Routine chimney sweeping is essential to remove soot, debris, and creosote—helping prevent dangerous chimney fires and carbon monoxide risks. Whether you rely on a wood burner, multi-fuel stove, or open fire, regular maintenance improves appliance efficiency and reduces fuel costs. Most insurers now require proof of cleaning from a professional chimney sweep.

The frequency of chimney sweeping depends on how you use your appliance. For most households, it’s recommended to have your chimney or flue liner cleaned at least once a year. However, if you use your wood burner, multi-fuel stove, or open fire regularly—especially with resinous or unseasoned wood—then two or more sweeps per year may be necessary.

Regular stove maintenance not only helps prevent chimney fires, but it’s also a requirement for many home insurers to remain compliant.

Your local chimney sweep can advise on the ideal schedule for your setup and fuel type. In fact, experienced sweeps can often tell whether you’re burning the right fuels and achieving the correct temperatures—just by examining the soot. Too much creosote or the wrong colour residue can indicate poor combustion or unsuitable logs. Spotting and correcting these issues early can save you money, improve safety, and extend the life of your appliance

Choosing a Guild registered chimney sweep gives you peace of mind that the job is being done safely, professionally, and to the highest standards. Membership in a recognised trade organisation means your sweep:

• Has undergone rigorous training and assessment
• Is committed to continuous professional development
• Follows industry standards and safety regulations
• Is fully insured and able to issue recognised certificates of sweeping

In other words, you’re not just hiring a chimney cleaner—you’re working with a certified professional who understands ventilation systems, combustion science, appliance maintenance, and how to spot early signs of trouble. It’s especially important when stove servicing, flue liner cleaning, or ensuring log burner safety is part of the job.

And as we mentioned earlier, a trained sweep can often spot signs of incorrect fuel use or poor burning techniques just by examining soot deposits. That kind of expertise can help you burn cleaner, safer, and more efficiently.

A little preparation helps everything run smoothly on the day. Here’s how to get your fireplace or stove ready:

• Clear a space around the appliance—move furniture, logs, or ornaments at least 6 feet away where possible.
• Let it cool—ensure everything is fully extinguished and cold before the visit, ideally for 12–24 hours.
• Avoid using the appliance the night before to allow safe, clean access.
• Secure pets—keep animals in another room so they’re safe and undisturbed by the noise of equipment.
• Check outdoor visibility—if your sweep needs to inspect the chimney terminal or pot, make sure it’s visible from ground level and not blocked by garden overgrowth or structures.

Professional chimney sweeps bring specialist equipment like protective sheeting, vacuums, and dust control systems—but a bit of advance prep makes the whole process quicker and cleaner.

With a trained professional using the right tools, chimney sweeping is a clean and controlled job. I use a combination of high-powered HEPA vacuums, sealed sheeting, and dust control techniques to keep your home spotless throughout the process. The sweeping is done through a sealed access point with specialist rods and brushes, and there’s no need to worry about soot clouds drifting into your living room.

That said, it helps to clear a path to the appliance and remove delicate items nearby, just in case. If you’ve had sweeping done in the past and it’s left a mess, it probably wasn’t by someone who does it properly.

Yes, even a relined chimney needs regular sweeping. Whether your flue has a stainless steel liner or a rigid thermally insulated system, soot and creosote can still build up over time. In fact, some liners—especially stainless steel ones—can be more vulnerable to corrosive deposits if not cleaned properly.

Regular chimney sweeping keeps your relined flue safe, maintains airflow, and ensures you’re meeting appliance manufacturer recommendations. It also helps uphold your insurance requirements and prolongs the life of the liner itself

Yes—gas and oil appliances still require flue sweeping, even though they burn cleaner than wood or coal. Over time, gas flues can accumulate dust, cobwebs, and corrosive residues, while oil-burning appliances may produce soot and sulphurous deposits that build up inside the liner.

Regular sweeping ensures proper airflow, prevents blockages, and helps maintain fuel efficiency. It also allows your sweep to check for signs of corrosion or damage that could pose safety risks—especially important if your boiler or appliance is in regular use. Flue sweeping is typically recommended annually, or more often for older systems or those in constant use.

Yes—whenever you move into a new property with a fireplace, stove, or flue system, it’s essential to have the chimney professionally swept before use. You can’t assume the previous owners kept up with regular maintenance, and unseen blockages or creosote buildup may pose a serious fire or carbon monoxide risk.

A professional chimney sweep will remove any deposits, check the flue is clear and functional, and identify any signs of damage or structural issues. It’s also a great opportunity to get tailored advice about fuel types, ventilation, and optimal burning temperatures based on your new setup—especially helpful if you’re unfamiliar with the appliance model.

A fresh sweep is a clean start—and a safe one.

Birds nesting in chimneys is a common issue—especially during spring. Aside from blocking the flue and creating serious fire hazards, nests can also stop smoke and gases from escaping properly.

The best long-term fix is to have a bird guard or cowl professionally fitted over the chimney pot. But it’s not just about stopping birds—the type of terminal or cowl must suit your appliance. Using the wrong one can affect draw, reduce appliance performance, or even lead to smoke entering the room.

That’s why it’s best to use a professional chimney sweep, who can recommend the right terminal for your setup and check for signs of nesting or obstruction during the sweep.

Freshly cut (or “green”) wood typically needs 12 to 24 months to dry properly, depending on the species, size, and how it’s stored. Hardwoods like oak take longer, while softwoods dry more quickly but tend to burn faster and hotter.

For best results, store logs in a well-ventilated area, ideally under cover with the sides open to allow airflow. Logs should be stacked off the ground, bark side down, and out of direct rain. Aim for a moisture content below 20%, which you can verify with a moisture meter.

Proper seasoning not only improves heat output—it also reduces smoke, limits creosote buildup, and helps your wood burner or stove burn more cleanly and efficiently.

Please note that in areas of high average humidity e.g. Cornwall and Devon, it can be very difficult to achieve the desired 20%

A properly placed CO alarm could save your life, so getting the position right matters. The best general advice is:

• Install the alarm in the same room as your stove, appliance, or fireplace
• Place it at head height when you’re seated (not on the ceiling like a smoke alarm)
• Keep it at least 1–3 metres away from the appliance—don’t place it directly above or beside the stove
• Avoid corners, behind curtains, or areas with strong drafts (like near doors or windows)

If your home has multiple fuel-burning appliances or floors, consider fitting additional CO alarms in key locations. Also, make sure the device is marked to British Standard BS EN 50291 and has a test button—then press it regularly!

It’s also worth noting: during a sweep, we’re often the first to spot signs of incomplete combustion or poor ventilation that could lead to CO issues—so feel free to ask your sweep if your alarm is in the right place.

Chimney sweeps don’t just remove soot—we learn a lot from it, too. The type, colour, and texture of deposits inside your system can reveal whether you’re burning the right fuels and achieving the ideal operating temperature.

For example:

• Powdery grey ash usually indicates efficient combustion and well-seasoned wood.
• Sticky black deposits or shiny glaze often point to wet wood, low burn temperatures, or restricted airflow—conditions that create creosote and increase fire risk.
• Puffy soot or excessive residue may suggest poor-quality fuel or a need for better airflow and stove maintenance.

During routine chimney sweeping, we assess the condition of the soot and flue to give tailored feedback. This helps you improve efficiency, reduce pollution, and avoid costly repairs or fire hazards.

If in doubt, your sweep can advise on fuel type, storage, and burning habits to get the best out of your wood burner or multi-fuel stove.

Despite some media speculation, woodburning stoves are not being banned. In fact, the UK government has confirmed that under the proposed Future Homes Standard, modern woodburners will still be permitted in new homes—as long as they’re used responsibly and meet current efficiency standards.

The Stove Industry Association reports that woodburners will be allowed as a secondary heat source in future zero-carbon-ready homes. This reflects growing recognition of their role in energy resilience, especially during power cuts or peak demand.

The key is using the right appliance, the right fuel, and the right burning practices. That means:

• Choosing an Ecodesign-compliant stove
• Burning dry wood with less than 20% moisture
• Having your chimney swept regularly by a professional
• Using a suitable flue for your setup

Modern stoves are far cleaner and more efficient than older models or open fires. When used correctly, they can be part of a low-carbon, sustainable heating strategy—especially in rural or off-grid homes.

There are a number of problems with using wood that is too wet.

• It’s a waste of money / time.
• It can cause major fire risk problems inside the chimney.
• It dramatically increases air pollution.

Burning wet wood reduces the temperature of the fire, reducing the efficiency and heat output. Much more unburned fuel vapour goes up the chimney. The excess water also goes up the chimney. This lower burning temperature and increased fuel vapour and water mix easily causes “tar” or “creosote” to be deposited. It can build up to a thick “glaze” which can’t be easily removed and is a serious fire risk. If your sweep is genuinely worried about tar build up in your chimney, you need to take advice

At Col The Sweep, we believe in clear, competitive pricing and high-quality professional service. Our pricing structure is simple and transparent—no hidden fees, no upselling. For most standard jobs, like sweeping a stove or open fire, prices start from just £65.

Costs may vary slightly depending on the appliance type and setup—for example, a stove without a liner that requires access via a hatch is slightly more at £85. But rest assured, you’ll always know what to expect upfront. The reason this costs more is simply because it takes more time for the job to be completed properly.

We take pride in offering expert chimney sweeping with proper dust control, smoke testing, and appliance checks, all performed to Guild standards. You’re not just paying for a clean flue—you’re investing in a safer, more efficient home.

For full details and appliance-specific pricing, visit our Service and Prices Explained page.

Technically, yes—but with some caution. Softwoods like pine, conifer, willow, and poplar can be used on your stove, provided they’re well-seasoned and below 20% moisture content. They’re often quicker to dry than hardwoods and easy to light, which makes them useful for kindling or shoulder-season burning.

However, softwoods tend to burn hotter and faster, which means:

• You’ll need to reload more often
• They can increase creosote buildup if not burned hot enough
• Some stoves aren’t designed for continual use of softer species

Pine in particular contains sticky resins that can leave deposits if not fully combusted. That’s why it’s important to maintain good airflow and keep flue gases hot.

If you’re unsure whether your fuel is suitable, your chimney sweep can assess this during a routine sweep by inspecting soot deposits. You can also visit Woodsures Ready to Burn scheme for guidance on approved wood fuels.

The best way to check if your logs are ready to burn is with a moisture meter—a simple handheld tool that tells you how much water is still in the wood. For safe, efficient burning, logs should be well-seasoned and have a moisture content below 20%. Anything higher means the wood will burn inefficiently, produce more smoke, and increase soot and creosote buildup in your flue.

Dry, seasoned wood is usually:

• Lighter in weight
• Has cracks in the end grain
• Sounds hollow when knocked together

Unseasoned logs, on the other hand, often feel damp or “heavy,” with bark that’s still tight and little to no splitting.

The Stove Industry Association offers more advice on fuel quality, appliance efficiency, and how to get the best out of your stove.

Still unsure? Your chimney sweep can often tell during a routine visit whether your logs are drying properly—by looking at the soot, burn patterns, and how the appliance is performing.

Split the log with an axe and press the probes of the meter in to the split surface. Testing the outside surface of a log can give a false reading. You should only burn logs that are 20% moisture or less.

A well ventilated log store is best. Stacking the logs will ensure they are well ventilated and it’s a good idea to keep some air below them so stacking on old pallets is ideal. A roof is nice to keep the rain off the top ones but it is not as important as good ventilation. Good ventilation will quickly dry off any surface moisture when the rain stops. If it rains a lot where you live then it’s best to use a good store

Kiln dried logs have been heated in an oven until the moisture is generally below 20%. They may be a good idea if you can’t trust other sources or if your own supply has run out or is not dry enough yet. With correct storage and a bit of time you can easily achieve this level of moisture with your home dried logs – see “How long does it take to dry / season logs or wood” above.

You need to check with the manufacturer of the fire. Generally if it has a grate with an air space below, it should be fine. If your chimney/ flue is a steel system or liner you should avoid long slow burning or “slumbering” with smokeless fuels. Slumbering like this can damage a steel chimney due to cool flue gasses allowing very acidic conditions inside the chimney / flue. Always ensure there is an adequate air supply to the fire with a good glow. Ash must be riddled away and removed.

For certain appliances, there are recommended fuels and these should use as per the manufacturers guidance. As a general rule the Guild recommends dry seasoned wood. It is clean, gives good heat and is carbon neutral. If you prefer solid fuels, find your local Approved Coal Merchant who will have the expert knowledge to guide you. There are some interesting new fuel mixes coming to the market.

Smoke is leaking back into the room, and could be Immediately Dangerous. Don’t use the fire. Contact us and we can diagnose the problem and advise on the solution.

If a chimney is closed off it can get a bit damp. This can turn soot in to an acidic slurry. In an old chimney this slurry can soak into the internal walls causing severe problems. If bad enough, it can penetrate through to the room where it will cause unsightly stains on the walls. Plaster may need to be removed and the brick treated before re-plastering and redecorating. An unused chimney should always be swept and given a little ventilation top and bottom. Ask us how best to do this for your situation.
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If you are in a smokeless zone you cannot burn wood unless you have an ‘EXEMPT’ appliance otherwise known as a DEFRA approved stove.

Check here to see if you are in a smokeless zone;

Click here to see if your stove is DEFRA approved (EXEMPT).