“When and why should I get my chimney swept?”
When and why should I get my chimney swept is a question we often get asked. Put simply your chimney should be swept at least twice a year when burning wood or bituminous house coal and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. Taking this approach will have a massive impact on the safety and efficiency of your stove or fireplace.
You should have your first sweep at the start of the season, ideally September (or consider earlier as sweeps often get busy in September) it’s good to do it when you’ve not used your fireplace/stove for awhile. If sweeping twice a year look to do it after the peak period of use.
The decision to have a regular sweep ensures you are also compliant for insurance purposes, house insurers like to know you are maintaining your property well and a good chimney sweep will issue you with a certificate which covers you for a year. This certificate is also handy if you’re moving house as your buyers solicitor will ask for it!
If you don't clean your chimney regularly, soot will accumulate around the flue causing an inability to draw smoke upwards. The smoke will then be directed to your room leaving black soot on the walls, furniture, and carpeting.
Not cleaning your chimney regularly also increases the chances of chimney fires which are caused by debris such as bird nests or nearby trees which enter your flue if it has not been protected by a chimney cap.
Signs to look out for include:
A loud, crackling or popping noise from the chimney flue
A lot of dense, thick smoke coming into the fireplace or out of the top of the chimney
A strong, intensely hot smell
A roaring sound, that might remind you of an aeroplane
Regular cleaning will also protect you from the potential invisible killer carbon monoxide which causes poisoning and even death.
Finding a good, competent sweep is easy to do and the best way to check someone out is to check out their credentials with a recognised body such as the National Association of Chimney Sweeps or HETAS
