How old were Chimney Sweeps in Victorian times?
The life of a chimney sweep in Victorian times was nothing like what you see in Mary Poppins. It was a brutal, dreary existence for Victorian child chimney sweeps. Some were as young as 3 years old. Their tiny size made them a popular choice for going down the narrow chimney stacks.
How old were chimney sweeps?
The ideal age for a chimney sweep to begin working was said to be 6 years old, but sometimes they were used beginning at age 4. The child would shimmy up the flue using his back, elbows, and knees. He would use a brush overhead to knock soot loose; the soot would fall down over him.
How much were Victorian chimney sweeps paid?
A chimney sweep in the Victorian Era got paid about 10 Shillings in Europe.
Do chimney sweeping logs actually work?
Professional chimney sweeps can clean your chimney and get rid of soot and creosote build up. As it burns, it can loosen the soot and keep your chimney free of dirt and debris. However, using these logs alone is never a good replacement for an annual chimney inspection and cleaning by a certified chimney sweep.
Do Duraflame logs clean chimney?
Getting back to the question of “do those chimney sweeping logs really work?” the first part of the answer is yes, they do work – to some extent. These types of logs contain a chemical catalyst with can reduce the early stages of creosote buildup up to 60% with repeated use.
How do you slow down a fire in a fireplace?
To help slow down a fire in a fireplace:
- Close any doors to the room from the rest of the house.
- Close any external air vents within the room that were opened prior to starting the fire.
- Close any windows in the room that were opened to help get the fire going.
Are fire starters bad for chimneys?
The accelerants or fire starters can cause flare ups or heat your fire to extremely high temperatures that are unsafe for your fireplace and chimney.