The meeting is called:

Chimney Sweeping Codes and Standards: Successful Chimney Sweeping; NFPA 211; IRC

Check back as more info become available.

I know it hard to think about chimneys during the heat of summer but thats the perfect time to start getting ready for the coming cold weather.  Getting a supply of wood, having the chimney inspected and cleaned if needed get you ready for that cold snap we always get around NC in late Sept time frame.

Just remember to be patient if you call your local sweep and they are booking two or more weeks out. I know we send out reminders with discounts during the summer and fall months to help keep the trucks moving and still get the same load of appts..

Local Sweep and North Carolina Chimney Sweep Association member Bob Priecing, Owner of Havlock Chimney is taking part in event at Tryon Palace in Oct  in observance of National Fire Prevention Week

Release:  October 5, 2011

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin To Observe

National Fire Safety Week at Tryon Palace on October 10

NEW BERN – N.C. Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Wayne Goodwin will urge citizens to “protect your palace” in observance of National Fire Prevention Week at TryonPalace on Monday, Oct. 10.  Goodwin joins Bob Priesing of Havelock Chimney & Venting for the cleaning and inspection of chimneys at the Governor’s Palace and the Kitchen Office, where colonial cooking was at its finest.

National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9 – 15, promotes reducing the risk of home heating fires in December, January and February, when half of all U.S. home fires occur.  Fire destroyed the original Tryon Palace, North Carolina’s first colonial state capitol, in 1798.  Goodwin will share remarks at the 10 a.m. event, along with Danny Meadows, Director of Facilities Services at Tryon Palace.

Although fireplaces conjure up images of warmth and comfort, they are a significant source (36 percent) of home heating fires.  Sticky, oily, combustible creosote, created when wood does not burn completely, rises as a liquid and deposits on chimney walls, factoring into nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of home heating fires annually.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are teaming up to reduce the risk of these and other home heating fires. As part of their joint fire safety campaign, “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires,” both nonprofit organizations say that chimneys should be inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified professional.

Winter fires are preventable! For more heating fire safety advice from NFPA and USFA’s “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign, visit www.nfpa.org/winter.

About Tryon Palace

Tryon Palace, located in New Bern, NC, is part of the Office of Archives and History, an agency of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Tryon Palace is one of North Carolina’s most significant historic sites. It is the home of the Governor’s Palace, North Carolina’s first colonial and first state capitol, and includes historic buildings, gardens and the North Carolina History Center, which revolutionizes the visitor experience through use of the latest interactive  technology. The History Center includes galleries, a performance hall, the museum store and a waterfront café. Tryon Palace’s mission is to engage present and future generations in the history of North Carolina from early settlement in 1710, the development of statehood and into the mid-twentieth century. It is dedicated to collecting, interpreting and preserving objects, buildings, landscapes and events that enrich understanding of the making of our state and nation.

Main entry to Tryon Palace is North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace, 529 S. Front St., New Bern. Tickets and visitor information are available there. Visitor information is also available at the Tryon Palace Way Station, corner of George and Pollock streets in New Bern. For directions and further information about special events, programs or group tours, employment and more, visit our web site: www.tryonpalace.org or phone (800) 767-1560 or (252) 639-3500.

About the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation’s first state-supported  Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council, and the State Archives.

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources champions North Carolina’s creative industry, which employs nearly 300,000 North Carolinians and contributes more than $41 billion to the state’s economy.  To learn more, visit www.ncculture.com

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Also John Meridith of Saver Systems provided training on mixing and application of chamber tech product used in smoke chambers.

Below are picture provide by President James Owens.. I was not in attendance and was bummed at having to miss this fun event.

here is a few pictures from the event.

be sure to mark you calender for next year event.. I plan on attending..

Most masonry chimneys are relatively tough. If a falling tree makes a direct hit on your chimney that can in some cases help prevent major to your roof.

To make sure your chimney is still OK to use after such an event be sure to call your local NC Chimney Sweep Association member to come out and do a Level 2 inspection as needed..

A ” Level 2″  inspection involves the use of video camera in the chimney to check for cracks and gap in mortar that may have been caused by the sudden hitting event of the tree.  Most of the time this is covered by Home Owners Insurance. One thing to consider if you have other damage be sure to include this service when the adjuster come out to access damage.

If you have no other damage I would be better to pay for this service your self and if damage is detected then file a claim on your HO insurance for the needed repairs. ( no need to file a needless claim)

If you chimney is a pre-fab type appliance the tree may have really damaged the chimney pipe and the surrounding wood structure as well. The damage can be evaluated and repairs can be preformed depending on age and condition of system. Older systems in a lot of cases are not repairable due to absence of replacement parts.

Talk with your chimney professional and insurance adjuster to see what may be the best course of action for your damage.

Thur was get it out day with work starting at 9 am after a homemade breakfast. We started by removing stone from the wall face taking about 2 hrs in time.

By now a lot of sweeps starting showing up. Ladders and scaffolding was installed on the roof and we got the old unit out.

the old unit was a large one for sure but not enough heat output for the 18 ft high ceilings in the main part of the house.

here we have remove the stone and are getting ready to get the unit out. Guys on the roof area removing pipe from above after breaking  connections on unit.

The old unit is out and headed to the scrap yard.  The opening that resulted is close to 6 ft high..

Here the new 700 lb Elite unit is being readied for installation in the chase.. This took the better of 3 hrs of work getting the chase area ready for unit. this unit has an outside air blower and two out side air ports that had to be cut into the stone face outside..

Here we have her sitting on the hearth after doing a trial run to see how the new pipe would fit.. We knew going in it was going to be close, even after chainsawing some wood out of the chase.. That right a chain saw..!!

With the unit still on hearth we started adding pipe to the chase from below.. lifting up almost 20 ft by carl and blume behind the unit.. Here we see the offset being attached to the pipe hanging on a 2×4 in the chase. the inner was connected and outer next.. it was  nice to see and we had good help.

this is fri afternoon with what is left of the “crew”. The unit is in with all its stuff and we area getting ready to PARTY..

next day was spent putting back the stone and Sunday was re-grout day.

all in all a great time was had by all. the food was great. the people amazing and the house was very cool except for the neighbor incident.. that another story..

if you missed it you are square..  aka “be there or be square”.

carl out..

for more info go to the Drift Wood Society  website

Thanks and Welcome

Board of NCCSA