Chimney Sweep St Albans

To keep both you and your family safe, it is vital to sweep your chimney often in order to reduce risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and prevent chimney or house fire. Soot, Creosote and other corrosive blockages can build up in your chimney, these are major cause of chimney fires. 

It is important to sweep your chimney, in order to keep your house safe

The latest statistics show that approximately, in England alone, there are 7,000 chimney fires a year. Most chimney fires are preventable if your chimney is often swept.

Before After
Before After

Flamecheck have over twenty years experience in fireplace and chimney design.

Chimney cleaning and chimney sweeping – We use a rod and vacuum system, and where applicable, can powersweep chimneys and flues ,which ensures that chimneys are thoroughly cleaned with the minimum of fuss. All surrounding areas are thoroughly dustsheeted, and the utmost care taken to minimise dust. After sweeping, we carry out a flue flow test on the chimney and issue an appropiate certificate, which details our findings and recommendations.

Power Sweeping

How often should my chimney be swept?
Fuel Type Sweep Frequency
Gas Once a year
Oil Once a year
Smokeless Coal At least once a year
Bituminous Coal Quarterly when in use
Wood Quarterly when in use

Chimney Sweeping FAQ's

Chimneys need sweeping on a regular basis to prevent soot, creosote, blockages such as bird nest, cobwebs, fumes and fire hazards. Regular cleaning increases the efficiency of some appliances.

Yes! A chimney fire isn’t the kind of housewarming you want. ​

Depending on various factors and the fuel used. Generally once a year, but where there is heavy use, twice a year. The following is recommended: Smokeless Coal, Gas and Oil once a year. Woods and Bituminous Coal Quarterly.
Simply clear the area in front of the fireplace to give the sweep enough room to work. Remove hot ash the night before. Empty the grate of ashes.
No, usually this process is not messy as care is taken and dust sheet covers are used. However, in some rare cases when there is blockage such as bird nest, some dust might escape. Generally the job is not messy.
You need your chimney sweeping for your safety and in order to avoid chimney fire and fume hazards. It is advisable to sweep your chimney before any use, unless the previous owner provide you with a recent qualified sweep certificate. A chimney fire isn’t the kind of housewarming you want.
Depending on how many appliances you need sweeping. the length also depends on many factors including the state of the Flue. From arriving at the property, this process can take up to an hour, more or less. Blockages and birds nest might take longer.
No, all chimneys are now swept from the appliance access point and going onto the roof is no longer required.
Our qualified Sweep will be able to advise you on a suitable terminal or guard for your chimney.
Soot is highly corrosive and acidic especially when mixed with condensation. When a chimney is closed off, it can get damp. If any soot was left in the chimney, there is danger that it can turned to a black acidic slurry that, in an old chimney, can soak into the internal walls causing severe problems, additionally when bad enough, the damp can penetrate walls and cause unpleasant stains.