how many times your client will follow this question up with something like “Yeah, except for…”. Try this approach – you’ll

find that it ferrets out clues for you to look for something happening with the system. I’ve had clients tell me in one breath that there’s nothing wrong with the system and it’s just annual maintenance, then in the next breath they’ll tell me that the system quit running near the end of the system and they haven’t used it since. It’s YOUR JOB to be the detective and interview your client before starting on ANY hearth-related service call.

After you’ve interview your client, if there are issues, go to your troubleshooting charts and follow them to the letter to quickly diagnose issues with the system. Once the issue has been identified and verified, a full service to the system should be performed using a logical progression through the system.

When training our technicians to service a pellet appliance, we teach the “AIRPORT” method of servicing. Remember, lack of maintenance is the number one reason a service call is triggered.

SAFETY FIRST: Before ANY service or repair is attempted, always DISCONNECT THE POWER to the appliance.

A: Air Enters the Appliance; Determine where the system pulls air into the system.

This might be simply from the room, but more and more manufacturers are recommending, or even requiring, an outside combustion air system.

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 19

Perform a visual check to ensure that the air inlet and passageway is completely clear of any debris. Many times “mud dauber” or “dirt dauber” wasps will build their nests inside the combustion air inlet tubes, which will lead to a partial or a complete blockage of outside combustion air to the appliance.

There “typically” will also be some sort of adjustability in the combustion air system in the form of a sliding mechanism that will partially close off the air travelling into the appliance.

IMPORTANT: Make a note of the position this mechanism is in BEFORE you move it. You’ll want to re-set it to position you found it in after fully servicing the unit and prior to re-firing the unit. Check this mechanism for proper, free and full-range operation.

I: Ignition Occurs; The air inlet on the pellet appliance will lead you to the firebox and where ignition occurs.

You’ll want to have a stiff putty knife handy to scrape and clean the firepot thoroughly. Carefully and thoroughly vacuum around

MOST units will have a heat exchanger scraper to clean the majority of ashes off the heat exchanger tubes, but I have seen a few units which are not equipped with a heat exchanger scraper.

A small “chip” brush works well to get into the area above the heat exchanging tubes to get the ash that sticks to the inner stove walls.

This area must be thoroughly serviced as ash is a very good insulator. A very small amount of fly ash will significantly impact the heat transfer from the fire chamber to the living space.

When you service the heat exchanger, go to the back of the unit and clean the convection fan assembly check it for noise, and lubricate if needed/required.

P: Places Ashes Get Trapped; Everywhere the air path changes downstream of the fire chamber, y ou will find that fly ash will collect.

Typically, pellet appliance manufacturers will utilize small removable flaps or panels to allow the technician access to remove the fly ash from the system. These areas must be thoroughly serviced to prevent them from filling up during a long burning season.

O: Outside it Goes; Most pellet stoves will use a combustion fan downstream of the fire chamber to create negative pressure in the firebox and positive pressure in the piping system.

Check for fly ash residue being pressurize out of the venting system from this point downstream to the termination. It’s important to remove the motor and impeller from the fan housing to insure that the impeller blades are clean, the fan housing is not full of fly ash and the area upstream of the combustion fan is cleared as well.

A significant amount of fly ash accumulation was discovered behind the combustion blower of a pellet stove. The company that had been servicing this pellet appliance previously had not been removing the combustion blower so the appliance eventually just shut down due to this build up. the igniter mechanism to remove any residual fly ash that might be trapped around the igniter. It’s critical that this area be clean so air can flow freely around the igniter and through the holes in the firepot. From this point downstream in the system, if you find anything besides fly ash in the system, there is typically an issue.

If you find creosote in the system, it is not operating correctly – troubleshoot and diagnose the cause. Second only to lack of maintenance causing malfunctions of a pellet appliance would be poor fuel quality. Some pellets recently entering the supply stream, even though they have supposedly been tested and certified as a “premium” pellet have been observed to leave large amounts of ash and, in some cases, creosote in the pellet appliance system.

20 SWEEPING AUGUST 12

On some units, there can be a LARGE area to collect fly ash immediately upstream of the combustion fan housing assembly.

Be very careful when removing the motor and impeller assembly from the fan housing – sometimes you can re-use the gasket. If the gasket is damaged or defective when you remove the motor and impeller assembly, you will need to replace it.

REPEAT HINT: When your intake information is captured, ALWAYS ask the client to identify the make, model and serial number of the unit. Find a source for this gasket and order half a dozen or so for stock in your materials area and on your truck(s). If the client can’t tell you what make, model and serial number is specific to their unit, be very wary of servicing the unit. You’ll typically end up making a second call on a unit like this because you didn’t have the correct information to be properly prepared for the service call in the first place.

R: Run of Pipe; Past the combustion fan, you’ll be dealing with the venting system.

Depending on the flue system layout, sometimes you can service the venting system from the stove/insert area inside the building.

If service from the interior is possible, use your vacuum to contain the flyash from the system.

(Continued on page 25)

CSIA Update Publication for CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®s

www.CSIA.org

CSIA CODE OF ETHICS I fully acknowledge that certification

6. To conduct myself in a decent,

by the Chimney Safety Institute of

respectful, and professional manner when

America (CSIA) carries with it certain

serving in my capacity as a chimney

responsibilities and obligations which

sweep, or when attending a function or

may hold me to a higher standard of

event of an organization in the chimney or

performance and professional behavior

hearth products industry.

than applicable laws, rules or regulations.

When renewing a credential earned after September 1, 2009, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® is required to: • Submit a minimum of 9 CEUs earned

In this regard, I pledge:

7. To comply with the proper usage of the

1. To learn and utilize all chimney and

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Trademark

venting safety practices and techniques

as defined in the CSIA Trademark Use

that are promoted by CSIA.

Guidelines document.

2. To render my services in an honest and

I agree to accept and abide by the CSIA

fair manner and to refrain from engaging

Code of Ethics as a standard in rendering

2009 until their next 3-year certification

in unfair or deceptive practices or making

services as a CSIA Certified Chimney

cycle.

any unfair or deceptive statements

Sweep© or CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust

• Pass a one-hour exam based on

including but not limited to with regard to

Technician©. By agreeing to this Code

Successful Chimney Sweeping (2009)

use of the CSIA logos.

of Ethics, I understand that it is my

and NFPA 211 (2010)

responsibility to remain abreast of any 3. To comply with all applicable building

changes to the Code of Ethics, that my

codes in the areas I service, with the

actions may be reviewed by a committee

manufacturer’s installation instructions for

of my peers, and that failure to abide by

the products I install, and with recognized

these ethical obligations is a violation of

chimney and venting practices.

CSIA policy and, in accordance with the CSIA Code of Ethics Violation Procedure,

4. To promote and educate consumers

may result in disciplinary action by the

about safe chimney and venting practices.

CSIA or its delegated committee. I agree to hold harmless CSIA and its committees

5. To strive to continually update my

from any and all liability resulting from any

knowledge, skills, and technique with

disciplinary action taken against me.

within the preceeding 3 years (in any category) before testing. NOTE: This requirement will not apply to CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps already holding the credential on September 1,

• P ass a ninety-minute open-book exam based on the 2006 IRC® • Agree to pay the Annual Certification Fee. • Sign CSIA Code of Ethics.

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• Agree to pay the Annual Certification Fee. • Sign CSIA Code of Ethics.

regard to currently accepted chimney and venting safety practices.

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from the Chimney Safety Institute of America To aid in the prevention of chimney fires and carbon monoxide intrusion and to help keep heating appliances and fireplaces functioning properly, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) offers the following safety tips: 1. Get an annual chimney check. Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a qualified professional chimney service technician. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimneys.

2. Keep it clear. Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney.

3. Install a chimney cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.

4. Choose the right fuel. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose wellseasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months - one year and stored in a covered and elevated location. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or wood stove.

5. Build it right. Place firewood or firelogs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. To start the fire, use kindling or a commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids.

6. Keep the hearth area clear. Combustible material too close to the fireplace, or to a wood stove, could easily catch fire. Keep furniture at least 36� away from the hearth.

7. Use a fireplace screen. Use metal mesh or a screen in front of the fireplace to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring.

8. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Place detectors throughout the house and check batteries in the spring and fall.

When you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time, remember to check your batteries.

9. Never leave a fire unattended. Before turning in for the evening, be sure that the fire is fully extinguished. Supervise children and pets closely around wood stoves and fireplaces.

10. The CSIA recommends annual inspections performed by CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps. These chimney sweeps have earned the industry’s most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. The National Fire Protection Association also recommends that all chimneys are inspected on an annual basis.

For more chimney and fireplace safety tips, visit the Chimney Safety Institute of America online at www.CSIA.org.

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(Continued from page 20)

Pellet Stove and Insert Servicing If service from the interior is not possible, you’ll need to go outside to service the venting system from the exterior to the interior. When servicing from the exterior, you should be in your full protective gear including a tyvek-type protective suit with hood, a full-faced respirator with proper cartridges, and gloves.

There is typically a TREMENDOUS amount of fly ash that will come out of a pellet appliance system when servicing it from the outside and the technician will be right in the middle of this dust cloud.

We set up all our equipment outside, then will go inside and turn the unit to “on” momentarily, then back to off. On most units, this will give you about 10 – 15 minutes that the combustion fan will operate. If you work quickly, you can sweep the entire flue system in this time frame.

IMPORTANT NOTE 1: When pushing brushes into the system, be careful to not run your brush assembly into the combustion fan impeller assembly as damage can result. (I’ve personally done over a thousand service calls like this and have never had an issue with this happening, but be forewarned that it IS possible to damage the fan doing this.)

IMPORTANT NOTE 2: When pushing brushes into the system, do it SLOWLY so you don’t dislodge too much fly ash at once, this can block the flow of air out of the system. If a blockage occurs, you’ll need to clear it. (In the last 5 years, this has happened to me twice. It’s not a frequent occurrence, but it can and does occasionally happen.) When you’ve completed cleaning the venting system, don’t forget the termination. Clean it thoroughly.

Many times you’ll find that the flyash has become very hard and crusty on the cap assembly and you’ll need a stiff putty knife and/or a wire brush to service the cap.

T: Test and Verify; After thoroughly servicing the entire system, it is very important that the appliance be started up and be allowed to run through the startup sequence normally, then allowed to continue to run until the unit is in a normal running mode with the convection fan(s) running.

At this point, you should have control over the system through the control board. Test the operation of all components and features including varying the speed of any components that might have that function. This can include, but might not be limited to, the convection fan speed, the auger feed speed, and/ or the length of the auger feed timing cycle and, in some rare instances, the speed of the combustion fan.

Following the “AIRPORT” method will lead you through the servicing part of the unit in a logical manner of following the path of air through the unit. It’s an efficient way for you and your technicians to quickly move through the unit and system as a whole

Troubleshooting Charts

Engineers at the factory level spend a great deal of time designing troubleshooting charts specific to their brand.

Troubleshooting charts are designed to take the fewest number of steps to isolate and identify the problem with the appliance.

You must resist the impulse/urge common of the very new and the veteran technician to skip ahead of the process.

Stick to the flowchart of the troubleshooting charts and you will be working at peak efficiency.

Summary This article is a simple look into a pellet stove service and some of the things a technician will encounter. It is highly recommended that prior to servicing or repairing any pellet appliance system you earn the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep certification and the NFI Pellet Appliance Specialist credential.

Pellet appliance servicing can be a profit center in your business, much like any other service segment you choose to engage in. The key to successful pellet appliance servicing is to be able to work through the process efficiently and to be priced appropriately (profitably) for the amount of time involved in the service and/or the repair aspect of the service call. That pricing strategy will be different for each and every company in the industry.

Information on earning the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential can be found at www.csia.org.

Information on earing the NFI Pellet Appliance Specialist credential can be found at www.nficertified.org.

Information on pellet fuels can be found at the Pellet Fuels Institute, a non-profit association that serves the pellet industry, which is comprised of pellet mills, pellet appliance manufacturers, and industry suppliers. Their website is www. pelletheat.org.

About the Author: Bart Ogden is President and Co-Owner of Home Safe Hearth and Chimney, Inc. in Wichita, KS. He holds current certifications as a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (#2653), a CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician (#10), and a NFI Master Hearth Professional. The NFI MHP designation is for industry professionals who have earned the Gas Specialist, Pellet Specialist and Wood Specialist credentials. Bart has been involved in the hearth industry since 1979, is a past executive board member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the Chimney Safety Institute of America and is a current member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council or NCSG TAC. He is a volunteer expert on AllExperts.com regarding hearth appliance systems. Bart served on the White House Chimney Sweeping Team in 2011.

When troubleshooting a pellet appliance, it is essential that the technician become extremely proficient using troubleshooting charts.

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 25

NewNCSG Members

NCSG REGIONS

REGION 6 WASHINGTON Paul Rees • Paul’s Chimney Services • Centrailia CALIFORNIA Kenny Harrison • The Heat Source • Tehachapi Loren Gerard • Northcoast Chimney Sweep • McKinleyville

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

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

Put your mark on history!

NCSG is currently working on a history project to help the organization capture our shared history since the organization’s beginning. If you have interesting information, fun photos or official Guild communications that may be of interest, please scan and email them to history@ncsg.org. Please note: Not all material will make it onto the Guild’s timeline but may be included in another area of the history project.

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 AUGUST 12

Alan Hisey, St. Louis, MO

Harry Richart, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

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

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

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

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

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*This device is not approved or permissible for use as an alternative for fire extinguishers in any building where fire extinguishers are required by law, ordinance or fire marshal regulation AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 27

2012 – 2013 SWEEPS ADVANTAGE COUPON PROGRAM Featured Coupons of the Month A very special thanks goes out to the NCSG Supplier members who participated in the 2011 – 2012 Sweeps Advantage Coupon Program!

AHRENS Chimney Technique • AirJet, Division of Continental Industries • Alpha American Company BAC Sales, Inc. • Condar Company • Copperfield Chimney Supply • Duct Cleaners’ Supply • Dynacote LLC • Earthcore Industries, LLC • Enervex, Inc. (formerly Exhausto) • Firesafe Industries • Fireside Distributors, Inc. • Hearth Classics • High Stepper, LLC • HY-C Company, Inc. • Lifetime Chimney Supply• Lindemann Chimney Supply • Longleaf Lighter Company • Matters of the Hearth • Meyer Machine & Equipment • National Chimney Supply • Neuex Hearth Products • New England Chimney Supply • Olympia Chimney Supply • SaverSystems • Smoktite LLC • SNEWS - The Chimney Sweep News • Ventech Industries, Inc. • Wakefield Brush • Whitecaps • Wohler USA, Inc. • Z-Flex.

The 2012 – 2013 offers are being added daily in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www.NCSG.org. So start checking for these new offers each week. These coupons will be good until June 30, 2013.

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28 SWEEPING AUGUST 12

Perspective

BY MARK MCSWEENEY, CAE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Are You Keeping Up? “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” -Albert Einstein

I

n 1983 the first commercial cell phone hit the market. The Motorola DynaTac measured roughly a sleek 9” tall (plus a 4” antenna), 3.5” deep and 1.75” wide. It weighed more than 2 lbs, had a 30 minute talk time, took 10 hours to re-charge, could store a whopping 30 phone numbers, and cost the Gordon Gekko’s of the world a modest $3,995.

By comparison, today’s current model iPhone is 4.5” tall, .37” deep and 2.31” side. It weighs a paltry 4.9oz, has 8 hours of talk time, re-charges in about an hour, and the “low end” 16GB model stores roughly 5,000 songs (who knows how many phone numbers?); all for less than $400 at the high end.

And that’s just a comparison of the phone itself. I recently saw data that indicated as of 2011 there were 5.6 billion mobile phones in use. In the United States alone, there were more mobile phones in use than the US population itself (103%). Of those billions of cell phone users, how many of us actually use our phones merely as phones? It has been estimated that by 2014, mobile internet access is expected to take over desktop internet access, representing almost a 400% increase in mobile internet usage since 2007 alone. Almost ½ of all local searches for products, services and general information are performed on mobile devices.

Depending on your perspective, the statistics about all of this technology and the way the world communicates today range from staggering to bizarre. Well in excess of 1 billion of the mobile phones in use are smartphones, and with relative few

exceptions almost all of the remaining phones are SMS enabled.

And here’s something to consider…I’ve seen it estimated that on average, Americans spend almost 3 hours per day socializing on their mobile devices. That’s over twice the amount of time most spend eating, and more than 1/3 of the time we spend sleeping every day.

So what’s the point? As author Scott Friedman put it, “If you don’t make a commitment to technology today, you’ve made a commitment to retire.” The constantly evolving face of technology and its impact on the way we live and subsequently do business is at the core of everything the world is becoming.

An article last month in The New York Times indicated that Facebook is now up to more than 900 million users. That’s more than 3 times the U.S. population, and we’ve all likely heard quip that if Facebook were a country it would be the 3rd largest in the world. That same article noted that nearly half of all Facebook users log in on their tablets or mobile phones.

One year ago, Time Magazine reported that the social media platform Twitter had 360 million accounts with 460,000 new sign-ups per day. Similarly I have seen reports that LinkedIn surpassed the 120 million user mark last fall.

How often do we hear someone talking about how the world is changing? How often do we hear about “kids these days” or how today’s generation just doesn’t “get it”? Well if you haven’t figured AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 29

it out by now, today’s generation has it, and their not about to slow down and wait for the rest of us to catch up to it. By the time this article moves from my computer to the magazine and into your mailbox, I can only imagine what new technologies and media will have either surfaced or begun a short curve research and development phase that further impact our daily lives over just the next 12 months.

Think back merely 15 years. That’s not all that long ago all things considered, but it’s multiple lifetimes in technology terms. How has the world changed just in that amount of time? 15 years ago, how many of you used email and the internet with any degree of regularity? If you wrote a letter to someone, what was a reasonable response time? By contrast, if you send an email today, how quickly do you expect a response from someone?

And forget email; 15 years ago how many of you knew what text messaging was, let alone were actually using it? 15 years ago, video conferencing was an expensive and cumbersome proposition. Today, Skype and FaceTime are not only free international communication tools, but one or the other is preloaded on just about every new computer or smartphone out there.

The world is changing! The world has always been changing, but it is certainly doing so at a more rapid pace today.

You may not personally be on Facebook. You may not get a kick out of being among the more than 230 million tweets sent per day or care to follow others on Twitter. You may still think

You Tube is some awkward video invasion of someone’s personal space. None-the-less, the fact is that these are merely three strategic marketing platforms that successful businesses of all trades are increasingly realizing are a necessity for their survival.

So, is this a generational thing? Sure it is. But we’re wasting our energies if we try to place blame on generational labels. The fact is that for the first time in our economic history, we have 4 generations working, living and competing side by side. The youngest generations may be pushing the technology, and they do represent the future longevity of all of our businesses, but it’s a mistake to assume that the more seasoned generations are not embracing much of the technology as well.

According to Nielsen, the research company, during the second quarter of 2011 the second largest growth sector of tablet owners was the 55+ year old demographic, while the largest growth sector for smartphone owners was the 45+ year old demographic.

Go-Globe.com reports that in 60 seconds there are: • Over 370,000 calls on Skype • Over 98,000 tweets • Over 100 new LinkedIn accounts established • Over 6,600 new pictures uploaded on flickr • Over 695,000 status updates, over 79,000 wall posts, and over 510,000 comments on Facebook • Over 100 questions asked on Answers.com • Over 600 new videos uploaded to You Tube • Over 13,000 iPhone apps downloaded And that’s just a small sampling of the online media activity the world is using every minute of every day. If you are not taking advantage of that traffic somewhere, it’s amazing the potential opportunities that are being missed.

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In an article I wrote a few years ago about the changes we are seeing, I wrote: “My old typewriter and my new laptop may both be wireless, but that’s about where any similarity ends. Personally, I’m glad. I don’t miss the manual ping and messy Whiteout.

I’m in awe at the global resources my children have available to them and can only imagine the next level of technology that they will consider to be common-place before I know it.” This is becoming a stronger truth every day.

I hope you’re keeping up.

Until next time, I continue to 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.

Maybe the mason was afraid of heights?

- Submitted by by David Faux of Fireplace Gallery in Noxen, PA

Display Ad Index Page #

Advertiser

Phone

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30

Ahrens Chimney Technique

800-582-1392

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Chimney Safety Institute of America

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19 Copperfield/Flame

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8 ICP

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877-234-7473

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Lindemann Chimney Company

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M & G Duravent

800-835-4429

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Meyer Machine & Equipment

800-728-3828

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National Chimney Supply

800-897-8481

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5

Olympia Chimney Supply

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27

Orion Safety Products

800-637-7807

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16

Sand Hill Wholesale

800-258-5496

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4

SaverSystems, Inc

800-860-6327

www.chimneysaver.com

32 Smoktite

866-439-0069

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3 Whitecaps

800-335-2534

www.whitecaps.com

14 Z-Flex

800-654-5600

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Firesafe Industries, Inc.

AUGUST 12 SWEEPING 31

Dates & Events August 13-17, 2012 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 13-17, 2012 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 17, 2012 Madison, WI CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review and Exam For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 20-24, 2012 CSIA (online) Health and Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/ safetyweek August 24, 2012 CSIA Technology Center Masonry Heater Association’s Heater Mason’s Education and Development (HMED) Class For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

August 27-31, 2012 CSIA (online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 27-31, 2012 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org August 30-31, 2012 Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center New England Chimney Supply Science & Systems Seminar For more information, please contact Mike Simard at mjs@nesbestflex. com September 4-7, 2012 CSIA (online) Codes and Standards Quizzes For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org/quiz 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).

August 27-31, 2012 CSIA (online) Chimney Physics For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

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CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35 word classified free each year! Regularly classified ads are $2/word or $1/word for NCSG members.

Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Megan McMahon at mmcmahon@ncsg.org or (317) 837-1500.

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National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168

1207

OR