As a responsible wood burner, you naturally want to keep your flue system in excellent condition. We often receive the question whether you can sweep your chimney yourself. Our answer is no. Below we explain why chimney sweeping is a task for a professional.
Professional chimney sweeps not only have the right tools. They also understand how the entire system works. Because of the risks involved with a chimney system, the profession of chimney sweep is a regulated profession in countries such as Germany and Austria. In these countries a chimney sweep can reject a stove installation. The owner must then ensure that the system is restored to a safe condition. At Leenders we believe that similar regulations should apply in the United Kingdom.
In the United Kingdom it is surprisingly not a legal requirement to have your chimney swept. However, many insurance companies do require regular maintenance of your chimney in order to qualify for compensation in the event of a chimney fire. It is therefore wise to have your chimney cleaned at least once a year by a certified chimney sweep and to keep the certificate safe. This is also the minimum requirement of many insurers.
In the United Kingdom you are currently allowed to sweep your own chimney. We strongly advise against this. Keep in mind that many home insurance policies require that your chimney is cleaned regularly and in the correct manner. Failing to meet this requirement may have consequences for your cover, for example in the case of a chimney fire. This is yet another reason to leave chimney sweeping to a professional.
