Hearthlist Digest #604 - Saturday, May 5, 2001
 
sooting
  by "Jeff Palmer" <[email protected]>
 

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Subject: sooting
From: "Jeff Palmer" <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 21:03:28 -0400
 
Several times in the past few years I have recieved calls from insurance
company lawyers wanting me to reimburse them anywhere from $5000.00 to
$15000.00 for the cleaning and painting of the interior of a home due to
some sooting "caused by a sealed combustion direct vent gas fireplace".
After educating them on the causes of soot (from candles to lack of
adequate make up fresh air) we part ways and I do not typically hear
back from them. In these cases, removing the candles, or at least
burning beeswax candles has alleviated the problem. One hint though, do
not ask the customer if they burn candles before you go to their house.
Go to the house armed with your camera and take pictures (of course
including the candles) and then bring up the possibility. Otherwise, if
you bring it up first, the candles may dissappear.
 
Good luck!