Why is it important to have your annual chimney sweep?

Well, an annual chimney sweep and safety inspection is a good idea for a number of reasons. Clearly you need to get your chimney swept and cleaned of the soot deposits that can result in blockage or a chimney fire, and both those incidents are best avoided.

The first can result in the release of fumes and carbon monoxide into the living space, which if not fatal, can have serious long term effects on health.

Fire safety is important, as many people take chimney fires too lightly, treating them as if they were some kind of joke. What they don’t realise is that chimney fires are very, very damaging.

It matters not what material your chimney or liner is made of, the high temperatures involved in a chimney fire will cause it serious damage. Flexible liners will have their guarantee invalidated by a chimney fire, and masonry and terracotta will crack and split. The fire bricks in your fireplace have to be replaced eventually as they can’t stand the 400C fires for ever, but your chimney is lined with house bricks that shatter at far lower temperatures, while a good chimney fire burns at over 1,000C.

If your chimney is swept annually, not only is it good for fire safety, but if you have a qualified chimney sweep (aka a certified chimney sweep) it isn’t just chimney sweeping, but also an annual chimney sweep and safety inspection. Chimney sweeps come in all flavours, from the part timer with a couple of brushes, to the qualified chimney sweep, who is a member of a professional organisation, and whose chimney sweeping abilities have been assessed, as well as their knowledge of Building Regulations and British Standards.

Such qualified chimney sweeps, also known as certified chimney sweeps, members of a Guild, are backed up by that professional body, and the certificates they issue are recognised by insurance companies.

Even if you get your chimney swept annually, if you don’t have a certificate from a certified chimney sweep, you will find that in the event of a chimney fire causing damage, your insurance could well be invalidated, which is a worrying prospect. Replacing a liner is an expensive business, and for those in a thatched cottage, or old building with potential cracks in the chimney leading to the roof space, the potential problems don’t bear thinking about.

Fire safety is key!

When you get your chimney swept annually by a qualified chimney sweep, they will be not just cleaning it, but also running a professional eye over the chimney, inside and out, performing an annual chimney sweep and safety inspection.

Is that terminal dangerous? Does it perform the required function? Is it even necessary? Is that crack significant? Does this represent a fire risk? Is that bad practice?

All the time, the sweep is assessing how the various points impinge on your safety, wellbeing and fuel economy.

 So to recap:

1. Get your chimney swept annually, more often if you are burning ‘dirty’ fuels.
2. Choose a qualified chimney sweep that is a member of a good professional body.
3. Keep the certificate the sweep issues in a safe place, as a record of your annual chimney sweep and safety inspection.
4. Be fire safety aware. Do please listen to what your chimney sweep advises and act upon it.
5. Speak to your chimney sweep. Don’t keep worries to yourself. If there is anything about your chimney that worries you, phone the sweep straight away.
6. If you have a problem with your chimney, mention it to your chimney sweep. You will be surprised how simple, effective and cheap many of the cures can be.