FAQ

How Often Should A Chimney Be Swept?

All Chimneys should be swept and inspected at least once a year when in use. Frequency will depend on a number of factors including type of fuel, appliance used, duration of use, moisture content of wood fuel. See below for guidelines:

• Once a year when using smokeless fuels
• Twice a year when using bituminous coal
• Every three months when using wood
• Once a year when using oil
• Once a year when using gas

Why should a chimney be swept regularly?

• To make sure there are no obstructions or blockages within the flue system
• To eliminate the risk of chimney fires due to excessive soot or tar build up in the flue system

Regular sweeping will prolong the life span of the Flue System. Soot and Tar are highly acidic and corrosive. Should they be left unchecked they can eat away at a stainless steel flue liner and dramatically reduce the life span of the liner which can prove to be very costly. They also have a similar effect on a masonry chimney, eating away at the mortar joints, rendering it unfit for purpose.

A good Chimney Sweep will be able to help prevent these problems from occurring and be able to give advice on the correct use of appliance and the best types of fuel for that appliance. They will be able to give a general view on the overall condition of the chimney system and what’s been occurring during use, thus saving the customer money in the long run.