KEY POINTS:
Name: Greg Plowright
Age: 40
Role: Self employed chimney sweep of AA Chimney Services
Working hours: six days per week over busy season (May to July) down to two or three days a week over November and December.
Income: $80,000 turnover last year
Qualifications and institution: Technician Accreditation Course and Solid Fuel Appliance Installation Technician course through New Zealand Home Heating Association.
Describe what you do.
About half my time is spent cleaning and sweeping fireplaces. I average six or seven per day. The other half is spent on repairs such as fire door seals, bricks and glass windows and flues.
To clean a fireplace I start by putting a drop sheet around fireplace. I check door and seals, bricks and air tubes.
Then I get on roof, take the top off, check the flashing, flue cone and the inner lining which fits into the flue. Then I start sweeping which involves pushing a brush on rods down the chimney in a screwing motion. As it goes down it dislodges and pushes out all the soot. That can take some time. Then I refit everything and vacuum around the fireplace.
Because I'm self employed, I've also got administration to do in the evenings; GST, invoices, ordering parts and making appointments.
Equipment used? No little children sweeps these days?
No, that is outlawed! I use brushes, an industrial vacuum cleaner, ladders, drop sheets, and general hand tools.
What kind of clients do you have?
Anyone and everyone because chimneys need to be cleaned annually for insurance purposes. A lot of work comes from property management companies.
Why did you choose this line of work?
I am a cabinet maker by trade. I headed to England and Europe when I was 21 where I worked on building sites. When I came back to New Zealand I didn't want to go back into a factory environment. A mate was sweeping chimneys and it was the busy time so I helped him out. Then he decided to give it up, so I took over. I phoned the Heating Association, did the technician course and installer's course and here I am 12 years later.
What sort of training or experience do you need?
You'd probably want a practical hands-on background. The accreditation course covers basic general maintenance for fires, including clearances required for different flues and signs of potentially dangerous fireplaces. It is also useful to have the solid fuel appliance installation ticket to extend what you can offer.
What skills or qualities do you need?
You need good people skills; especially tact and patience. Repairs require problem solving skills. You do get dirty, and you need a head for heights because you climb on roofs.
You need to be organised with appointments and paper work. And customers like you to be tidy. I always carry liquid soap and towel so I can clean up at an outside tap before going to the next job. Nobody wants a person covered in soot turning up at the door.
Best part of the job?
Meeting people. You never know who you're going to meet when you knock on the door. I also enjoy working with my hands and feeling satisfied when I sort out a fireplace problem.
Common problems with fireplaces?
There aren't many multi-fuel fireplaces around; most are designed to burn wood only. Coal will burn too hot for most fireboxes and can overheat the box and split it open.
In 2005 the government made manufacturers design 'clean air' fireplaces so less soot particles come out per kilo of dry firewood. But often wood isn't dry. It always amazes me firewood suppliers are not licensed and yet they can cause big problems if they deliver wet wood. Wet wood clogs flues quickly, creates a smoky environment and pollutes more.
I'm amazed at how some people don't care what they put in their fireplace. I've even found the remains of melted coca cola bottles in fireplaces.
What odd things can happen?
Lots. One time I went to clean a rental property chimney. The tenant who was going to work put the key out for me. I go in, find the fireplace, get to work and out of the blue a woman appears and starts screaming in fright. She was a flatmate who worked night duty and didn't know I was coming and had been woken by the noise. I hate to think what she thought I was doing.
Advice to someone wanting to do the same thing?
It is more involved than you first think. Watch chimney sweeps at work.
Future prospects?
Eventually I may drop the chimney sweeping and just do repairs. There is an increased interest in repairing fires, particularly now that some of the permit costs have recently increased again.
