What to expect when I sweep your chimney
Will it be messy?
“Will it be messy?” And, “Do I need to clear and cover everything in the room?” are two frequent questions asked by people are going to have their chimney swept for the first time.
The answer to the first is almost certainly, No!, it is not messy. And so long as we have clear access to the fireplace and a 2x2metre space in front of it I will have enough space.
Keeping in touch
The day before the appointment I will send you a reminder by text to make sure all is still good.
And on the day, if I am running more than 15 minutes late or early I will also text to let you know.
Once I have arrived, we'll have a quick chat about how well your appliance has been working so we can discuss any issues or questions you may have.
The Preparation
I like to lay floor runners from you door to your fireplace to keep your floor clean. I also to protect the area around your fireplace.
At this point I have a good look at the installation to establish if it is safe and meets building regulations.
Whilst removing the baffle plate from your woodburner to access the chimney I take the opportunity to give the stove a good look-over and make sure door mechanism, seals, and vents are all in good working order.
Once I have access to the chimney, I choose the most appropriate method for sweeping it, often a soft power-sweeping brush, that effectively removes deposits whilst being gentle to the chimney.
The fireplace opening then gets sealed using a special sweeping sheet which in combination with my powerful HEPA grade vacuum ensures no mess, soot or dust escapes.
The Sweep
The amount and type of deposits that the brush brings down tells me how clean and efficient a combustion you have been having. I can advise on ways to improve it to use less fuel and get more heat whilst lowering the appliance's emissions and keeping your chimney cleaner for longer.
I will pop outside to make sure the brush has reached the top of the chimney, and you are very welcome to do so too and thus get your dose of good luck! This is when I inspect, often using binoculars, the condition of your chimney stack and chimney terminal.
Once all the chimney deposits have been cleared up and the stove has been put back together again I carry out a smoke draught test using a smoke pellet. This can tell me if there is sufficient draw.
And finally, once everything has been packed away, I will issue you with a Guild of Master Sweeps certificate which will log any issues that may need addressing and provides evidence that you have had your chimney swept.