Now is the time to get your chimney swept, ‘but its summer’ you say, ‘I’m not using my stove’, not unlike gas boiler maintenance, chimneys are often overlooked until they are back in use. This isn’t a problem until you realise a lot of people are thinking the same thing.
The chimney is just as an important part of the heating system as the stove itself, while one looks beautiful in your room the other is most likely to be out of sight. But what is the chimney? In effect it is the exhaust for the stove which is used to remove potentially harmful gasses, in addition to removing gasses the chimney plays an integral role in effective heat distribution.
So what does the chimney sweep do? It is much more than sticking a brush up the chimney. The first task is to remove build-up of residue ranging from soot to creosote which is produced when burning wood. Anything that builds up in the chimney flue can cause issues ranging from restricting the escape of gasses to creating a combustible environment causing chimney fires. It is also common for chimneys to smell, particularly in the warmer months, cleaning the flue can help with reduction in odours.
Once the chimney is clean, the sweep will inspect the fabric of the flue for any type of damage from broken bricks to material that may have fallen in from the top to items such as bird’s nests. A good sweep will advise if they find any issues with your chimney to ensure safe and efficient use. They can also advise if the chimney requires a liner.
In the UK, the official governing body to approve the use of Biomass and solid fuels is HETAS, HETAS has guidelines for approved chimney sweeps to follow to ensure the work they undertake is thorough, safe and carried out in a professional manor.
The HETAS website has a useful tool to help you find an approved sweep, it can be found here.
http://www.hs.co.uk/find-chimney-sweep/
HETAS can help you find a professional and experienced sweep in your area which can allow you to be confident has the correct training and qualifications to carry out the work. You should look for a sweep who is a member of one of the following organisations:
- Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps Ltd - http://ww.apics.org.uk
- The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps - http://www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk/
- The National Association of Chimney Sweeps - http://nacs.org.uk/
It is recommended that chimneys are cleaned at the following intervals
Wood: Every three months when in use
Smokeless fuels: At least once a year
Coal: At least twice a year
Biomass: At least once a year