A sooty trade
October 30th, 2006
I had no idea that the profession of chimney sweep was still thriving … in Germany:
Listening to [Master chimney sweep Dirk Straube] describe his training, it becomes clear that German chimney sweeps view their craft about as modestly as German auto engineers. After earning a license, which took 4 years, Mr. Straube worked as an apprentice for 15 years before taking over his own district.
Germany is divided into 7,888 districts — each served by a master chimney sweep and one or two assistants — and they come to know their bailiwicks like the back of their ash-stained hands.
In Neu-Isenburg, Mr. Straube handles a mix of single-family houses and small apartment buildings. Most have brick chimneys, which vent exhaust from oil and gas heaters. With the high price of fuel, he said, people are installing wood-burning stoves, which require more cleaning.
As technology advances, so does the sophistication of the heating systems. In addition to his ladder and brush, Mr. Straube carries a bag filled with equipment that measures carbon dioxide emissions, for environmental reasons, and carbon monoxide emissions, for safety reasons.
“The job is more and more technical,” he said, noting that cleaning now occupies less than half his time.