Dan Maas: Every Chimney Tells a Story

By Caitlyn Stair, Diamond Certified Research Reporter

Dan Maas didn’t set out to become a chimney expert, but life has a way of guiding those with curiosity and dedication down unexpected paths. For him, it’s never just about cleaning chimneys—it’s about protecting families and making a meaningful impact on his community.

Dan spent the first 30 years of his career as a flooring contractor, even running his own business for two decades, but as installation rates stagnated over time, he began exploring other opportunities. “It was getting really hard to make a living at flooring,” he recalls. “One day, I was talking to a friend who had a chimney cleaning business. He was getting close to retiring and said he was looking for somebody to take over.”

That conversation opened the door to a new career path. After working in the business for more than a year, Dan recognized the opportunity at hand and became co-owner of Chimney Clean Company in 2017. “My friend sold half the business to me for a dollar,” he shares. “I worked with him for a long time to prove myself and show him I was worthy to take over.”

Today, Dan takes a hands-on approach to leadership, focusing on quality control and ensuring every project meets Chimney Clean Company’s standards. “I’m the one who’s ultimately responsible for training our technicians and ensuring their quality,” he notes. “I do inspections and follow-ups, and if there’s any trouble, I’m the one who fixes it so everybody is happy. The buck stops with me.”

One aspect of the job he particularly enjoys is the investigative nature of chimney cleaning. “Every job isn’t an open and shut case—sometimes we get weird stuff that makes us scratch our heads, especially with older chimneys,” he says. “Going into these jobs can be like looking into the past and having to fix those issues.”

A resident of San Jose since 2011 (where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, who also manages the company), Dan says he appreciates being centrally located within the South Bay communities he serves. Before relocating to California, he lived in colder regions like Wisconsin, Chicago and Utah. “I just got tired of the cold and snow, so moving this way was an easy decision.”

Dan is also the father of two daughters. His oldest, Madeline, is a senior in college studying music education, while his younger daughter, Chelsea, is a sophomore majoring in engineering and plans to intern with Chimney Clean Company this summer. Outside of work, he stays active by playing racquetball, a sport he has enjoyed for many years. “It’s good exercise and it’s fun,” he shares. “It’s still the only sport I’ve ever excelled at.”

Dan also dedicates a significant amount of his free time to volunteer work through the Church of Scientology, which has been part of his life since his years living in Chicago. Through this work, he has participated in a variety of social improvement programs aimed at helping others. For Dan, these efforts reflect a long-standing goal of making a positive difference in people’s lives.

When it comes to a personal or professional philosophy, Dan believes in living with purpose and continuing to grow every day. “You have to experience life,” he offers. “It’s easy to just sit down in your own little world, but I think it’s better to get out and do things.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s the first thing you would do if you could retire tomorrow?
A: I’d spend more time helping others through social betterment programs with the Church of Scientology. It would be great to travel and immerse myself in different cultures rather than just be a tourist.

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: I’ve read “Dianetics” several times. I’ve also read the Book of Mormon about six times and the Bible a few times.

Q: If you could time-travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: The future. Life in the past lacked modern conveniences—plumbing, for example, is something we definitely couldn’t live without today.

Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: I was four years old in the Head Start program in Wisconsin, and I remember getting on the purple bus to go to school.