9 Signs of Chimney Fire and Why they Ignite

9 Signs that a Professional Chimney Sweep looks for to Identify if a Chimney Fire has Occurred: “Puffy” or “honey combed” creosote Warped metal of the damper, metal smoke chamber connector pipe or factory-built metal chimney Cracked or collapsed flue tiles, or tiles with large chunks missing Discolored and/or distorted rain cap Heat-damaged TV antenna attached to the chimney Creosote flakes and pieces found on the roof or ground Roofing material damaged from hot creosote Cracks in exterior masonry Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners

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3 Lessons Learned from a Lucky Chimney Sweep

A client last week asked one of our Midtown Chimney Sweeps franchisees for a few bristles cut from his chimney sweep brush. The sooty bristles are a symbol of good luck. There is a rich tradition of good fortune intrinsically tied to our careers of soot removal. We reviewed the 1964 film “Mary Poppins” with all-star cast favorites Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews. We gleaned three things to share with you. If you find these helpful, please share this post! Did you know that it's good luck to see a chimney sweep on your wedding day, shake his hand or be kissed by him? 3 Lessons Learned from a Lucky Chimney Sweep.

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3 Tips for New Home Owners with a Fireplace

Over 50% of all homes in the USA have fireplaces. Chances are, when you buy a home, the fireplace plays a part in the decision of which home you buy. Statistics say that 58% of hearth owners consider their fireplace, wood or pellet stove or insert to be a major design feature in their home. Now that you have a fireplace of your own, learn 3 tips for new home owners with a fireplace, and get a start on the chimney inspection process! 3 Tips for New Home owners with a fireplace

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Why Real Estate Agents Need to Know about Fireplaces

Fireplaces sell homes. Or dramatically help buyers decide on one home over another. Just look at almost any real estate photo shoot- the advertisement that wants the home to feel cozy and safe will feature the fireplace. Or any company that wants to tell the consumer that their products are safe and enduring will use a picture of a fireplace. Or at least feature it in the background. And yet, many real estate agents are still nervous about talking about the very fireplaces that help them increase the home's sale price. This may be due to the high number of Millenials entering the real estate profession and may be exposing a need for more education. Midtown Chimney Sweeps has put together a list of reasons why real estate agents need to know about fireplaces. Midtown offers free one hour courses to real estate broker's office in California, Colorado, and Iowa.

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5 Things that Make a Good Home-Based Business

Dirty Jobs Can Yield High Returns Sometimes the most unlikely business models are the most successful. Take trash collection, carpet cleaning, or chimney sweeping for example. Nobody wants to do them, but they actually pay very well. Some of these home-service business opportunities may have tremendous growth opportunities in the "dirty jobs" section of America because customers want quality and professionalism in these areas of home service, and cannot find it. Figure that one out and you are already an entrepreneuerial-minded business person on your way to the top. Here is a list of 5 things you can do to make a good home-based business in America today.

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How to Know if Your Pellet Stove has a Bird Nest

How to Know if Your Pellet Stove has a Bird Nest is not easy at first, but we will show you how to figure it out! The picture above is of my hand removing a handful of twigs and nesting debris from a sparrow's long two weeks of labor to build a nest in our Midtown Chimney Sweeps' client's home in Evergreen, Colorado. Our technicians regularly remove nesting debris from all kinds of chimneys in the spring months. Note: It is a violation of the Endangered Species Act to remove a Chimney Swift or its nest during nesting season. Consult with local animal removal authority in your county or city before attempting to move these special little critters!

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