Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 25, 1994                   TAG: 9412070016
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CLAUDINE WILLIAMS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TIME TO PUT PROFITS ON ICE

"Usually we have about 70 percent regular customers and about 30 percent new customers. This season that has been reversed."

"It is good that they are calling early, because I don't plan on going up on a roof that has two inches of snow," Yoder said. "I have three kids and I plan on living a long time."

Business has doubled. People want to make sure they are ready.

"Last winter really scared a bunch of them," said Ann Briscoe of Black Goose Chimney Sweep, a family business in Thaxton.

So far, chimney sweeps mostly have had to repair the damage caused by overfired chimneys.

"People tried to get warm quick, so they put in too much wood," Briscoe said. "Then they had flue fires."

A flue fire sounds sort of like a train coming through the house, Briscoe said.

"It makes a loud sucking sound. And if you don't have a cap on your chimney, you will see big balls of flame that could set your roof on fire."

Her husband, John, is booked until Dec. 21, Briscoe said. Her son, Doug, is booked until Dec. 1. Chimney-cleaning prices range from $64 to $69, depending on the type of chimney, Briscoe said.

On a typical morning, she said, she answers about 22 calls, half of them from people seeking estimates for chimney repairs.

"Last year, people were stuck and they took their chances to light up those fireplaces," said Briscoe.

To prevent fires, flues serving gas furnaces usually need to be checked about once a year in an older home and every two years in homes newer than five years.

This winter, Yoder said, he is working about 15 hours a day. "The volume has really gone up, so now I am working longer days. I only come inside if it rains.

"People are preparing more for the winter than they have before," he said. "We are servicing more people who have not used their chimneys for years or were afraid to use them last year because they had not been cleaned."