The Clean Air Strategy
Clean air strategy summarizes actions to reduce emissions from domestic burning, clearly identifying there is no intention to ban wood burning stoves.
The Importance of Chimney Sweeping
On the importance of chimney sweeping and the role of professional chimney sweeps the strategy says: “The way in which we use our stoves can have a big impact on air quality and how long the chimney and stove will last. A local professional sweep can help consumers get it right, ensuring that they get the most from their stoves and provide advice on optimum operation. This can help save money and avoid chimney fires.”
Why Do I Need My Chimney Swept?
Getting your chimney swept is essential if you use a stove or an open fireplace. An un-swept chimney can cause extremely dangerous hazards:
Chimney Fires
A built-up of soot, creosote and other flammable substances, an un-swept chimney is a fire risk. Lighting your fire with an un-swept chimney puts you in danger and can have devastating consequences.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide gases that occur with any burning fire must be able to escape through the chimney to keep your property safe. If you don’t get your chimney swept, it can cause blockages, leading to highly dangerous gases re-entering the room causing life-threatening effects.
Sweeping your chimney increases the safety of your appliance by ensuring harmful gases can escape and no flammable materials stick around your chimney.
How often should I sweep mu chimney?
To protect your health, property and wallet, you should get your chimney swept according to the fuel you use and how often you use your appliance:
– if you burn wood: at least twice a year
– if you burn smokeless fuels: at least once a year
If you use your appliance on a regular basis, it may be best practice to have your chimney swept more often.
Signs your chimney needs to be swept urgently
Knowing when your chimney needs to be swept can help eliminate hazards. If you experience any of the following signs, stop using your fireplace and book a chimney sweep:
– Smoke is re-entering the room when the appliance is in use
– There is a persistent bad smell when you have not lit a fire
– You can see signs of tar around the flue entrance or damper (the small door in your fireplace near the base of your chimney)
– Soot is falling back into your appliance
– Your fire isn’t burning as well as usual and you haven’t changed anything
– You often see birds by the top of your chimney or hear frequent scratching (there may be birds nesting in your chimney)
When is the best time to have your chimney swept?
The best time to have your chimney swept are:
– Just after the heating season
– After your appliance hasn’t been used for a long period of time
If you have your chimney swept twice a year, the best time to have your chimney swept is:
– Just before the heating season (or after your appliance has not been used for a long period of time)
– After the peak of the heating season
This will ensure that any build-up of soot can be alleviated and not continue to build during the heating season.
Try and book your chimney sweeps well in advance, where they will most likely be busy during the period summer-winter or winter-summer.
What Does a Chimney Sweep Do?
The work that needs to be done in a chimney sweep is all dependent primarily on the condition of the chimney.
Difference between chimney sweep inspections
The time it takes to sweep one chimney takes around 60-90 minutes, but this can vary depending on the size, number and composition of blockages in your chimney. When the technicians arrive at your property, they will carry out an initial assessment to determine the level sweep your chimney requires.
As a standard, there are 3 levels of sweep that can be undertaken:
Level 1 Chimney Sweep Inspection
The most common level of inspection
A visual check to look for any obstructions in your chimney, such as creosote build-up, a bird nest, or soot will allow your sweep to determine how to approach the job. The technicians also come equipped with digital cameras, allowing them to more thoroughly inspect your chimney and identify any blockages.
Once the inspection is completed, the sweeping can begin. The technicians will use brushes, extension poles, and a specialized vacuum to remove any material build-up in your chimney and safely contain it.
Level 2 Chimney Sweep Inspection
Level 2 is required if a major change has occurred such as installing a new fireplace, using new fuel, or if your chimney has had structural changes. If in a case, you just moved into a new property and don’t know the history of work done on the fireplace, a level 2 chimney sweep inspection is often advised.
Your sweep will conduct the following:
Smoke leakage test – this test will determine if there are many leaks in the chimney or flue system
Smoke pressure test – this test examines the integrity of the brick flue to discover if there are any structural issues with the chimney
This inspection also includes all the procedures involved in level 1 inspection.
With the level 2 inspection, your technician may issue you a report indicating any recommended or required maintenance/repairs that your chimney needs.
Level 3 Chimney Inspection
This is the rarest type of chimney inspection and is usually only required following a chimney fire or in old properties where the chimney is aged or extremely difficult to inspect.
During this level of inspection, your technician will have to demolish portions, or the entirety of your chimney to facilitate an inspection. This would require much more equipment, preparation, and manpower than the previous 2 levels and would be arranged following a level 2 inspection where structural or inspection issues have been identified.
How do you prepare for a chimney sweep?
If you are unsure what to do before you have your technician sweep your chimney, follow these helpful tips to enable a trouble-free inspection:
– Clear the hearth, mantlepiece, and the immediate area of any decorations or fireplace tools
– Do not light a fire at least 24hours before
– Remove any un-burnt fuel
– Clean any residual debris away from your fireplace
Most chimney sweeps come equipped with protective dust sheets so there is no need to worry about your carpets. It is also good practice to clear a path for the technicians’ equipment to avoid any damage or injuries.
Traditional Sweeping vs Power Sweeping
The difference between the two comes down to TWO primary factors: material build-up and the integrity of the chimney/flue liner.
Traditional
It is the manual method that is suitable for most chimneys. Metal wires bristles are attached to the end of a rod. This rod is then inserted into the chimney and manually brushed against the flue to remove any materials stuck. As these materials are brushed off the flue and cleared from the chimney, they fall and are safely vacuumed away to avoid a mess and any respiratory harm.
Power Sweeping
This method utilizes whips to facilitate a more rigorous and extensive clean. These whips are spun at high speeds using a drill and the centrifugal force dislodges any stubborn deposits in the flue. The power sweep is undertaken in opposite directions when ascending and descending the chimney, enabling a sweep that clears as much build-up as possible.
The intensity of power sweeping can cause damage to some chimney liners.
Do I need my chimney swept before it is closed off?
In a case where you are closing off your chimney, it will require a chimney sweep prior to being closed off.
When a chimney is indeed closed off, it can become damp – this affects any potential soot that remains in your chimney. Soot is acidic – if it absorbs any moisture in your closed chimney. In exceptional circumstances, it can cause structural integrity issues or cause chimney fires.
Contact Fireplace Services to book a chimney sweep.