Why do I need to get my chimney swept?

The most common problem with chimneys is the build up of soot, tar and creosote. After a while without intervention, these deposits decrease the diameter of your chimney and become a hazard. If the smoke backs up inside the chimney you will become exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide which is a poisonous gas. A blocked chimney is also susceptible to chimney fires.

How often should a chimney be swept?

At least once a year is the recommended minimum. You may require more frequent sweeping depending on what you burn and how often. If you burn a lot of wood then it is recommended to have your chimney swept twice a year: once around August/September before burning season and again half way through the winter, around December/January time.

Can I sweep my own chimney?

It is always a preferable option to hire a professional, qualified chimney sweep to do this job. They not only clean, but inspect your chimney and appliance, undertaking a series of checks to ensure they are safe to use. Many household insurance policies insist that a certificate of sweeping for homes with working chimneys are needed to keep them valid.

What is a chimney sweep certificate?

A chimney sweep certificate, better known as a Certificate of Chimney Sweeping, is issued by a chimney sweep to a homeowner or landlord after a chimney has been swept. It outlines what tests were carried out during the sweep and if any defects or dangers were observed.

Will my home insurance be valid if I don’t have my chimney swept?

It is likely that your home insurance policy requires that your chimney is swept regularly. It is worth checking with your insurer the exact expectations they have regarding sweeping your chimney.

Do I need my chimney swept if I don't use it?

If you do not use your chimney, you may not have to clean it as often. However, chimney damage can occur, even if you do not use it. It will be wise, therefore, to have a professional inspect and sweep your chimney to make sure it is safe.

Should I have a Carbon Monoxide alarm?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell. That makes it impossible to detect without an alarm. It is a therefore a good idea to fit a CO alarm in any room with appliances which can produce the gas. These include boilers, gas cookers and solid fuel appliances like fireplaces.

In rented accommodation, fire safety regulations now state that landlords must provide a CO alarm where there is a used fireplace.

Where should I place a CO alarm?

They are best placed in the same room as a possible source of Carbon Monoxide, ie between 1m and 3m in front of the appliance. They are better being fixed on the wall—ideally, at least 15cm away from the ceiling. However, it is possible to fix them to the ceiling too. But you will need to make sure it’s at least 30cm away from walls or other obstructions, like light fittings.
 
The alarm needs to remain in the open air so it’s monitoring the same air that everyone is inhaling, so make sure it is not blocked by furniture.
 
Remember: CO alarms need to be tested regularly!

What happens if my CO alarm sounds?

Should your CO alarm sound, it must be taken seriously. The first course of action is to open all doors and windows for ventilation and get everyone out to safety.
 
Turn off any possible appliances which may be causing the leak and get someone out immediately to check they are safe to use. You may want to call the Gas Emergency Service 24-hour line on 0800 111 999.
 
And if anyone is showing any possible signs of poisoning, or generally feeling unwell, seek medical advice immediately.

Can I burn logs and smokeless coal at the same time?

Many people now have modern multi-fuel stoves installed in their homes. The name ‘Multi-fuel’ suggests that these types of appliances can burn many different fuels including wood, coal or smokeless fuel. This is true, but you should never burn more than one type of fuel at a time.
 
Regular House Coal, Smokeless fuel and Firewood burn in very different ways. Wood requires air from above to aid combustion, whereas Coal and Smokeless fuel require air from below. You may have noticed your multi-fuel has a grate allowing air to circulate below your fuel and to allow ash to drop to the bottom of course.
 
Allowing your stove to burn both wood and solid fuels means you have two fuels competing for the air available in your stove. The real danger with mixing wood and coal is that the moisture in your wood mixes with the sulphurs in your solid fuel to create a highly acidic residue that corrodes your stainless steel flue liner. This is quite dangerous over a longer period, but at its’ worst, a liner can be rendered inoperable within 12 months of installation.

Is slumber (low temperature) burning ok to save fuel?

If you are one of those people who like to slumber your stove, turning the air supply down to make the fuel burn slower during the day, please think again. This will produce even more moisture because less air means your stove is producing less heat, coating your flue liner and stove with even more tar and creosote. If left uncleaned it will eventually lead to a chimney fire, or having to replace your stainless steel flue liner because it’s been eaten through.

What is a stove thermometer and why do I need one?

The best temperature for a log burner is said to be between 110 – 250 degrees.

A stove thermometer (usually magnetic) is a temperature indicator tool that attaches to the outside of your stove pipe or flue and tells you at a glance if your stove is burning at an efficient temperature. If it is not, you can then adjust the air flow to burn at the right temperature which reduces chimney deposits, decreases the risk of overheating damage, and reduces or optimises fuel consumption.

Why is my chimney smoking back?

If smoke is making its way back into the room and not being channelled upwards, this can be caused by one or more of the problems described below:

1. Blocked chimney
   A blocked chimney can be hazardous and needs to be swept immediately. Once swept, your chimney is free of sooty deposits and is restored to its full diameter.
2. Cold air
   If you haven’t used your fire in a long time, the air inside the chimney will be cold. Occasionally, the cold, heavy air will be enough to force smoke back down the chimney. This happens when the air in the chimney does not heat quickly enough. Try burning a large amount of newspaper initially, as this will burn quickly and provide heat.
3. Downdraught
   A brief and inconsistent flow of air can cause a downdraught to blow smoke into the room. Adjacent trees, buildings and tall objects can cause the wind to deflect towards a chimney and down it, but the resultant downdraught is easy enough to remedy. A professional chimney sweep can advise as to the correct cowl to fit on your chimney pot.
4. Fireplace is too large
   If you have a very large fireplace, this can affect the way that smoke escapes the fire and cause smoke to curl out into the room. This can be solved by lifting the grate so that it is nearer to the chimney opening or by fitting a chimney flue.
   

My stove is slow to start burning when first lit. Is there anything I can do?

Wood burning stoves rely on the draft of the chimney to draw exhaust air out of the top. If this draft isn’t operating properly, you might find your stove fire is going out or blowing smoke back into your room instead of up the chimney.

There are a few reasons why your chimney may not be drawing properly, such as:

• It could be too cold outside. During particularly cold or windy weather, you might find your chimney struggles more.
• Your fire isn’t hot enough. If your fire isn’t generating enough heat, the smoke won’t be able to rise.
• The room isn’t ventilated. You must have enough ventilation in your room for the stove to take in fresh air to burn.

• Your chimney is too short. It is recommended your chimney extends at least 4.5m from the top of your appliance.
• You don’t have a flue liner. Chimney liners can significantly help improve draw by making them hotter.

 
You could try opening your living room door or window to see if ventilation is the issue. If you think your flue might be too cold, try leaving the stove door open for a few hours before use or burning a piece of newspaper in it first to see if  warming it up a little helps.
 
Of course, there could be a whole host of other reasons, such as the flue needs sweeping… your chimney sweep will be able to offer you appropriate advice.

Will wood burning stoves be banned in the UK?

Wood burners are not going to be banned in the UK. However, new regulations did come into effect on 1st January 2022 that require all new wood burning stoves to meet certain environmental standards in an effort to reduce harmful emissions.

The goal of the new wood burning laws (part of the government’s Clean Air Strategy), is to reduce air pollution and reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
 
As of 2022, it is now illegal to manufacture or sell a wood burning stove that doesn’t meet Ecodesign regulations. This means that all newly manufactured wood burners must adhere to these rules, and carry an approved Ecodesign Ready Stove quality assurance certification.

My stove was installed before 2022. Can I still use it?

All stoves that were installed before 1st January 2022 are exempt from these new regulations, so if you purchased a wood burner before this date you don’t need to worry. You will still be able to use your stove – though you’ll need to make sure you’re only burning dry wood, as wet logs produce more harmful emissions. Look for wood with a ‘Ready to Burn’ label, which means it has a moisture content of less than 20%. 

Top of Page

How do I know if I’ve got birds nesting in my chimney?

Birds typically drop lots of different types of debris down the chimney to make their nest, from mud and hair to cloth and sticks. So, if you find any of these things in your fireplace the chances are you have a bird’s nest in your chimney. A good way to check is to watch the top of the chimney for bird activity.
 
If you do have a nest in your chimney, it needs removing before the start of the colder season when your wood burner or gas fire will be in greater use. A bird’s nest in your chimney is dangerous because it blocks the top of the flue, which means dangerous gas such as carbon monoxide and other harmful fumes from combustion aren’t allowed to escape safely. Not only that, but a stray spark can set the nesting material alight, as it is so flammable. Nests can also damage the brickwork in your chimney, which makes your building structure less safe and can cost you money… so a bird’s nest needs removal by a professional.

How do I get rid of birds nesting in my chimney?

This can be achieved through regular sweeping of chimneys and by fitting a cowl to the chimney pot to prevent access to the chimney. If there are currently active nests in the chimney, they must be left and fires not lit until they vacate their nests.

When can I have a bird’s nest removed from my chimney?

The bird nesting season officially runs from 1st March until 31st August.
 
From the end of August through to March a chimney sweep can remove the nest – this involves specialist equipment and can be quite time consuming depending on the size and material.

What is a Smoke Control Area?

Many parts of the UK are smoke control areas where:

• there's a limit on how much smoke you can release from a chimney
• you can only burn authorised fuel, unless you use an 'exempt appliance'

 
In England you may have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if your local council decides your chimney releases too much smoke.
 
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you burn unauthorised fuel without an exempt appliance.

Am I in a Smoke Control Area?

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have produced a useful map that you can use to gain an idea if you are within a Smoke Control Area. Use the following link visit the Smoke Control Area map.
Please note, this data has been provided to Defra by local authorities and is indicative only. You should always contact your local council to confirm if you live in a Smoke Control Area.

What can I burn in a Smoke Control Area?

In a smoke control area, you can only burn fuels that are on the list of authorised fuels, RTB (Ready to burn) wood or 'smokeless' fuels, unless you're using an exempt appliance.
For a list of authorised fuels, please use this Link: What you can burn in Smoke Control Areas.

Is my appliance “exempt”?

Defra have produced a list of appliances that are “exempt”. If you know the make and model of your appliance, you can use the following link to find out if your appliance is “exempt”.