As far as domestic heating is concerned, the latest trends certainly concern new generation boilers, fireplaces and stoves, characterized by high efficiencies but, at the same time, reduced emissions.

In most cases, it comes to products fueled by biomass, such as wood, pellets and wood chips. These are particularly appreciated solutions, as they are rather economic and also ecological, but only on the condition that the materials used for combustion, those which precisely form the so-called biomass, meet certain requirements.

In order to be defined as truly ecological, woody dry biomass must first of all derive from the felling of already dead plants, without having to cut living ones. Furthermore, the exploitation of forests must take place in an extremely rational and regulated way, protecting the nature and the animals that live there as much as possible; the working processes must also follow very precise standards.

In other words, if we talk about saving, efficiency and environmental protection, energy sources of wood origin certainly represent the future. They also represent an excellent opportunity from an aesthetic point of view: nowadays, there are pellet stoves and fireplaces so beautiful that they can without any doubt become the protagonists of an entire domestic environment, adding a stylish touch.

Savings, ecology and design are not the only important aspects. The necessary certifications and highly-qualified personnel who deal with installation (smoke technicians) and maintenance/cleaning (chimney sweeps) procedures are fundamental.

The chimney sweep today: who he is and what he does

Considering the variety and quality level of the current market, it becomes absolutely essential that all systems are certified and that those who take care of their maintenance are adequately prepared. In fact, that of the maintenance technician of smoke ducts has become a highly-specialized professional figure.

Nowadays, the combustion appliances on the market are increasingly complex and sophisticated; therefore, this requires greater responsibility and professionalism from the technicians who deal with installation and maintenance. Since technological progress is incessant even in this sector, these technicians need to engage in continuous training, so that their skills are always up-to-date with new products and with ever-changing regulations.

Very often, when a biomass appliance does not work well, the problem lies precisely in the exhaust hood. For this reason, it is necessary to always rely on stove technicians who first install systems in accordance with standards, which already highly reduces the risk of malfunctions, after which it is essential that maintenance is always entrusted to trained and updated personnel.

Traditionally, the primary task of the chimney sweep is to clean the smoke ducts from soot and any flammable deposits that may form. These residues, in fact, could reduce the draft and, consequently, the efficiency of the entire system. They could also cause an obstruction such as to favor the return of the fumes into the environment: this situation, the latter, is very dangerous as it could also cause important, if not fatal, intoxications. If a fire were to arise, this could not only damage the fireplace itself, but it could cause much more serious damage, putting people’s safety at risk.

In short, it is a delicate topic which should never be underestimated from any point of view. For most European countries, for this very reason, very strict rules have come into force regarding the responsibility for checking and verifying the functioning, suitability and safety of the various systems (chimneys, exhaust hoods, etc.).

There are precise regulations that have to be respected, from the design, to the construction, to the maintenance.

In some countries, the function of the modern chimney sweep is also to detect the fumes emitted and monitor them, so as to check that harmful emissions always remain below certain predetermined levels. Furthermore, the task of these specialized technicians is to also make sure that the systems always work efficiently, such as optimizing performance and energy consumptions.

Why is it important to carry out maintenance of the smoke ducts?

Even before the maintenance of a woodburning or pellet stove, or a woodburning fireplace, there is always one aspect that must not be overlooked: the installation must be carried out correctly by a qualified professional. The quality of the product does not matter if the installation is not performed in a state-of-the-art manner.

Although there are many models on the market that are apparently easy to assemble, it is still better to rely on the expert hands of a specialized stove technician engineer to avoid operation or safety problems. Once the work has been carried out, the technician is required to issue the declaration of conformity and also the use and maintenance manual, as required by law (Ministerial Decree 37/08).

The stove technician himself must be qualified on the basis of what is indicated in the same decree.

The KIF report regards maintenance and control, and contains various data concerning the installation type, the chimney, the smoke duct, etc.

With these premises, the figure of the chimney sweep becomes fundamental: it is the technician who must periodically perform the cleaning and routine maintenance of all types of smoke ducts, assuring that the system is operating at its best potential.

Even in this case, there can be no improvisation, but one must always rely on technicians who meet the requirements set by the Ministerial Decree 37/08; that is to say, the skills and technical knowledge necessary to be able to carry out the adequate maintenance of the thermal systems that are fueled by biomass. Their role is fundamental because by periodical cleaning, they can maintain high plant performance and can intervene preventively, avoiding the risk of leaks or dangerous blockages (which could generate intoxications, fires, etc.).

In other words, what the chimney sweep does with his modern tools consists in removing soot and other residues from the chimney, checking that the fumes pass correctly and replacing, if necessary, any damaged or worn parts (for example, gaskets).

This type of routine maintenance should be carried out once a year, preferably during the spring or summer season, when the heating systems are not working: in this way, a perfect system functioning can be ensured as soon as the cold season starts.

Usually, the chimney sweep’s intervention is somewhat brief: an hour or two at most may be more than enough to carry out the maintenance. It is not even a particularly dirty job because, thanks to the equipment that they have nowadays, modern chimney sweeps can easily work leaving the house clean.

Spending money on maintenance is key in order to ensure the proper functioning of stoves and fireplaces: their performace will improve, while operating in greater safety.

The characteristics of the modern chimney sweep

Compared to the role that the chimney sweep played many years ago, today he can not only be considered as the one who cleans the exhaust hoods, but must be seen as a technician with very precise and always updated skills, who is entrusted with the perfect functioning of a flue system.

As already mentioned, his intervention can even be decisive in order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or possible fires.

In order to take on all these responsibilities, which actually are of great importance, a chimney sweep, before becoming officially such, must obtain a qualification by following a special training course that usually includes a theoretical part and a practice. There are various types of courses, which have a variable duration, and are therefore more or less in-depth; on ther other hand, there are various refresher courses that allow you to always stay informed about the technological and legislative innovations in the sector.

The tools of the trade have also decidedly changed over time. Nowadays, all the operations carried out by the chimney sweep are perhaps more complex and articulated, but are also extremely more effective and safe than in the past. One of the main tools is the camera that is placed inside the exhaust hood, which allows the technician to view it internally. It’s fundamental to work in total safety and in compliance with current regulations, especially when it comes to having to position a ladder and climb onto the roof; the technician then cleans these tools with special brushes capable of removing soot and other residues. Obviously, these modern brushes are made with materials that can clean well but, at the same time, do not ruin the internal structure of the exhaust hood.

In addition, a chimney sweep must be able to read and correctly interpret the certifications of fireplaces and stoves, as well as being aware of the energy-saving regulations: a good system must always respect the environment, and therefore, those who take care of its maintenance must also be competent.

The most frequently used cleaning techniques are:

• • Percussion cleaning: it is performed from the roof by inserting from the chimney a brush with a diameter suitable for the dimensions of the exhaust hood. At one end, a weight of a couple of kilograms is hooked, while on the opposite end there is a rope in order to be able to pull up and down.
  • Rod cleaning: in this case, rigid or foldable rods are used. The brush can be inserted also from the bottom, and not necessarily starting from the roof.
  • Reel cleaning: these are flexible rods with rolled-up probes, a sort of more modern evolution of the traditional quick-coupling rods mentioned above.
  • Motorized cleaning: this is a milling method that is performed only in the most extreme cases, such as when dealing with incrustations difficult to remove differently. If it is always important to carry out a preventive inspection through the use of a camera, it is even more important if you think you need to resort to this type of cleaning. The chimney sweep must be very experienced and has to know how to evaluate the resistance of the materials before proceeding in order to avoid system damages.
  • Controlled burning cleaning: this method is also used in extreme cases only, and it is necessary to notify the fire department and the inhabitants of the neighborhood before proceeding.
  • Chemical cleaning: it consists in carrying out an actual washing using chemical substances.

In general, we can say that the technician, having carried out a first inspection, must always have special equipment in order to perform a video inspection, to check the draft, to carry out a leak test, to proceed with any type of chimney sealing, etc.

The reference standard, regarding mechanical and also motorized cleaning, is UNI 10847. However, when it comes to the draught of fumes and the combustion analysis, reference is made to the UNI 10389-2 standard. The verification of the correct installation of a chimney or fireplace is based on the UNI 10683 standard. In other words, there are many legislative references to which reference must be made and that every technician specialized in this sector should know.

Training for chimney sweeps

In Italy, there are specialized schools that specifically deal with the training and technical updating of chimney sweeps and stove technicians; in short, for all those operators who intend to work in the sectors of installation, maintenance, cleaning and monitoring stoves and fireplaces fueled by biomass.

Among these, we find the FUSPA school which has been offering training courses of various kinds for almost thirty years; they range from basic courses to higher master levels. Around 450 new students are enrolled every year.

Training must not be seen as simply the teaching or learning of a set of notions, but must consist in a long-lasting process, able to provide operators with the necessary knowledge and, subsequently, the tools to consolidate them, offering them the opportunity to remain always up to date.

The courses must follow the European standards on the subject, generating trained personnel with a technical profile of a certain type. There is a real qualification scheme that has the purpose of identifying the basic requirements in order to become by all means an “installer, manager and maintainer of chimneys and exhaust hoods“.

ANFUS

Besides FUSPA, there is an equally important association in this area called ANFUS (National Association of Stove Technicians and Chimney Sweepers).

The organization was born in 1992 on the initiative of Giovanni Paoletti, who wanted to give a more institutional profile to the professions of the stove technician and of the chimney sweep. His aim was to found an association based on the job and technique growth of operators working in the timber and pellet sector.

Today, this association brings together under a single symbol over 500 more or less large companies operating in the sector; among these are small artisans, medium-sized companies that mainly deal with assistance, distribution and implementation of craft projects, and finally also the great builders of fireplaces, stoves, exhaust hoods, and so on.

The uni 10847 standard

The UNI 10847:2017 standard “Cleaning of smoke systems for generators and appliances fueled by liquid and solid fuels – Guidelines and procedures”, published by the CTI (Italian Thermotechnical Committee), replaced a few years ago the previous UNI10847: 2000 version, which was born precisely on the initiative of Giovanni Paoletti, the founder of ANFUS.

This regulation establishes the criteria and procedures necessary to carry out valid cleaning, and also the relative subsequent checks, of the smoke systems concerning heat generators and appliances that use liquid or solid fuels. The cleaning of the sole generator is not included in the field of application of this regulation.

The story of chimney sweeps

We cannot talk about these modern qualified technicians without briefly telling what has been the evolution of the figure of the chimney sweep throughout the years.

In the collective imagination, the first character that comes to mind when tackling the topic is that of Albert (Bert) in the Walt Disney film “Mary Poppins”. A sympathetic, poetic and disenchanted figure; the classic slender man dressed in black, his face dirty with soot and his hedgehog brush in his hand.

But, if we talk about reality, we must step back in time several centuries ago, when the profession of the chimney sweep was born and subsequently spread throughout Europe. One of the first testimonies attributable to this profession dates back to the early 1600s: a boy, nonetheless an Italian immigrant in France, that was in charge of cleaning a chimney in the royal palace, ended up by mistake in another room and thus managed to listen to a secret conversation concerning the intention to kill the King. Thanks to him, the plot was unveiled and the boy gained a good recognition as well as a hint of celebrity destined to last in history.

Since it was necessary to have a rather slender physique in order to easily fit into the narrow exhaust hoods, it did not take long to understand that children could be the most suitable to perform certain tasks. Thus, at a certain point, an actual exploitation to the detriment of the youngest ones took place; so much so that some of them were even taken away from the most disadvantaged families with the aim of making them skilled chimney cleaners.

During the 19th century, the image of an adult knocking from house to house, accompanied by children between the ages of 5 and 12, was widespread. The goal was precisely to offer a chimney cleaning service in exchange for some money for the master and simply a hot plate or some disused clothes for the little ones. Most of the time, these children came from very poor families who lived in the mountains, where desperate parents saw no other future for their children than to entrust them to someone who would take them with them to the city and teach them a trade. Even if they didn’t receive much teaching, it was straight-up exploitation, which was then destined to cease as soon as the child’s physique became too “cumbersome” and, therefore, not very functional. Some of these children, even when they grew up, remained at their exploiter’s side, giving him a hand managing work and, above all, to contain the intemperances of the younger ones.

But what exactly did these first young chimney sweeps have to do? Essentially they had to climb inside the chimney, meanwhile scratching with a curved iron so as to remove the soot, and then, once they reached the top, they had to shout “chimney sweep” or raise their arm out of the chimney. This meant that the whole chimney had been covered and cleaned. Needless to say, accidents could have been frequent and even dangerous: falls, shocks when touching electrical wires, etc.

With the passing of time, living conditions have gradually improved, mainly thanks to the help of the first patronage companies born in the second half of the 19th century. If nothing else, they were guaranteed a minimum of additional assistance and also a bit of education, with the teaching of reading and writing on Sundays when they were taken as days off.

Subsequently, mutual aid companies between chimney sweeps were founded, but many of these soon dissolved for three main reasons: there was little collaboration, those who managed the incomes often tried to pocket it personally, and the living conditions of children did not improve much. Religious organizations sometimes managed to obtain more results by having children study by organizing evening courses.

Even literature and music have often highlighted the negative aspects of the life of these minors, denouncing their unease through art. Just think, for example, of the evil exploiter who tries to attract the young Oliver Twist in the novel written by Charles Dickens; or Benjamin Britten’s post-war opera “The Little Sweep”.

Following the various secular or religious initiatives and the first, not always successful, cooperation attempts between chimney sweepers, the situation gradually improved, but at some point the problem of child exploitation disappeared precisely because, or thanks, to the spread of new heating methods.

From the post-war period onwards, the demand for cleaning chimneys gradually decreased to the point of disappearing almost completely around 1970s with the emergence of methane gas as the main heating fuel.

However, the very last decades have seen a return in style of stoves and fireplaces and, consequently, also of chimney sweeps. Fortunately, it is appropriate to say, with characteristics that are very different from their predecessors!

For those wishing to relive the suggestive atmospheres that characterized the life of the chimney sweeps of the past, in Val Vigezzo, located in Piedmont, which is not considered as the valley of the chimney sweeps by chance, there is a beautiful museum dedicated to their history. An International Gathering is periodically organized which attracts fans from all over the world; many European Nations are represented, as well as the United States, Russia and Japan. Generally, over a thousand chimney sweeps meet to parade along the streets of Santa Maria Maggiore: all with their faces covered in soot and dressed with the typical work clothes and tools of the past.