Chimney sweeping, servicing & cowls
Annual sweeps and stove services with a certificate, bird-guard cowls and flue checks for stoves we fitted and ones we didn’t.
One of our installsAnnual sweep and service
Every stove needs sweeping at least once a year, more if you burn a lot or your wood is not as dry as it should be. A sweep removes soot and creosote that can cause a chimney fire, clears nests and blockages, and keeps the stove drawing and burning properly. We sweep stoves we fitted and ones we did not, and we check the rope seals, glass, baffle and firebricks while we are there.
Certificate for your insurer
You receive a sweeping certificate each visit. Many home insurers ask for proof of an annual sweep, and solicitors ask for it when a house is sold.
Cowls, liners and repairs
Birds nesting in a flue are one of the commonest causes of smoke coming back into a room. We fit bird-guard and anti-downdraught cowls, replace damaged liners and sort out register plates, rope seals and glass.
When to book
Late spring and summer are the easiest times to get a slot, and it means the stove is ready the first cold evening in autumn.
Questions we get asked
How often should a wood burner be swept?
At least once a year for wood, and some guidance says twice a year for heavy use or coal. If the glass is blackening fast or the fire is sluggish, book one sooner.
Do you sweep stoves you did not install?
Yes. Any stove or open fire, with a certificate.
My stove smokes when I open the door. Is that a sweep problem?
Often, yes, or a blocked cowl or nest. Try the tips in our troubleshooter first, then book a sweep if it keeps happening.
Be by the fire before the next cold snap
Peak season books up fast. Book a home survey and you’ll have a clear written quote to think about.