There was a constant risk of getting stuck in a flue, and only children were small enough to fit in these narrow spaces. Climbing Boysīoys could start their apprenticeship as early as age four, and would climb extremely narrow chimneys that could still be hot. This led to the group of children trained to do this dangerous, dirty work who were known as the “climbing boys”. Unlike today, these chimneys were cleaned by climbing upwards and cleaning as one went. The need for chimney sweeps was essential, as buildings were being constructed taller than before, and the chimneys could become very narrow and take many turns before exiting the roof. A switch from primarily wood fires, to coal-heated homes happened at this time as well, and coal left a much stickier, thicker coating on the walls of the chimney than wood had. Whereas most homeowners had taken care of their own chimney care prior to this time, it was becoming impossible for the common person to manage their chimney. Demand for Chimney Sweepsĭuring the Industrial Revolution, with cities in Europe growing at an unprecedented pace, the number of houses with chimneys also exploded. Now let’s take a look at the humble history of the chimney sweep. While we might not be performing song and dance on your roof, Chimney Care Plus is here to take care of all your chimney care needs - folks throughout Western Maryland count on us to keep their chimneys clean. Chimney sweeps perform the crucial job of keeping your chimney clean and safe, and are still needed for chimneys today. Chimneys build up creosote which can restrict airflow, and even catch fire inside the chimney. As long as there have been chimneys, the ash and soot they leave behind after a fire has needed to be cleared away. These iconic song lyrics call to mind the quintessential chimney sweep Bert featured in the musical Mary Poppins. “Chim Chimney, Chim Chimney, Chim Chim Cher-ee!”
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