Chimneys have been around for thousands of years, predating recorded history, so being a chimney sweep is an occupation that goes back quite a ways and is considered one of the oldest jobs in the world. It was only in the last two centuries that they were large enough for a full grown person to climb through, so the iconic picture of the man with the chimney broom is somewhat new.

When urban sprawls began to rise, more and more homes were built with large chimneys, so more and more folks were looking to get into the field of sweeping chimneys. It would actually become, for a time, on of the most respected and sought after professions.

Years ago, you would see children being used as sweepers. This was, of course, not entirely safe, but the small size of children made them otherwise perfect for the job. Eventually, legislation was passed in order to prevent children younger than eight years old from sweeping, and before long, nobody under twenty one was allowed to become a sweeper. This is, of course, for the best.

Just before World War II, in Germany, Himmler would pass legislation restricting the trade to people of completely German descent, decreeing that they could enter homes at any time of the day or night in order to look for problems in the pipes. This was, of course, to use them as spies, but interestingly, the legislation remains in effect to this day.

Today, in most of the civilized world, the whole industry has changed considerably. In fact, the industry has expanded thanks to the wide variety of heating options available to home owners, from gas burning stoves to fireplaces to furnaces. The pipes keep getting dirty, and somebody has to clean them.

The modern chimney sweep is more than just a sweeper, though. In the US, they’re licensed and regulated by the CSIA, or the Chimney Safety Institute of America. They’re trained not just to sweep, but to spot hazards and potential problems, and to perform certain repairs and maintenance procedures, so they’re much more than mere sweepers.

Do you live near Raleigh and need your chimney cleaned? For those that do, you need to consider the Raleigh chimney sweep business. You can get your fireplace cleaning in Raleigh quick and cheap.