Pro tip: Never use a leaf blower on a chimney cap in the middle of a job

Last Tuesday I was up on a roof in Elmwood and figured I'd blast some debris off the cap with my leaf blower. Big mistake. It kicked up a cloud of creosote dust that blew right back into my face and got all over the customer's brand new patio furniture. Took me an extra 45 minutes to clean that mess up and the lady was pretty peeved. Has anyone else had a simple trick backfire like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenw2312d ago

My buddy Dave always swore by using a leaf blower to clean caps fast, and I thought he was onto something until last spring. I did the exact same thing on a job over on Maple Street and ended up with creosote all over my truck and a pissed off neighbor who was having a barbecue. That black powder is nasty stuff and it gets everywhere once it's airborne. Now I just use a stiff brush and a shop vac with a long hose, way less drama. Have you found a better way to deal with the fine dust that settles on everything?

andrew91611d ago

3 seconds into blasting a chimney cap with a leaf blower and I'd have my neighbor's BBQ covered in black crap too. That stuff hangs in the air like it's got a personal vendetta against clean surfaces. Shop vac is the only way to go unless you want to start a neighborhood war.