McHales Summit Sweep owner Adrian Adamson (40), of Mosgiel, said when the Taieri business was started by Alan McHale in 1965 it cost 7s 6d to get an open fire chimney swept.
''In those times there were many coal ranges and open fires but now it's mostly wood burners or multi-fuel burners with a stainless steel flue.''
Open fires were ''more difficult, dirty and a bit more laborious'' to sweep than the modern burners but all chimney sweeping was enjoyable, he said.
''What I enjoy is you don't know where you'll be the next day and I enjoy the interaction with a lot of different people.''
He enjoyed working by himself because''you can fully guarantee the work's to a good standard.''
Mr McHale's son Donald took over the business full-time in 1980. Mr Adamson had swept as a sub-contractor for the McHales for nine years under the company name Summit.
When Donald retired in 2001, he sold the business to Mr Adamson.
''I didn't want to drop the name McHales, because it's such a well established name on the Taieri.''
He swept chimneys in an area bounded by Waihola, Middlemarch and Palmerston.
Chimneys should be swept annually for safety.
''There's more chimney fires than people realise.''
Some ''unscrupulous individuals'' had been were ripping off older people in the past few months on the Taieri posing as McHales staff and sweeping chimneys.
''They do a quick job, take their money and then they're off.''
People should be wary of anybody cold-calling and knocking on doors, he said.
When Mr Adamson swept a chimney, he tested his work by lighting a fire before leaving.
He and his wife Kylie (35) moved from Timaru to live in Mosgiel 11 years ago and the couple have two children, daughter Zara (8) and son Micah (6).
