How I sweep, approaching the property assess the chimney stack and pots, check for defects, suitability of the cowl or pot, from the ground.

Sheeting up involves a floor runner and three layers of close woven cotton fabric, to protect carpets, floors and hearths.

Wood-burner or Multi Fuel Stove

Remove the fire bricks and baffle plate to gain access to sweep. Check door rope seals and flue joints. If the firebricks have hair-line cracks, removing them may cause them to fail. Damaged firebricks can be replaced if required. Clean the glass and check it’s secure and correctly sealed.

Open Fire

Remove the grate and fire bricks, providing they are not cracked. Replacements are available if you require them. 

Sweeping

Check the flue and select the most appropriate type and size of brush. Power sweeping gets a chimney really clean. However the most suitable, brush or whip-head must be used to avoid damaging the chimney. Brush selection depends on the flue type.

Assess the fire opening and sheet-up to avoid soot ingression and to control dust. An industrial vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration to remove and control soot and dust. Start sweeping, once at the top check the brush has exited the pot or can be seen in the cowl. Inspect the flue to check if it’s has clean, if not re-sheet the opening and sweep again.

Make sure that the soot-shelf is clear of soot. If there is a back boiler, make sure any debris/soot is cleared from between the front and back plate. Baxi open fires often have side vents that also require clearing. Baxi’s often have an air control flap, check it’s operating properly, check the air intake pipe is clear of ash, images below.

If wet wood has been used or slumbering has taken place it can be almost impossible to remove the glazed on creosote. Abrasive sweeping with a whip head or chain can damage old traditional flues or metal liners. In which case there are products like Cree-away which can be used.

https://chimneysaver.com/product/cre-away-pro-creosote-remover/

Replace the baffle plate and fire bricks and grate then conduct a smoke test to check the flue is ‘drawing’ correctly and free from obstructions. Check the amount of smoke exiting the pot. Confirm that no smoke is exiting from the flaunching, flashing, roof slates or pointing around the stack. Completed I will issue an AXA insurance approved certificate to confirm the flue has been professionally swept.

Stainless Steel Liners and Flexi-Liners have a lifespan, 10 to 20 years as a guide. However if incorrect fuels have been used including wet wood or slumbering (turning air controls down too soon), excess tar and creosote can build up and degrade a liner. Moisture from wet wood or rain ingression due to the lack of a cowl can mix with soot and cause an acid, which degrades the liner.

Chimney fires reduce the lifespan of a liner or twin wall flue dramatically, flue manufacturers recommend a stainless steel liner or twin wall system is replaced after a chimney fire has occurred. To prevent chimney fires make sure you get your chimney swept annually.

Stainless steel liners and twin wall flue systems can fail during sweeping, due to age or any one of the above. This will mean your stove will be out of action and should not be used until a qualified person has replaced the liner or twin wall flue system. I will make a note of this on the sweeping certificate.

If your stove or fire has any issues you are aware of please inform me when you book the sweep. I will do my best to find the cause and also find a solution.

My trade association, ICS Institute of Chimney Sweeps:

https://icsweeps.com/index.html

Below is a link to the the areas I sweep, if in doubt please get in touch: https://www.wensleydalechimneysweeping.com/area-i-sweep/

Wensleydale Chimney Sweeping

2 Chapel View Cottage

Thirn

Ripon

North Yorkshire

HG4 4AU

Tel: 01677 460 415

Mob: 07999 553 029

Email: wcs.soot@gmail.com