A chimney should be swept at least once a year to maintain it clean and adequately vented. Fires and wood-burning stoves can become dangerous if this is not done. Fires are incredibly dangerous, and if your home has an open fire or stove, there are a number of extra factors to consider. Maintaining a clean chimney reduces the chance of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. If your house catches fire as a consequence of a chimney fire that hasn’t been thoroughly swept, your home insurance may be voided! Some insurance companies will no longer pay for chimney fire damage unless the flue has been swept and maintained by a professional chimney sweep who can issue a valid certificate of sweeping that is recognised by the insurance companies, such as the NACS Certificate of Chimney Sweeping that we provide.

It is widely assumed that only gas appliances emit carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is produced by all appliances that burn fuel, and your solid fuel stove or open fire produces hundreds of times more than gas or oil appliances. This, as well as the possibility of a chimney fire, is why it’s critical to have your chimney cleaned by a qualified professional; after all, no one wants to be a statistic in next year’s carbon monoxide or fire statistics. The number of chimney fires in the UK is growing every year, with 32,000 households in the UK experiencing a chimney fire in 2010. A substantial portion will be due to not having the chimney swept frequently enough. Other aspects to consider are:

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  • Using a fuel that isn’t suitable for the equipment.
  • Using a fuel with a high moisture content and burning it (logs should be less than 20 percent water).
  • Overnight burning / slumbering fire – please don’t do this; it’s harmful, expensive, and pollutes the environment.
  • Stove or chimney that is unsuitable or inefficient.