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Preparing the White House Fireplaces for the Anticipated Long Winter
Preparing the White House Fireplaces for the Anticipated Long Winter
Jake Rowell, Royal Chimney Services
It was a refreshingly different experience servicing the White House chimneys this year. For the first time since COVID-19 began, the face masks and mandates for testing every three days were lifted. It was great to see the friendly faces again of staff and others at the White House, along with business, monuments, and the other attractions open.
The White House understands the importance of having its 35 fireplaces cleaned and inspected annually to remove flammable creosote and note any deficiencies that need to be addressed. We used Chim Scan Internal Video Scanning multiview cameras to document our findings for the inspection report that follows.
We are very proud of this year’s White House Chimney Service Team; they did a great job and represented us well. Communication and documentation are paramount with this many fireplaces, and this year’s team was very detailed in pointing out any areas of concern that needed to be addressed.
This year’s team was comprised of eight Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA) and National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) certified sweeps from across the country.
The leader of the team is Howard Rowell, NCSG member of 40 years, who will have been servicing the White House chimneys for 30 years next year. Before 1994, other NCSG icons of the chimney sweeping trade serviced the White House chimneys, blazing the trail for NCSG members as the sweeps that service these chimneys.
“As team leader, I am honored the baton was passed onto me, and I take it very seriously, holding the highest standards and integrity and representing the chimney sweep trade,” Howard said.
When asked why one of the team requirements is to be a NCSG member, he answered, “It’s one of the metrics used to determine someone’s dedication to the chimney sweep profession and a chance to meet them face to face at convention to speak with them and gauge their interest in being a part of this volunteer team. Each year, I put together a team of people—not much different than any sports team—who complement each other with their talents and skills. There is always a blend of seasoned veterans from prior teams and new sweeps looking forward to the experience of servicing these chimneys.”
I asked Howard to share some highlights of previous years at the White House.
“Each year, your mind just reels thinking about the history that has taken place over the years in the very rooms you are servicing,” Howard said. “I always ask team members at the end what was their favorite room or moment during the project, and their answers vary from the Diplomatic Reception Room, Lincoln Bedroom, Treaty Room, Map Room, State Dining Room, Private Dining Room, Queens Bedroom, Red, Blue, and Green Rooms, Versailles, China, Library Rooms, East Room—which has four fireplaces—and the list goes on.
“Almost every year, there is a particular challenge with equipment or circumstances that we all share a good laugh over as a team, but never repeat to others. There have been times when we run into the President or First Lady by chance, as usually repairs and maintenance are scheduled for when they are out of the house on vacation or traveling.
“A few times, we have been escorted off the roof rather quickly for safety,” Howard continued. “One special memory is an earthquake that happened 12 years ago while we were servicing the chimneys.
“It was 10 years after 9/11, and I recall standing on the roof next to the chimney handing equipment to the sweep on top of the chimney. We felt a vibration and shake, looking at each other in disbelief. It felt like I was standing on a bowl of jello, and my eyes immediately went to the skies wondering if we were being attacked again. We looked at each other and asked, ‘What was that?!’
“One of the team members from California immediately told us that it was an earthquake. We were escorted quickly and safely off the roof, and we joined the entire house occupants who had been evacuated to the south lawn until it was determined to be safe to go back inside.”
“It’s an honor to service the White House chimneys and give back to the country,” Howard said. “Each time, my mind goes back to the history that has taken place as I enter each room and the leaders from around the world that have been in these same rooms. I think our contributions to servicing these fireplaces help to create a relaxing atmosphere for all those who gather in these rooms to make important treaties or alliances or simply enjoy peaceful times in front of these fireplaces with family, friends, and colleagues.
“The White House staff is always very professional and cordial with us,” Howard noted. “They appreciate what we do to keep the fireplaces in good working order and advise them about any issues that should be addressed.”
To serve on this team, the applicant must be an NCSG member or the employee of a member in good standing, maintain their CSIA CCS or NCSG CCP certification, pass rigid security checks, be physically healthy to perform the task in brutal heat, have experience sweeping chimneys, be able to follow the team leader’s directions, and be respectful to White House staff and property.
If you are interested in applying to a future White House Chimney Service Team, please email Howard Rowell at howard@royalchimney.com.
“We are always looking to share this great experience with fellow sweeps!” Howard said.
