The Importance of Having Your Chimney Swept

With the rise in popularity of wood burners in our homes along with the crisp cold weather outside, more of us are using our chimneys.  It’s really important to remember that chimneys need to be maintained for safety. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to make sure your chimney is taken care of and swept on a regular basis.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Neglecting the maintenance of your chimney can have fatal consequences.  Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which is caused as a result of fuel not fully burning. If the ventilation is blocked then this limits the amount of carbon monoxide which is able to exit your home and as a result can lead to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide building up inside your home.

Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer – it cannot be seen, smelt or tasted. According to NHS Choices, a tension-type headache is the most common symptom of mild carbon monoxide poisoning.  Other symptoms include dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tiredness and confusion, stomach pain, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. In cases where high levels of carbon monoxide have been inhaled, NHS Choices list vertigo, loss of consciences and chest pain amongst the potential symptoms.

Carbon monoxide is incredibly dangerous so don’t run the risk of using an inadequately maintained chimney. Find a local chimney sweep in your area. For extra peace of mind why not consider buying a carbon monoxide detector? For less than £20 a carbon monoxide detector can be purchased from many local DIY stores.

Chimney Fires

Chimney fires are another very important reason to have your chimney swept, with Fire and Rescue Services in England reporting 4,193 incidents between April 2015 and March 2016. One of the main causes being insufficient sweeping and cleaning – it’s important to remove soot and creosote build-up and any obstructions such as leaves.

According to The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps, unless your chimney has been swept and maintained by a professional chimney sweep, in the event of a fire some insurance companies will no longer pay out for fire damage – so it’s really important to make sure you keep up to it regularly!

Smoke Damage

If your chimney is not regularly swept then this can lead to smoke re-entering your room, potentially causing damage. Avoid soot covered carpets and curtains and find a local chimney sweep to do the dirty work.

Frequency of sweeping depends on a number of factors, so ask a professional chimney sweep for specific advice. For guidance, The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps advises that the frequency of sweeping when using smokeless fuel should be at least once a year, for wood and bituminous coal the sweeping frequency should be quarterly when in use and for oil and gas the sweeping frequency should be once a year.

Inadequately maintained chimneys can be very dangerous. Don’t take any risks, if your chimney is due a sweep then get in touch with a local chimney sweep to book an appointment – it’s affordable and often takes less than an hour for the work to be completed!