How often should your open fire be swept by a chimney sweep?

Open fires should be swept at least once a year - Jim Chimney - Dorset's Chimney Sweep Specialist

'Most of my customers chimneys are swept around once or twice a year,'

After every sweep a recommended date for the next sweep will be issued with the sweep certificate.
This date takes into account the quality of the soot, the amount of soot, the condition of the liner and the appliance condition.

As your chimney sweep I will be able to recommend how often you should be sweeping your chimney after inspecting your chimney, fuel and soot.

For a general guide on sweeping frequencies please read on. . .

Open fires - burning Wood

Low users - If you are burning good quality seasoned wood, your chimney is in good working order and are only burning around once a week during the winter, then your chimney should usually be swept around once a year.

For higher users or burners of wet wood, (which is never recommend) a quarterly sweep is recommended.

Open fires - burning Smokeless Fuel / Clean Coal

At least once per year

Open fires - burning Bitumous Coal / House Coal

Low users - If you are burning house coal, your chimney is in good working order and are only burning around once a week during the winter, then your chimney should usually be swept around once a year.

For higher users of house coal a quarterly sweep is recommended.

Check your Insurance policy

It is also worth checking with your insurance policy what the recommended sweep frequency is. This is because some company have different expectations and some insurance company's will not pay out for a chimney fire or soot fall if their recommended sweep frequency has not been met.

Recommended article: Why you should not burn unseasoned firewood?

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This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum and Dorset.
Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

Jim Chimney - Chimney Sweep for Bournmeouth, Poole & Dorset