How To Help Your Sweep

• If possible make sure you have had a fire recently, especially after a lot of rain. Dry soot can be removed; wet soot turns into mud and sticks on the sides of the chimney to fall down later when you do light a fire! If the flue is blocked obviously this will not be possible so allow for the sweeps return, after the blockage is cleared and after you have had some fires, to remove the remaining soot.
• Make sure the fire has gone out by opening the draught to burn the fuel quickly. Then the fire can cool down enough for the flue to be swept the next day. If you have an AGA allow two days for cooling.
• Find the paperwork for your installation, instructions etc. and know where your Data Plate is situated, usually at the fuse box. Make sure an electrical socket is available for use.
• Make sure to book up in plenty of time, preferably not in the autumn when your sweep will be rushed of his/her feet. Just into the New Year is usually fine unless you use the fire excessively i.e. all day every day.
• Don’t put your washing out just before the sweep is due and if you have near neighbours warn them too. Another consideration is if you are attached to another property and have a shift worker next door! A surprising amount of noise is created by the brush and rods passing up the flue, which can usually be heard in the other property.
• Remember your sweep will usually have a reminder service so make use of it.
• If possible clear the mantelpiece, especially if it is wooden. The expansion and contraction of the wood often leads to a minute crack, which can allow a tiny amount of soot to escape. If this can be sealed beforehand with Frog Tape, all well and good, or at least cleaned up after. Also sometimes a tiny amount of vibration could cause articles on the mantelpiece to fall off.
• Give your sweep room to work next to your fireplace, making sure there is a clear passage to and from the entrance. This is important if you have children, with toys around, or boisterous animals; these should be removed from the room.
• Try not to forget the appointment and remember he/she can never be exactly sure how long each job will take. A bird’s nest, for instance, can take up to two hours.
• If he/she has time a drink of some sort is often welcomed!

Chimney Fire Safety Week – 5th to 12th September 2016.

5000 chimney fires las year could have been avoided by simply having your chimney swept by a professional chimney sweep. APICS sweeps are qualified to not only sweep your chimney properly but to also give you valuable advice on fuels, frequency of sweeping etc. Sweeping is very important to keep your chimney clear of deposits, which are usually combustible. You may have invested in a modern, efficient stove, why allow this to become inefficient through lack of maintenance? You would not do this with a new car or van, it would not make sense! Chimney fires can also lead to much more expensive repairs such as cracked or broken chimney pots, melted or damaged cowls or completely ruined stainless steel liners.

Having a certificate of sweeping from your APICS sweep also ensures that your house insurance will not be null and void due to your neglect! Make sure to get your chimney swept before it’s too late. Go to www.apics.org.uk  www.hetas.co.uk or www.solidfuel.co.uk We all have a ‘find a sweep’ facility making it easy to find your nearest qualified sweep. Find a sweep you’ll want to keep.

Ryan Metters (APICS chairman)

Now is the best time.

There are a number of reasons for this amongst which are; [Read more…]

We are coming to the end of a splendid period of weather, which will help the winter along nicely. Unfortunately soot is hygroscopic (tending to absorb moisture from the air). [Read more…]