To Sweep or Not to Sweep? That is the question!

It's wednesday again!  

Here we are the week before Memorial Day 2023.  Where has the time gone?  That means summer is almost here and it's time for spring cleaning.  

We clean our houses in the spring and your chimney needs cleaning too.  A chimney sweep is easy and inexpensive way to save your chimney from soot and creosote build up.  So here's the question, To Sweep or Not to Sweep?  

The chimney uses pressure caused by a hot column of gas to create a draft and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of direction. During normal operation, a layer of creosote builds up on the inside of the chimney, restricting the flow. The creosote can also catch fire, setting the chimney (and potentially the entire building) on fire. I think that answers our question.....yes,  we must sweep our chimney's in the spring or summer. 

We do offer this service to our customers in order to get them ready for Fall, Winter or even that cool night in the summer.  We use a Chimney brush with a flexible brush head that can be extended to reach the height of your chimney.  We sweep from inside your home where our trusty farm members check out your chimney with a flexible camera (borescope), sweep after inspection and clean up after.  Easy right?  Now you're ready for a cool night to light your fire.  

Just some fun facts that I discovered while reading a few articles about Chimney Sweeps. 

- The superstition holds that it is good luck to touch them, wiping a fingertip across their sooty sleeves, or, when seeing them from a distance, to touch a button and make a wish.

- To see a Chimney Sweep on your wedding day is a sign of Good Luck & Fertility for the newly married couple. When a Lucky Chimney Sweep attends the wedding, this 200 year old timeless tradition is said to bring Good Luck to the happy couple.

- Across Europe, chimney sweeps still wear the traditional all-black uniform with a top hat or cap. It’s said to be considered good luck to rub or grasp one of your buttons if you pass one in the street. There’s one to remember next time a chimney sweep passes by.

- A very old tradition for finding good luck at the beginning of a new year involves coming across a chimney sweep toting a pig. Centuries ago, it was a custom for chimney sweeps to walk through the streets carrying a pig on New Year’s Day. People would flock to the chimney sweep, each paying a small sum to make a wish while pulling a hair from the pig, for good luck.

Well, we do live and work on a farm but our chimney sweeps won't have a pig with them. 

To give yourself some luck, we recommend that you order for a chimney sweep at least once a year to ensure that your chimney is in perfect condition.

When we arrive to do the job, we’ll happily shake your hand for luck!

Our Chimney sweep option is on sale! You can order a chimney sweep with us at www.tnfirewood.com under the firewood tab at the top. Add firewood, kindling or firestarters to your order so you're ready to light a warm fire.  We will be happy to deliver your firewood at the same time as the sweep.  

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone.  See you next Wednesday.