Frequently Asked Questions
Reason For Sweeping Your Chimney
Over time Soot builds up within the chimney flue also Birds, Wasps Nests, Bees nests can also become established within the chimney we remove the debris using chimney brushes to ensure the flue is clear and clean and ready to use.
We can also carry out camera inspections to check for cracks which can allow smoke and gases into the rooms. The main risk of blockages is buildup of gases pushing carbon monoxide back into the room.
There have been many well documented cases of blocked stoves causing deaths so having your chimney swept is extremely important.
How Often Should I Have My Chimney Swept?
HETAS the regulatory government body for solid fuel appliances your chimney should be swept once per year when using smokeless fuels and twice per year when using wood or bituminous coal. The reason for cleaning your chimney on a regular basis is to prevent buildup of soot which can cause a fire hazard and over time cause smoke to enter the room rather than the chimney.
How Do You Sweep The Chimney?
We use the latest chimney sweeping methods including professional brushes which ensure the flue is fully cleaned. Firstly we will if sweeping a stove remove the throat plate from the stove remove all internal parts including fire bricks and grate.
We will also place a plastic sheet on the floor area to ensure the carpets are kept clean. Brushes are then inserted into the flue pipe and the entrance to the stove is sealed using plastic and tape so that when sweeping the soot does not escape into the room.
Sometimes we use a industrial hoover to reduce soot particles within the stove or fireplace. Sweeping chimneys has historically been a messy business but we try to keep this to a minimum using the methods above.
We then carry out a fully sweep always to the top of the chimney and out of the pot! Once fully cleaned we will remove all soot using a hoover then clean the area making sure that the area is as clean if not cleaner than when we arrived.