31 April 2025
Now's The Time To Have Your Chimney Swept!
We've been blessed with some beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures to start spring 2025 off with a bang so, no doubt, you've all turned your heating off at long last. It's about time!
And now that the weather has cheered up dramatically, there's certainly no time like the present to have your chimney swept so that it's ready to be put to excellent use when winter rolls around once more.
It usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes for an inspection and sweep to be carried out, depending on the state of your chimney and the work involved. Visual checks are conducted to see if there are any obstructions like bird's nests, creosote build-up or soot. These days, digital cameras can be used for really thorough checks to be made!
Once this is done, the sweep can begin, with lots of different brushes and a specialist vacuum used to get rid of any material that may have built up inside over the last few months.
To get ready for the sweep's arrival, clear the hearth and mantelpiece of any objects so he can get to work immediately and to keep your belongings safe. It's also advisable not to light a fire for at least 24 hours before their visit - but since spring is well underway, you probably don't have to worry about this at the moment.
You can also help make the job easier by taking steps to prevent creosote build-up in the first place. A great way to achieve this is by warming the chimney up before you light a fire by holding some lit rolled-up newspaper inside the fireplace and letting the smoke rise up to reduce the amount of condensation.
Also make sure that you use dry wood that has a lower moisture content. If you're looking to stock up your supplies right now so you're well prepared for later in the year, have a browse of our sustainable firewood options today.