Creosote glob fell on my head mid-sweep last Tuesday

I was working a job in an old Victorian on Maple Street and a chunk of hard creosote the size of my fist broke loose and hit me right on the shoulder. Had to stop everything, clean out the whole chimney from the bottom up, and it added an extra 45 minutes to the job. Anyone else ever get caught off guard by a surprise drop like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

casey_ward511mo ago

Is your shoulder alright or did that thing leave a nice bruise to remember the job by? Because honestly, a fist sized chunk of creosote to the noggin sounds like the universe telling you to take a longer lunch break. Extra 45 minutes of cleaning from the bottom sounds like a nightmare, but hey, at least it didn't land on your ladder or knock your bucket off the roof. I guess that's the old house's way of keeping you humble, right?

sarahhart1mo ago

Did the creosote leave a bruise? Yeah, a nice purple one that's still sore three days later. Next time you're up there cleaning a chimney, tape a folded rag to the inside of your hard hat right above your ear. Catches the big chunks before they hit your skull. If you feel the brush catch on something solid, shake the rod a little before pulling it back up. That's usually creosote buildup getting ready to fall. Saves your shoulder and your head. Getting hit once taught me to check the flue for loose chunks before I even start brushing.