At Lindemann Chimney Supply we love to help you promote your hearth and chimney sweeping business. How hard is it for your customers to find your business online? Is your website effective? Are you on Facebook and Twitter? Do you publish helpful homeowner oriented videos on YouTube?

These are just some of the ways to get your company noticed and promoted on a local level. When you combine Facebook and Twitter posts as well as YouTube videos with links back to your company website then you multiply the exposure your company receives.

Another very valuable way to promote your company online is through press releases. If you can provide a few links to different pages on your company website this will again help to multiply your message. Here are some of the top online press release services in the USA: PR Web; PR Newswire; Business Wire, Marketwire and Prime Newswire.

You have a wealth of knowledge that you can share on a press release, Facebook, Twitter and as a blog on your computer. Some ideas are new products, new hires, promotions, safety tips, how to start a fire in a fireplace/woodstove, decorating trends (ties in with new products) and company news.

If you haven't taken advantage of these avenues to promote your business I'll bet that your competition has. The longer you wait the farther you get behind.

Part 4 of Chimney Liners and UL Listings employees some tongue in cheek humor. Remember Part 1 that started as "You may be an unlisted system if" reminds me of the "You may be a redneck" lines of the Jeff Foxworthy jokes? If you have missed parts 1 - 3 you can read them by clicking here.

We all see liner installations that would make the honorary Foxworthy "unlisted" hall of fame. So as you read the following keep in mind that we are substituting "unlisted" for "a redneck".

• You might be unlisted if you are a stainless steel liner venting a woodburning a fireplace - bare, without insulation.
• You might be unlisted if you are venting a woodburning system and have no tee.
• You might be unlisted if you are bent through the thimble and attached directly to a free-standing woodstove.
• You might be unlisted if you have dry insulation mix poured around you.
• You might be unlisted if you have no rain cap.
• You might be unlisted if you don't have a top plate to seal out the weather and provide support.
• You might be unlisted if you are kinked at a 180 degree angle (courtesy of the installer).
• You might be unlisted if you get in a fight with the installer or shipper.
• You might be unlisted if you're too small for the fireplace/woodstove you're venting.
• You might be unlisted if squirrels and birds are still welcome on a regular basis via no rain cap.
• You might be unlisted if you are installed in a dirty flue.
• You might be unlisted if you are installed in a chimney that the brother-in-law built.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney sits on wooden supports.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney hangs from the ceiling.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney is missing bricks or mortar joints.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney has a lot of vertical cracks.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney moved and the ground didn't.
• You might be unlisted if the chimney only has three sides.
• You might be unlisted if the installer used duct tape to secure the pipe joints.

 You get the idea. Installing an unlisted system can set you up for a whole lot of problems. And that's no joke.

This blog is part III of Chimney Liners and UL Listings. It involves the perspective of what a UL Listed chimney liner means from a customer's point of view. Part I of this series is what a UL Listing means to the chimney liner manufacturer. Part II is what it means to the liner installer

When a customer purchases a UL Listed product they are buying assurance. UL has been around since 1894. They are not only well recognized and respected in the USA, but they have a global presence that is staggering. By hiring you to provide them with a UL Listed system, your customer trusts you to give them a UL Listed product. They purchase Christmas lights, lamps, smoke alarms and many other home products that are UL Listed. Having this listing gives them a sense of security. They believe that if a product is UL Listed that it has passed UL's safety test and is one of the best products they can put in their home. 

Giving your customer a UL Listed chimney liner system means using all of the required components. One little component that's left out or substituted means voiding the listing unless that liner has been tested with that particular component. Some installers want to cut corners and leave the liner insulation out for woodburining applications. This voids the UL Listing. Some installers may want to leave dirty creosote-laden tiles in the flue. This also voids the UL Listing because the liner instructions were not followed (remember, they are part of the listing!). If a homeowner finds out what they thought was a UL Listed system really wasn't installed according to the listing then they can pursue the installer because they did not get the product that they paid for.

To be continued...

This blog is part II of Chimney Liners and UL Listings. It covers the perspective on what UL Listings mean to the installer. To view part 1 of this series on what UL Listing mean to chimney liner manufacturers click here and scroll down.

What a UL Listing means to the installer (part II):

Most installers sell the UL Listing as one of the important features in a liner installation. And, as an installer it is your obligation to install the liner correctly according to its installation instructions which do follow the UL Listing. This is required by codes, warranties, usually part of the permit process and for your own liability protection. If you sell a listed system and don't install it as a listed system you are falsely representing the product. This could be perceived as fraud.

Guidelines for installing a listed system include the correct prep work like cleaning the chimney, making necessary repairs and changes like tile removal, thoroughly evaluating the system, taking measurements and even liner sizing requirements. And don't forget to pull the building permit.

When it comes to installation the liner has to be properly installed. This means using the correct components down the rivets (some call for rivets vs. screws). In solid fuel, some oil and some gas installations it means using the tee at the bottom verses bending the pipe at a 90 degree or stopping the liner above the tee connection. It means using the correct rain cap, storm collar, top clamp (if needed) tee and tee cap. Very importantly, using the correct liner insulation is also mandatory. This means if it says ½" foil-faced 8 pound density X brand ceramic blanket, then that's what you must use. If they require a specific stainless steel hose clamp verses stainless steel wire then that's what you use. Some may give you the option between the insulation wrap and the poured in insulation which is what our service company, Lindemann Chimney Service, is going to use in the photo. You also have to follow the mixing instructions and minimum application thicknesses for the poured insulation. There is NO metal chimney liner system UL Listed for burning wood that doesn't require insulation for the listing. They ALL do.

To be continued...

"You may be an unlisted system if" reminds me of the "You may be a redneck" lines of the Jeff Foxworthy jokes. Let's face it. As sweeps, we come across many stainless steel chimney liner installations that would make the honorary Foxworthy "unlisted" hall of fame. We have heard and seen some pretty strange installations that were anything BUT UL Listed. In this four part article I would like to explain just how important UL Listings are. Let's start by looking at the perspective from the liner manufacturer.

What a UL Listing means to the manufacturer (part I):

A UL Listing is like a trophy of achievement to liner a manufacturer. It shows that they have put forth the effort and quality product to have their product put through the tests at UL. These tests not only include the famous temperature tests, but also torsion (bending) tests, chimney brushing tests, weighted support tests, rain tests, etc...

UL also requires that the manufacture specify all of the components that were tested and evaluated in their installation instructions down to the last pop rivet. They have to clearly spell out the method of installation and the recommended maintenance procedures including specific wording. They also have to provide and label their product with specific size and type of labels with specific wording. And as part of the listing agreement with UL, the manufacturer has to be open to surprise visits from UL where they can drop in unannounced and inspect the pipe, components, labels, instructions, etc. If the manufacturer doesn't meet the criteria then they are issued a type of warning and have a certain amount of time to correct the problem. Manufactuers take their UL Listings seriously and many won't warrant their product if it's not installed according to the listing. In fact, they will often tell say "if you don't install it according to the listing, we won't back you up if there's a problem".

To be continued...

When it comes to determining the liner size for a masonry fireplace, it's just mathematics. Once you understand how the formula works then it becomes easy to size the liners.

Some manufacturer's such as DuraVent provide a liner sizing guide as shown in the example with the fireplace.

Step 1: Find the width of the fireplace opening on the chart (look for Step 1, at right). In the example they use a 36" width. Hint: Follow the red lines in the example.

Step 2: Find the height of the fireplace opening. In the example above they use 30".

Step 3: Find the intersect of these two measurements. Then follow the horizontal line over to the appropriate chimney height. In this example they use 20'.

Step 4: Where the width/height of the fireplace opening and the chimney height line intersects the liner diameter size is given.

Another way to determine the liner size is by following some mathematical formulas. It starts with the fireplace opening. In this example we will use the 36" W X 30" H example used above.

Step 1: Find the cross-sectional area of the fireplace opening. Multiply the W=36" X H=30" and that equals 1080 square inches of fireplace opening.

Step 2: If you are using a round liner and the chimney height is more than 8' above the fireplace opening you can divide the 1080 by 12. This amount equals 90".

Step 3: Find the liner size by comparing the 90" to the cross-sectional area chart for round liners in Chart A. A 10" liner only has 78.5" of area and will be too small. An 11" liner has 95" of area so it should work.

If you are installing an oval liner for a fireplace, calculate the fireplace opening in the same manner as the above formula with the exception that instead of dividing by 12 it needs to be 10. Then compare to the Ventinox Chart, below right, for oval liner sizing specifications.

When sizing a fireplace for a square or rectangular liner the 1/10 ratio should be used. This means that the area of the liner should be 1/10th of the fireplace opening. So in the example above where the fireplace had 1080" of area, it should be divided by 10 which means a liner with 108" of area is needed.

The exception to this rule is when the liner is twice as long as the depth, like a 6 X 12 liner. Then the fireplace opening should be divided by 8 instead of 10.

To determine the area in a square or rectangular pipe just multiply the length by the depth. For example a liner that is 6" X 10" would be 6 X 10 = 60" of area. For the fireplace above that needs 108" of area, this liner would be way too small. A liner size of 9" X 12" would equal 108" and should just provide enough draft for the above fireplace.

For further questions on liner sizing feel free to contact us at one of our locations: Albany, NY 877-722-7230; Atlanta, GA 866-450-3111; Chicago, IL 800-722-7230.

Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business.  You can offer promotions and slash prices to bring in as many new customers as you want. But unless you can get some of those customers to return, your business won't be profitable for long.  Good customer service is all about bringing customers back.  If you're a good salesperson, you can sell anything to anyone once.  But it is your approach to customer service that determines whether or not you'll ever be able to sell them anything else.

The essence of good customer service is based on trust.  How do you go about forming such a relationship? By remembering the one true secret of good customer service and act accordingly; "You will be judged by what you do, not what you say."  If you truly want to have good service, all you have to do is ensure that your business consistently does these things:

1.) Answer your phone live.  Get call forwarding or an answering service if you need to.  But make sure that someone is picking up the phone when a potential customer calls your business.

2.) Don't make promises you can't keep.  Reliability is one of the keys to any good relationship, and customer service is no exception.  Think before you give any promises because nothing annoys customers more than a broken one. It can also be a credibility wrecker.

3.) Listen to your customers.  It is exasperating to describe a problem to someone only to discover that they haven't been listening and now you have to explain it all over again.  Show your customer you are listening by making the appropriate responses, such as asking the right questions and suggesting how to solve the problem.

4.) Deal with complaints immediately.  Enough said!

5.)  Be helpful even if there's no immediate profit in it.  People will remember you and your business in a positive light.

6.) Train your staff to always be helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable.  Talk to them about good service and what it is (and isn't) regularly.

7.) Take the extra step.  Whatever the extra step may be. If you want to provide good customer service, just do it.  They may not say so to you, but people notice when someone makes an extra effort and will tell others.

8.) Throw in something extra.  Whether it's a coupon for a future discount, additional information on how to use the product, or a genuine smile, people love to get that little extra something.

If you apply these eight simple rules consistently, your business will become known for its great customer service.  And the best part? The irony of good customer service is that, over time, it will bring in more new customers than promotions and price slashing ever did!

Tim Freberg, Director of Operations, Midwest and Western States, 800-722-7230.

With the ending of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 it's time to review the past year and launch 2012 with a fresh start. I believe it's clear to anyone in business today that what worked two years ago is not necessarily what will work for 2012. Businesses that have continued to live in the past are being passed over by companies that are willing to explore and initiate new options, offerings and ways of doing business. It's important to free your company's future from the lure of the past and set a new operating plan by applying a force greater than the current momentum of your business.

Gather your top people and begin with a vision of where you want to be in five years. Set up structured dialogues, plan your strategy and execute steps necessary to create future opportunities and considered risks that will allow your company to compete more resourcefully. As Isaac Newton taught us, an object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. To move forward takes effort. It takes change. It's uncomfortable.

Evaluate the following categories of your business:

• Emerging - These are the new products and services you add to your current offering. This is a great place for growth. It's much easier to sell new products or services to current customers than to gather new customers.

• High Profit - This category is the bread and butter of your business. Relines, caps, dampers, rebuilds, masonry repairs, etc. It's what you do best. It's where the money is.

• Generator - Services such as sweeping and inspections are a necessary service that nets you profit but also generates other opportunities for company growth.

• Bonus - Products such as ash buckets, toolsets, fireplace screens and other accessories are products that can be sold to a homeowner but don't necessarily net you much profit or future opportunities.

What are the categories that you focus most of your time on? Which ones drive your business? Are you seeing the growth you need in your company? Are you spending too much time on selling "bonus" products that are "onesies"? Do you want to be remembered as the guy who sold them the toolset or the one that solved their leaking chimney?

These are all questions you need to ask of your company when planning your launch forward in 2012. Put your energies, resources and focus on the target areas that will propel your company above your competition. Review policies that focus too much time on stagnant goods or services. Measure these moves and adjust your decisions as needed to continue that upward spiral. Keep your eyes wide open as the world we live in continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

Jeff Wiles, President, Lindemann Chimney Co., 866-450-3111 or 877-722-7230.

The new year is here. I hope you reached your goals and then some. Thanks to all of you who gave me the privilege to hear about and even join you on your journey.

For Lindemann Chimney Co., we set some pretty lofty goals and my amazing team stepped up to the challenge and made it a reality. One of our core values is that we lean into adversity. We certainly did that this year and it paid off for us. I learned a lot, but the one thing that rings out is goals are rarely set too high. I've noticed that those who fail to set goals slip into mediocrity. Those that set them, reach them. Those that are bold enough to set them high, accomplish what others deem impossible.

If you have never set goals you may think that they are a goofy, lofty concept that is often overused. But those who set them realize their power. Once you commit or constitute yourself to a goal, it feels like the world is conspiring to see that you reach it. Sounds crazy, but if the commitment is true and rooted in one's purpose, it happens.

Once you set a goal, you can focus on what you need to do to increase the chance of the goal actually being realized. When you break it down into bite size mini goals, it becomes realistic and doable. For a business, the short term plan is often a financial projection. Some call it a budget. I think of it as what I want the Profit and Loss statement to look like at the years end. It will dictate what resources you can commit towards reaching the goal.

Non-Financial goals are sometimes tougher, because for a goal to be successful it must be measurable. Things like customer service, safety and culture are hard to define by a number, but with enough thought you can quantify some actions that will achieve the desired goal.

So as this new year rings in I'd like to present a challenge to you. Set some goals for yourself. If you'd like some help doing so feel free to email me at rob@lindemannchimney.com and we can work at it together. If you are a regular goal setter and willing to share, I'd be happy to help you reach your goals or even hold you accountable. Let's make 2012 a success together.

We have huge plans for 2012. We will continue to do our job of getting you great products when you need them while adding much, much more. We have an amazing amount of industry experience on staff. We operate a thriving service company. We are partners and friends with the industry's top manufacturers. We are ready to leverage it all to help you reach your goals.

By Rob Lindemann, CEO, 800-722-7230.

At Lindemann Chimney Supply we have a variety of chimney cleaning tools, equipment, services, supplies and hearth products such as Golden Blount Gas Logs. These logs provide an incredibly life like flame and look beautiful and realistic both when in use and when not in use.

We stock three styles of vented logs: "Fresh Cut" Split Series, the "Fresh Cut" Bonfire and the Texas Stack. Optional burner pans are available for the RADCO listing in both LP Gas and Natural Gas. We have CSA burners for natural gas but can order them for LP gas.

Pilot controls, remotes and accessories such as the realistic Twig Sets are stocked and ready to go for the vented sets.

In vent-free we stock the Texas Oak as well as the vent-free burner and two remote control options. That's all that can be added to the vent-free set.

All Golden Blount logs are sold in this manner. You must first order the log style desired. If ordering vent-free that means the Texas Oak. Then order the corresponding burner pan. Again, for vent-free, the vent-free burner must be ordered. For vented sets add on the pilots based on the type of gas burned. Then add the appropriate remote controls and accessories as needed.

If you have questions on the Golden Blount Gas logs please feel free to call us at one of these locations: Albany, NY 877-722-7230; Atlanta, GA 866-450-3111 or Chicago, IL 800-722-7230. Or click here to contact us.