How often should I have my chimney swept?

Did you know most house insurers will void your insurance if you don’t have your chimney swept at least once a year, even if you haven’t used your fire at all? Thats right, depending on the fuel you use you should have at least one sweep annually or two if you live in a thatched property. It is important to book an annual sweep not only for the health of your appliance and flue system but also for the health of you and your family, unswept flues can become degraded or blocked from buildups like tar or creosote, this can lead to hazards like chimney fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Below is a guide to how frequently you should have your chimney swept.
Wood: Up to four times a year dependant on use.
Smokeless coal: At least once a year.
Coal: Twice a year.
Oil: Once a year.
Gas: Once a year.

Will I need to prep my room before my appointment?

Chimney sweeping is a messy business, fortunately I am yet to make a mess and pride myself on keeping it this way. For sweeping stoves and small open fires I use a combination of a Dustcontrol vacuum and sponges to keep all soot and debris within the fire and out of your room. For larger open fires a sheet will be propped up to cover to opening to contain the soot. With this knowledge in mind I hope you feel confident in using my services but it is completely up to you whether you want to cover your furnishings prior to my arrival.

How long will my appointment take?

Generally a basic sweep will take around 20-30 minutes, this time may differ for some open fires and if your house is more than two stories tall.

For a sweep and service of a stove will take anywhere from 40-60 minutes, this may also differ depending if your stove requires replacements of perishables such as door rope or fire bricks.