Why Your Chimney Needs to be Swept on a Regular Basis

We would recommend your chimney is swept at least once a year when burning gas or smokeless fuels.  If you burn wood or coal you may have to do this more frequently.

The reason we recommend you have your chimney swept by a professional chimney sweep on a regular basis is to make sure the soot that builds up in your flue is removed or reduced.  If it isn't reduced it can catch fire and spread to the rest of your property.  If soot is allowed to build up for too long it can start to block the flue which can hinder the escape of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide. 

Chimneys are attractive places for birds, squirrels, bees and wasps to build their nests, as well as spiders enjoying a dark place to build cobwebs, all of which are fire hazards and block the escape of poisonous gases.  Yet another reason you should have your chimney checked yearly.

Before employing a chimney sweep ensure he/she is a member of a reputable organisation such as APICS or NACS and check what work they will be carrying out and how much mess will be created as well as costs involved. 

When we fit a fireplace or stove we have several chimney sweeps we work with who will be asked to attend your property to check the integrity of your chimney before the installation goes ahead.

FAQ
Reinstating a fire place
The importance of fitting a stove correctly
Fireplaces and stoves ventilation requirements
What are fire baskets?