Business Spotlight: 1st Sweep Chimney

Helping people, preventing fires through a full range of chimney services, and forging new relationships with customers is the mission of 1st Sweep Chimney.

Before and after photos show how 1st Sweep Chimney can
help safeguard chimney tops and masonry from foreign
objects and squirrels and protect your investment.
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Based in Windham, 1st Sweep Chimney is a full-service residential chimney company. It provides all masonry needs such as repointing, flashing and rebuilding tops, sweeps all types of flues, relines them with stainless steel liners while installing waterproofing and caps to prevent leaking.

1st Sweep Chimney services homes in all of Southern Maine, including right here in the Lakes Region, and is owned and operated by Dan Johnson.

“We take time to make sure our customers understand fully their chimney needs,” Johnson said. “The work is never rushed and is performed to the highest quality with before and after pictures. We will gladly offer references and proof of insurance.”

Fires and carbon monoxide leaks often start in chimneys that have not been cleaned or are neglected. Depending upon the buildup and use, Johnson recommends that chimneys should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year.

Johnson started his career more than 25 years ago as a mason tender and worked his way up to overseeing multiple crews and eventually starting his own business. He can expertly sweep your chimney, addressing any issues that are found in your fireplace, wood stove or heating system.

The removal of creosote is one of the most important aspects of chimney sweeping. Creosote is an extremely flammable material and a byproduct of wood-burning fires. Creosote can accumulate in the flue, and that’s why it’s important to have your chimney inspected regularly.

A chimney inspection performed by 1st Sweep Chimney is the best way to get a complete picture of the overall condition of your chimney. Because many parts of the chimney are inaccessible and invisible to the naked eye, an examination by an experienced chimney professional can be used to inspect hardest to reach portions of a chimney’s interior and allows hidden problems to be uncovered and repaired before they create safety hazards for you or your family.

Sometimes even the most well-maintained chimneys can become damaged, Johnson said. A strong storm or another type of natural disaster can cause chimney damage, as can long-term exposure to the elements, but 1st Sweep Chimney can repair your chimney promptly, properly and affordably.

Because 1st Sweep Chimney is a small local business, Johnson offers personalized and convenient service and strives to build long-term relationships with each customer.

“We are typically below our competitors on sweeping and chimney work and offer free annual inspections and estimates,” Johnson said. “We are trying to build a relationship with our customers. We try to encourage our customers to make sure their chimney is working safely ever year.”

According to Johnson, his business is customer-driven, and they call upon his experience and expertise to deliver a great experience. He says that 1st Sweep Chimney, leave each work site clean and spotless.

“We are told daily that our communication is outstanding. Every phone call, text or email typically is returned the same day,” he said. “We do not rush estimates or jobs making sure our customers have clear expectations of the work being done. The best thing about what I do is I enjoy interacting with my customers, meeting new people and helping people,” he said. “I do each one like it’s my own home. I want my customers to feel when I leave that I’ve done the best job possible.”

Reviews posted online for 1st Sweep Chimney are exceptional.

“I was having a problem with a leak around my chimney and Dan came by in no time to address the problem. And guess what? After all this rain we've had not one drop of water! I would highly recommend 1st Sweep Chimney services.” Megan Brown

“I highly recommend 1st Sweep Chimney services. I’ve used and recommend them on multiple occasions for centrotherm liners for high efficient gas boilers and furnaces, stainless steel liners for boilers and fireplaces. Best pricing around and always on time.” Jimmy Mack

“Dan is the ultimate professional! He is very trustworthy and honest while going the extra mile for his customers! Being in this business for years has made him extremely knowledgeable! We can’t recommend him enough!” Lori Latham

To book an appointment or for more details about 1st Sweep Chimney, call 207- 572-7449 or find them on Facebook under 1st Sweep Chimney Services. <

Nonprofit Spotlight: Age-Friendly Windham

Age Friendly Windham supports Maine’s age-in-place legislation by offering an informational session.

As Maine’s population ages, more seniors are looking for ways to remain independent in their own homes. But with mobility and safety concerns increasing as we grow older, staying put isn’t always easy. In Windham, an innovative solution is on the horizon.

Age-Friendly Windham, a town-supported volunteer group that focuses on a multi-generational healthy community, will offer an informational session on Nesterly, a nationwide home-share program that the Maine State Legislature passed last spring.

This information session and Afternoon Tea will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Town Hall Gym, 8 School Road in Windham. Senior Director of Government Relations & Communications Erik Jorgensen will lead the session.

Jorgensen explained that the Legislature passed a resolution, authored by Saco Rep. Maggie O’Neil, to provide a web-based home-share pilot program that would help to match older residents with compatible adults in need of affordable housing.

“Though this is not a government program, MaineHousing was asked to conduct a request for proposals and that led us to Nesterly, which is a social enterprise based on the West Coast. We are currently part way through this one-year pilot program,” he said.

Every potential host and guest goes through a comprehensive background check.

“The background check report includes a National Criminal Search, a Sex Offender Registry, and a Global Watch list Search. It also includes an Address History Search and Social Security Verification,” Jorgensen said.

In addition, hosts and guests must be interviewed by a member of Nesterly’s social worker-led team to better understand their particular goals for the home share before making any placements.

The Nesterly staff look at issues of compatibility, they confirm that potential guests have a job or another source of regular income, and they spend some time getting to know the guest and the guest’s needs.

“The host has absolute discretion over whom to rent to,” Jorgensen said. “The host sets the rent amount and house rules. In many cases, the host and the guest can agree to a certain amount of work around the household (shoveling snow, lawn mowing, cleaning, etc.) in exchange for a reduction in the rent. The hosts can then meet potential guests over the Nesterly platform – they don’t have to reveal any personal information or the location of their home until they are ready to do so. If a host does not feel like a potential guest is a good fit, the conversation ends there.”

The leasing process is handled through the Nesterly platform using standard documents based on the length of the anticipated stay. Nesterly home shares must last for a minimum of 30 days, so they are not considered “short-term rentals.”

The benefits of using the Nesterly program are many.

“If you put an ad in Uncle Henry’s or Facebook, you may get potential renters and you may find the perfect renter,” Jorgensen said. “However, Nesterly is free to use, though a $95 to $195 booking fee is deducted from the first month’s rent and 2.5 percent of the rent is deducted each month to help pay for the services.”

Jorgensen also said that hosts never have to ask for rent, as payments are deducted automatically from the guest’s bank account at the end of the month and transferred to the host, less a 2.5 percent service fee. Nesterly also provides extensive support.

“Every month during a home share, Nesterly staff reach out separately to both the host and the guest to check in and see how the home share is going,” Jorgensen said.

Nesterly puts a great deal of emphasis on compatibility and security before a home share begins. Nesterly’s rental agreements can be canceled for any reason by either the host or the guest with 30 days’ notice.

Nesterly has been successful in greater Boston and several metros outside of New England.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Nesterly could help you or someone you know to age in place, don’t miss the informational session hosted by Age-Friendly Windham on Sept. 17. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, enjoy tea, and explore the benefits of home sharing.

Window Dressers, a nonprofit organization that creates and installs insulating window inserts to help Maine residents save money on heating bills and Sebago Lakes Fuller Center for Housing, a local nonprofit that focuses on home repairs for aging adults and veterans in need so that people can stay in their homes safely, will also be at the event.

To register for the event, RSVP at WindhamRecreation.com, or contact Erica Bell-Watkins, Age-Friendly Windham Coordinator at eabellwatkins@windhammaine.us or call 207-892-4649. <