So, how often should you get your chimney swept? That all depends on what you burn and how much. Obviously the more you burn the more soot it will produce, and the more frequent will be your need to call out some local chimney cleaning firm to sweep the chimney. They will be able to advise you, as there are differences which are down to appliance types and fuel types that will affect this.

As a general rule, you should be calling in your local chimney cleaning firm once a year for gas, oil and smokeless fuel. More smoky fuels like house coal, wood etc will need two to three times a year, again depending on use and duration. If you have had a chimney liner installed, the supplier’s guarantee will be null and void if you do not adhere to their recommendations, just as insurance companies set their own benchmarks when it comes to frequency in thatched properties. You MUST adhere to these, as were there to be a fire, and you had not had the chimney swept, you might find that your insurance was invalid.