Chimney sweeps became associated with the provision of fresh, clean air in the home and a symbol of good hearth and good health because of the clean air their chimney cleaning services provided.Ĭleaning inside the maze of soot-covered flues was a dangerous and difficult job. During this time, the profession of chimney sweep grew rapidly.
If not cleaned routinely, the deposits began to block or deflect the flow of air up the chimneys forcing harmful and toxic fumes into the buildings and homes.Īs the use of coal increased, routine chimney cleaning became a necessity. Since coal left large sticky deposits of residue on the walls of the fireplace and flue, the need for more frequent cleaning of the chimneys and flues increased. Coal grew in popularity as an alternative fuel source for wood. Small chimney sweeps were required to navigate such tight spaces.ĭuring this time period, the need for chimney professionals increased.
Buckingham Palace is said to have a flue with 15 angles that narrows down to nine by nine inches. The common size was fourteen inches by nine inches because narrow flues created a better draft. The routes taken by the flues often involved two or more right angles as well as horizontal and vertical sections. Buildings were taller and new chimneys were grouped together. With the increased urban population that accompanied the industrial age, the number of homes with chimneys increased. This led to the creation of a complex labyrinth of pitch-black narrow tunnels inside the walls of the homes. To avoid paying taxes on the additional chimneys, builders began to adjoin the flues of new fireplaces to existing chimneys within the home. In 17th century England, the government began to charge a very hefty hearth tax which was based on the number of chimneys in a home. Originally, chimneys were built into the homes of England’s ruling class, but it wasn’t long before fireplaces and chimneys were built into the homes of the working class as well. The earliest signs of chimney use date to the 13th century in Italy, but it wasn’t until the 16th century in England that the trend of fireplaces and chimneys really took off and people began constructing homes with fireplaces in each room.
In earlier civilizations, fires were built in fire pits in the center of rooms to provide warmth to buildings and homes however, the early Romans began using fireplaces to produce heat and to cook indoors.
0 kommentar(er)
