If you own a wood-burning stove, you need to have your chimney swept regularly. But how often should this be done, and why is it so important? You will find the answers in this article.
How often does your chimney need sweeping?
At Leenders Wood Burning Stoves, we believe you should have your chimney swept at least once a year. If you use your stove more intensively than average, you should do this even more frequently.
Unlike in other European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom does not have a legal requirement to have your chimney swept by a professional. We strongly recommend hiring a certified chimney sweep nevertheless. In our article on why you should not sweep your chimney yourself, we explain this in more detail.
Why chimney sweeping is essential
There are several important reasons to have your chimney swept regularly.
Preventing chimney fires. When you burn wood, creosote forms inside the flue. This is a tar-like, highly flammable substance. If the layer becomes too thick, it can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Do not assume this rarely happens: in the UK, there are on average 5 chimney fires per day.
Preventing CO poisoning. A blockage in the flue, caused by soot, bird nests or creosote, can stop smoke and carbon monoxide from venting properly. Carbon monoxide is odourless and extremely dangerous.
Better draft and efficiency. A clean flue ensures proper smoke extraction. Your fire burns better, produces less smoke and operates more efficiently. This also reduces the risk of incomplete combustion.
Insurance requirements. Many insurers require an annual chimney sweep as part of their building-insurance terms. That is why it is important to keep the sweep certificate or invoice. Some insurers even state that the chimney must be swept by someone registered with a recognised body, such as ICS, the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps or APICS.
