Gone are the days of sending your youngest up the chimney with a scraper and a brush, but a clean, maintained chimney is still as important today as it was then.
The NACS (National Chimney Sweeping Association) advise that chimneys
should be swept at least:
- Once a year for smokeless fuels
- Twice for house coal
- Every 3 months for wood
- Once a year for gas
Although these are just guidelines it is easy to see that having your chimney swept at regular intervals will massively reduce the risks of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, with soot (carbon) rising up your chimney every time you use it even a chimney clear of debris can become dangerous. With foreign objects often entering the chimney like birds, bird nests, leaves, rubbish and all other manner of weird and wonderful things the risks can increase unknowingly without you being aware until its to late.
- Having your chimney swept helps prevent the dangers of chimney fires and any
unwanted poisonous carbon monoxide gases coming into your home. - Keeping your chimney/flue clear, will give you maximum performance for
your open fire, wood burning stove or other appliances. - Chimneys should be swept at least once a year for safety
and in compliance with your house insurance.
Make sure your home insurance is valid by having your active chimney swept once a year, and at District Flues we are a trained member of ICS (The Institute of Chimney Sweeps) giving you peace of mind, with full certification issued on completion of your chimney sweep.