It might seem a straightforward to arrange the repair or building of a chimney but there are many questions that you might not have realised the importance of asking. Here’s a beginner’s guide to finding the best person to carry out your chimney maintenance – for price and quality. Even if you do not think your chimney needs maintenance right now, it could be helpful to think about who you should call on when the time arises.
You should also think about having a regular inspection, especially when you move into a new property as you will not necessarily know when it has last been swept. A chimney that has not been swept recently could cause a chimney fire or cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 12,200 UK homes have chimney fires every year. During the summertime debris such as leaves, paper, and birds nests build up in chimney flues. This, on top of existing soot, can have potential lethal effects. It is imperative you clean chimneys before their first use and employ a professional specialist chimney sweep. You should never consider cleaning your chimneys with a domestic vacuum cleaner.
When looking for a sweep it is important to make sure they are insured and registered with an association and trained properly in what to look for. There is much more to safeguarding you chimney than just sticking a brush through.
At Alfred Poppins Chimney Sweeping we are members of NACS and are fully insured and we believe in further training to always adapt to new methods.
Costs
Costs vary dramatically depending on the job. The price depends upon a wide range of different issues: the type of chimney installed; the type of fuel that is to be used; the condition of the existing chimney, or if it is a new chimney. It is worth contacting a variety of chimney suppliers or sweeps to get alternative quotes and advice. Take the time at this stage to compare services.
What questions should I ask chimney companies?
- Are you NACS registered?
- Can I have a quote before work is started?
- What type of chimney is best for my home?
- What are the pros and cons of different types of chimneys?
- Are there any implications that I haven’t considered?
- How long is the work likely to take?
