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“The Luck of the Chimney Sweep” History and Folklore

Disney’s Mary Poppins features an entire song based on the luck of the chimney sweep. “Good luck will rub off when I shake hands with you” as the song goes. The kisses, the handshakes, even the presence at your wedding will all give you good luck! If you’re in company with a sweep, you’re in lucky company indeed, but who says and why?

Theories and Myths

chimney sweep sitting on chimneyIt is said that royalty first declared chimney sweeps as lucky, but the idea likely goes as far back as comfortable warmth was appreciated. Wherever a chimney sweep left, the fireplace would burn bright, the chimney would be safe, and the family would be warm. However, the earliest believed instance in which the chimney sweep was declared to be lucky was in 1066. King William of Great Britain was pulled out of the way of a runaway carriage by a chimney sweep. Similarly, in the 1700s King George III traveled by carriage when his horses were spooked by a dog. It is said that a chimney sweep stopped the carriage before it could overturn, and thus the king declared chimney sweeps to be lucky. It turns out royals have some sway over luck, as chimney sweeps grew in popularity again when Prince Phillip dashed outside on the day of his marriage to the present Queen Elizabeth to shake the hand of a chimney sweep. As we know through history they have had a blessed marriage and many might attribute that all to luck—the luck of the chimney sweep.

Chimney Sweeps Today

Historically as well as today, the chimney sweep is associated with hearth and home around the world. People preferred warm homes to cold ones and as soon as a fireplace with vents were created in Medieval times, so was the need for a professional to maintain them. Then, as now, the chimney sweep is essential, but the luck of the chimney sweep has also lived on through the centuries.

Today you can hire a chimney sweep to attend your wedding to shake hands with the groom and to lay a kiss on the cheek of the bride. These traditions are fun and sweet and can be performed during the wedding ceremony or at your reception afterward. When you hire a chimney sweep you can expect they’ll attend with a unique sweep uniform, may carry a chimney brush on a rod, and even dust some ash on their nose. You may also prefer that your chimney sweep be dressed for the occasion and they may show up in a traditional American Sweep Uniform and Jacket like one of the collectibles on our website.

If you’re planning a wedding, parade, street fair, banquet, career day, or even health and safety event, consider hiring or inviting a chimney sweep for the occasion. Whatever the event, you could always use the good luck a chimney sweep will bring along!

Chimney Safety

Don’t depend on luck when it comes to your chimney safety. Depend on a chimney sweep! A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep has the knowledge, experience, and the right tools to keep your chimney safe year after year. Your chimney helps your fire to work properly and your fire helps to keep your home warm. The system is designed to last for years and to work safely and efficiently year after year, but it will only do so if used correctly and maintained regularly. Instead of leaving your chimney up to chance, hire a chimney sweep and rest assured that your fireplace is ready for your daily or weekly fire this winter. The well-maintained chimney will work more efficiently, burn less wood, and require less frequent service appointments in the future. Additionally, when you schedule a chimney sweep, the system also gets a thorough once-over by a certified professional who knows where to look and what to look for. A homeowner might overlook signs of chimney leaks or damages for months or even years, but a chimney expert will notice a hazard, big or small. When you schedule services regularly, many problems are caught and corrected before serious damage has occurred, cutting down on repair costs and prolonging the life of the chimney system.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) both agree—the chimney sweep is lucky. Chimney systems that are frequented by sweeps are the safest and most efficient ones.

Lucky Chimney Sweeps in Suffolk County

At Chief Chimney Services we not only sell chimney sweep collectibles, but we’ve also been servicing chimneys and fire appliances on Long Island for decades, leading the charge in residential fire safety and community awareness.

Before you light your fire this season, schedule a sweep with one of our technicians. Schedule an appointment online or get your event on the books with one of our lucky sweeps today.

By John Pilger on December 10th, 2019 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on “The Luck of the Chimney Sweep” History and Folklore

Why Hire CSIA Certified Sweeps?

Now is the time to prepare your chimney system for winter. A properly maintained chimney will work safely and efficiently for you, last longer, and cost you less in repairs and heated air loss. When you schedule important appointments like your chimney sweep and inspection, you should be sure to hire a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep (CCS).CSIA certified

CSIA Certification and Training

It’s important to us that chimney and fire systems in our communities of Suffolk County, Long Island are maintained properly so that the frequency of accidental fires is less each year. We believe that one fire is too many, and we do our part by educating the public about chimney safety and offering important services that keep the fireplaces and chimneys in our area as safe as possible. Our professional training and CSIA certification help us to be the best and offer our customers the best chimney sweeps have to offer.

Our CSIA certification means that we spent hours in classroom and field training, completed and passed a 3-hour examination, and we are knowledgeable and experienced in diagnostics and fire safety standards nationwide. As CSIA certified sweeps we are part of a network of industry professionals that help each other and the public bring down the number of fires affecting our communities. We also adhere to a strict Code of Ethics designed to keep homeowners safe from potential scams. Any CSIA member found in violation of this code can have their credentials revoked. In addition to initial certification, we also re-certify as CSIA certified chimney sweeps every three years either by re-examination or continuing education credits. This means our education never stops because this industry never stops changing. Technologies and advancements in diagnostics, repairs, and products mean that we have to continuously learn our trade.

Choosing the Right Professional

When you’re searching for the right chimney professional to get your chimney in shape for fall, look no further than the experts at Chief Chimney Services. We service a wide swath of Long Island zip codes and if you’re not in our service area we will try our best to find someone to service your system. Our priority is safety and comfort this season, and maintenance now means safety later. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFP), the safest and most efficient chimney systems are those that are cleaned regularly and inspected annually. If your system hasn’t been serviced yet and you’re looking to use it this fall, call Chief Chimney Services today. We offer routine preventative services, inspections, repairs, installations, and general diagnostics.

If you own or rent in the Suffolk County area, you can reach a chimney and fire expert at 631-863-2460 or make an appointment online.

By John Pilger on October 10th, 2019 | Tagged with: Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Why Hire CSIA Certified Sweeps?