Last year (April 2022 to March 2023) we attended 48 chimney fires, a slight increase on those recorded the previous year.
By having your chimney flue professionally swept and regularly inspected, you can help to prevent a chimney fire occurring at your property.
When wood or coal is burnt, gasses are given off. These turn into soot and tar (creosote) which accumulates on the inside of the chimney. Occasionally loose bricks, birds nests and other debris can fall down within a chimney, acting as fuel.
A blocked or defective chimney can cause carbon monoxide poisoning as well as a fire, so regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flues can help to identify and eliminate issues before they become a problem.
How often you should have your chimney swept depends on the fuel you are burning. The recommended chimney sweeping frequencies are:
- Wood: up to four times a year
- Smokeless coal: at least once a year
- Bituminous coal: twice a year
- Oil: once a year
Between professional cleans and checks, you can complete chimney health checks yourself by being vigilant for grass or moss growing out of your chimney, checking that the chimney is not starting to lean to one side, and looking out for mortar that has fallen into the fireplace or wood burning stove.
If one of these is seen, call a professional chimney sweep as soon as possible.
Don’t forget, wood burning stoves need to be serviced annually as well!
