How Often Should You Sweep Your Chimney?

Chimney sweeping is an important consideration for any building where the chimney is in use. But just how often should you have a chimney sweep?

This post will sweep away any uncertainty, so you know what’s best for your home or commercial property.

Why does my chimney need sweeping?

To understand how often you should sweep a chimney, it’s important to appreciate why they need sweeping in the first place. The answer lies in its basic purpose. Chimneys act as an exhaust, allowing combustion gases to escape rather than filling your home. To do so, they need to be clear from blockages.

Over time, chimneys can and will become blocked. That’s partly down to soot – a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass (including wood). As smoke rises up and cools, it can condense onto your chimney walls – turning from a gas (smoke) to a liquid (soot), which then becomes solid.

As the process is repeated, soot builds up and blocks your chimney. Creosote is a particularly dangerous type of soot, which is a tar released when wood is burnt. It’s highly flammable, so a blockage won’t just stop gases escaping – it could lead to a chimney fire.

As well as soot, chimneys can become blocked by bird’s nests, cobwebs and even animals. That’s why it’s good practice to get it swept regularly.

Chimney sweep – how often?

Don’t worry – you don’t have to have your chimney swept after every use, or even several times a year. In terms of how often chimney cleaning is needed, we’d recommend having your chimney swept once a year.

Doing so has a number of benefits:

You’ll minimise the risk of chimney fires.
Gases will be able to escape your property, keeping the air clean.
Your fire or stove will perform better with a clean flute, keeping your space warmer.
You’ll also save money with the stove working more efficiently.

How to tell if your chimney needs sweeping

Chimneys should be swept annually if you have any of the following:

Your chimney will also need to be swept for a gas fire, but less frequently. That’s because the by-products of burning gas are less substantial.

If you’re unsure when your chimney was last swept, there are some ways to tell if your chimney is due a sweep:

Tar marks around the flue entrance or damper
Smoke staying in the room
A bad smell when the fire or stove isn’t even lit

Take the hassle out of how often your chimney needs sweeping

Modern life can be busy, and you might find it hard to remember to arrange a chimney sweep every year – or even when your chimney was last swept. Russell Stoves takes that hassle away with annual reminders for chimney sweeping throughout Leeds and the surrounding areas.

We’ll let you know when your chimney is due a sweep, then you can book an appointment at a time that suits you. Our professional team will be there on the agreed date to inspect your chimney and clear it out without any mess.