A tale of two chimneys and how to sweep your own chimney
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Save Money | 54 comments
Years ago when the cottage was being renovated I was advised by the foreman that my chimneys needed relining.
“Don’t worry Fiona. It won’t make a mess. You need to get it done though. A dodgy chimney could be dangerous. I happen to know a man that has a company that relines chimneys I’ll give him a ring.”
The Chimney Lining Friend came and examined the chimneys carefully. His face was grave.
“Both chimneys need relining. As there are two, I can do you a deal – both for £3,500.00.”
I trusted the foreman but I wavered.
The Chimney Lining Friend swept on, “The chimneys need to be swept before we start. We could do this for £100. Perhaps you’d like to use your own sweep?”
I decided to use my own guys. They arrived on the Friday before the relining was scheduled to begin.
They swept the kitchen chimney and examined it carefully.
“This chimney is old but we’ve seen much worse. It doesn’t need relining.”
I was surprised.
They discovered that the chimney in the sitting room was new. It had been built inside the old inglenook fireplace.
“No wonder the fire draws so well.”
They warned me that if The Chimney Lining Friend insisted on coming on Monday he would probably want to do a smoke test. Apparently teeny wafts of smoke can escape into the attic.
“If this happens, don’t be alarmed. It’s normal. Stick to your guns. Don’t have the chimneys relined!”
The foreman arrived before the friend. Despite my protestations, he insisted on waiting for TCLF. We sat in silence until the large deluxe car reversed into the drive.
They did the test. Twice. Not a waft of smoke drifted into the attic. The building company was one of the best in Cambridge. The gangs were good, arriving on time as scheduled and the quality of the work was excellent. But I’d never use the company again. Of course there are backhanders in the building industry but faking the need for a job is just not on. The relationship with the foreman was never quite the same again.
In fact the experience put me off having the chimneys touched for years.
When Danny arrived he mentioned in passing that he always swept the chimneys back home in rural West Cork. Since then we have swept our chimneys ourselves. If you have a standard, traditional brick built chimney it’s really easy. The fancy vacuum cleaners and screens are unnecessary. All you need are a set of drain rods
You can buy a good brush at a decent builder’s merchants. They are also available online and there you will find a lot of dire warnings about DIY chimney cleaning (they are generally written by chimney sweeps).
There is one golden rule for chimney sweeping and drain clearing. Keep turning the rods in a clockwise direction. This ensures that the rods do not become separated and get lost in the chimney or drain. The Penultimate Paramour turned the rods the wrong way once. A disaster that was averted by sheer determination and hours of patience.
I put a layer of newspaper in the fire basket and sling an old sheet across the outside of the fireplace (this protects the room from stray soot). I work from behind this screen. Then I screw the brush head to the first rod, stick it up the chimney and add another rod so that I can access the contraption easily.
Sweep up and down, and twist clockwise as you add the rods and push the brush up the chimney. This dislodges the soot and creosote. It’s worth spending a few minutes on each metre of chimney. Finally the brush bursts out of the chimney pot. Nip outside and check that it’s sticking out. On the downward path repeat the sweeping twisting action. As you pull the brush down, remove the rods as you go. Finally examine the chimney with a powerful flashlight to check that it is really clean.
If you want to clean your own chimney you need to be practical. If it’s an old chimney full of nooks and crannies you may need to use different brushes or a chimney vacuum. I have never cleaned a metal flue. It may be worth getting a professional sweep in once and watch carefully what he/she does. Then you will know exactly how a pro would tackle your chimney and perhaps you can take up the reins next time.
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As regards the question about choosing a sweep from amongst the “rogue traders” I think it’s the same as if looking for a builder or other tradesman – I look for them being a member of a professional organisation, being insured (ask for proof! If someone is the type to not be insured then of course they are the very type will SAY they ARE. So what anyone says when trying to get your business/money from you proves nothing!) – Some traders web sites have a private direct web link to thier insurance company showing thier current policy & it’s expiry date – mine has for example(I’m not a sweep).) – and the most important two points of all – 1. ask people you know if they can reccomend someone they have used, and 2. trust your gut feeling every time if suspicious. I rang two sweeps a while ago from ads in my local paper, with one the phone was answered with a gruff chav-like “hellow” and the other was answered in a friendly manner – now this isn’t a fool-proof test by any means (!). Both were in yellow pages, but I went for number 2 and he was a member of a trade organisation, was clean in his work , friendly and charged me a reasonable amount, he did not try and sell me anything I did not need or claim my chimney was about to fall off! I got a certificate to prove my chimney was swept by a trade organisation member in case of insurance issues. I’ll use him again and reccomended him to others. Incidentaly, his was not the biggest flashest ad in the yellow pages either, which I know is how a lot of people choose between services. I do think personal reccomendation is the best way, but if you can’t get that, then I’d always look for a trade association member. Best of all, go to the trade association web site and look on thier directory for your nearest member – that way you KNOW they are a real member and are current.
@Stephen, I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Hello,
I am a full time chimney sweep of twenty five years experience and I feel that some people will always sweep their own flue and many of them will do a good job (sometimes a better one than a poor professional) others think that they are doing a good job and wont be and theres the danger, there are many types of flues and appliances and a good professional chimney sweep will carry all the correct equipment to leave your flue in a clean, safe condition and issue you with a certifcate. 90% of a chimney sweeps work is to feel his way up and down a flue and this comes with training and experience. Not all chimney sweeps are rouges.
Cheers,
Stephen Morris
HETAS APPROVED
NACS MASTER MEMBER
NVQ QUALIFIED IN CHIMNEY ENGINEERING
Hello Tomsk
You should have acess to clean the registry plate. This needs to be cleaned howere long the flue is.
Hello Ali
You need to have your chimney cleaned professionally. You clearly have a flue and no access.
Hi Chimney Sweep Los Angeles
Thanks for your input.
Hi Tim
Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.
Hello Jeremy
Thanks for your input.
Our chimneys are very straightforward to clean and so I’m quite confident about doing that task. However some chimneys are not so straightforward and with these I would call in an expert – particularly chimneys with liners.
Hi James
Thank you!
Hi Kathryn
That’s very interesting and useful information. Thank you for dropping by.
there are several chimney sweeping organisations out there.
The National association of chimney sweeps.
The guild of master sweeps
the institute of chimney sweeps
and the association of chimney sweeps.
as far as i can see only the NACS and GMS have any qualifications. the ICS and APICS only want a reference from a customer and you are in. this does not sound like a good idea. all companies have a training programm but again ICS and APICS do a one day coures. what the H£ll can someone learn in one day!!!!!. The NACS and GMS seem to run extensive courses where you end up with a recognised qualification although looking on NACS website it doesent seem to be compulsory as most are not qualified.
Another good link is http://www.instituteofchimneysweeps.co.uk/
Advice to Households – copied from North Yorks FRS website due to a recent spate of chimney fires (which is likely a national issue):
Regular sweeping and maintenance of chimneys and flues eliminates the build up of soot from coal, wood, oil and gas fired systems. It also clears obstructions such as bird and animal nests, leaves and debris.
Chimneys using smokeless fuel should be swept at least once a year.
Chimneys using bituminous coal should be swept at least once a year.
Chimneys using wood should be swept quarterly, when in use.
Chimneys using oil should be swept at least once a year.
Chimneys using gas should be swept at least once a year.
Flues and the ventilation for flues and chimneys should be inspected at least once a year.
Check the roof space regularly, when a fire is lit, to ensure that smoke is not leaking into the roof space.
Carbon monoxide, known as the ‘silent killer’, is present when fuel is burnt on an open fire, or in a gas appliance. Tragically, every year, people lose their lives to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Regular cleaning of chimneys and flues reduces the risk of dangerous fumes entering the home.
Chimneys should be swept by a competent contractor to BS6461. For details contact the National Association of Chimney Sweeps on freephone 0800 833464 or visit www.nacs.org.uk
Hi Tim,
I find it hard to pick between chimney sweeps because of the unfortunate number of rouge traders about. Perhaps with your experience, and qualifications, could you please advise us what we should look for? What qualifications do you have?
Would it also be possible for you to tell me just how many chimney fires have killed anyone in the last year or so, I can’t recall one myself. Chimneys are generally pretty good (provided that they’ve not got structural defects) at directing hot gasses and flames out to open air and the atmosphere. Occasionally I admit roofs are vulnerable, but these tend not to affect peoples escape in case of fire. It is also true that chimneys were left to burn in the good ol days to clean them out! (not generally a good practice now I accept).
Fit smoke alarms if you’ve any concerns in relation to life safety, contact your local fire service and they’ll probably fit them for free (in the UK) or visit www.firekills.gov.uk for further advice.
It is quite conceivable that many people are sensible enough to sweep their own chimneys provided that they are capable and the chimney is understood, yes there are hazards, mainly to the property, but scare-mongering (quote: kill, kill and kill) is wrong.
Please don’t misunderstand me. There are risks if you don’t sweep a chimney properly and property can go up in smoke remarkably fast. If you don’t understand all the twists and turns in a chimney and if you don’t fully understand how a chimney works – please don’t try to sweep it without an expert (if you can find one)… and again I agree as I’m sure most of us will, playing with fire is very silly.
Jeremy
So many peple with good advice, yet why do we as registered sweeps spend so much money on equipment and years of training (i carry over £6000 of tools) ???
The reason is that a chimney fire can KILL,, Kill AND KILL and if you wish to play games fine… I can build a wall but not about to build my own house??
A good sweep is not a lot of money, call more than one, BUT this is not a money saving game.. playing with fire is dangerous, and only a silly person would believe (or advise) so.
I have swept for many years and seen the results of a chimney fire and the death it can cause.
Do as you wish but PLEASE think..
tim
Chimney sweeping is no easy task, I can tell you that much.