If you know anyone in the market for a chimney about 13 stories tall (and overseas), one is available on eBay at a low starting bid.

An old Victorian brewery chimney in Wrexham, Wales is on the market. The owner, Dr. John Marek, originally purchased the structure to keep it from being demolished. As one of the last vestiges of the town’s brewing history, Marek believes it deserves preservation as an historic landmark. But so far, he hasn’t found any takers, including the town council – or at least anyone who could afford to keep it. One mountain climbing group showed interest but the insurance costs were too prohibitive.

The thought that crossed my mind after reading this story was, “How long would it take to clean something that size?” The average home chimney should be at least 10 to 12 feet tall, at least three feet above the roof, and at least two feet taller than anything else near it, such as trees or other buildings. If you suspect that your chimney doesn’t meet these recommendations, we’d be happy to take a look and offer solutions.

A proper cleaning is comprised of many steps and equipment, including brushes, a fireplace cover, mirrors, a vacuum, goggles, a tarp, and so on. What we use depends on the method of cleaning – but that is a topic for another day.

Let’s get back to the chimney in Wales. Though I appreciate the historical significance of the structure, I’m glad that today’s modern homes have more predictable chimneys. Thirteen stories? That would be quite the challenge.