Have your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood. This isn’t just to keep your chimney sweep in work, your annual chimney sweep ties in with fire safety and that annual chimney sweep and safety inspection helps to keep you safe.

Of course it is essential that you choose the right chimney sweep (us, of course). Kidding aside, you should always check your sweep out and ensure that you only get a qualified chimney sweep, or as they are often known, a certified chimney sweep.

Make sure that they are also members of a professional sweeping body, like the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. Certified chimney sweeps, belonging to such an organisation will HAVE to issue a certificate for every chimney that they sweep, and that certificate will be recognised by the insurance companies as valid.

When you have your chimney swept, make sure that you keep this certificate safe, as if you should have a chimney fire, and it does damage, then you can make a claim against the insurance, but not if it is a certificate that they don’t recognise. Having the chimney swept annually, or more so if the sweep recommends it will maintain your protection. If for no other reason that chimney fires are not the music hall joke that so many consider them to be. They are frightening, messy and above all can cause a lot of damage that can be extremely expensive to repair.

The use of a certified chimney sweep isn’t just for fire safety, but general points of safety too, as the more knowledgeable sweep will be able to use his knowledge of the Building Regulations and British standards to assess whether or not your chimney is fighting fit and up to the task it performs. There are a number of points of reference on your chimney where safety can be badly compromised, without your being aware of it. And a certified chimney sweep has the range of knowledge needed to identify such risks.

Burning wood has many advantages, but it can also produce quite a lot of soot. When you have your chimney swept, do please listen to what your chimney sweep tells you. His advice re burning techniques can save you money, reduce sooting and even reduce the frequency of chimney sweeping needed, as an appliance that is burning efficiently is cheaper and cleaner to run.

Burning wood is to be encouraged. It is a clean fuel that is pleasant to handle. Properly managed sources of wood like coppicing is nature friendly and very supporting to wildlife. Above all, it is carbon neutral, and does not contribute to global warming.

So, to recap.

1. Wood is a good clean fuel that is to everyone’s advantage.

2. Getting the chimney swept regularly, at least once a year prevents chimney fires and supports basic fire safety.

3. Choosing a certified chimney sweep when you get your chimney swept is to be recommended.

4. Listen to what your chimney sweep says, and please act on his suggestions. They are made with your best interests in mind.

5. Keep the certificate the chimney sweep issues in a safe place. Then, if you should have a chimney fire, you can find it easily to show to the insurance company.

6. Talk to your chimney sweep. Don’t be afraid to ask him questions, as we love problem solving. (It’s good for business.)

7. Should you not be satisfied with the job, do contact your chimney sweep straight away. He wants to keep you as a satisfied customer.