A SHARP increase in chimney fires last month (January) has caused concern that chimneys are not being swept regularly. Buckingham Fire & Rescue Service said that firefighters had been called to 10 chimney fires. The... View Article
IT’S FAR too easy to forget that your chimney needs regular sweeping by a professional. After all, the inside of the chimney is hidden from sight and so the condition of the flue isn’t visible... View Article
MONEY is the main concern for a mortgage company when a house buying survey is organised. The company want reassurance that there are no structural issues in the property, for which a buyer is seeking... View Article
CONSUMERS are often advised of the importance in installing a working carbon monoxide (CO) alarm – and rightly so. CO alarms give a level of reassurance to the householder that they will be alerted if... View Article
CONSUMERS can worry about how to prepare for a chimney sweep ringing the doorbell and setting to work clearing all the muck out of the chimney. Your Guild sweep can give precise instructions in advance... View Article
WARNING – now that the festive season is over you may be thinking of burning your Christmas tree or large parts of it in your woodburning stove or open fire. Please do NOT do this... View Article
YOU are likely to have all sorts of plans for 2019 – changes to the home, holidays, commitments to relatives, etc. It’s a strange time of year when we think positively but are also aware... View Article
Christmas is a time where myths come into play – it’s all part of the fun – and the chimney retains a central role in setting the stage for festive celebrations. For how could... View Article
In case you hadn’t noticed(!) - Christmas is coming. It’s that traditional time of year when our heads spin with a massive list of Things-To-Do. And whatever we tick on that list, there’s always another thing to think of, and another, and so on.
Getting it right is easy once you know how – you can have a great fire, pollution will be minimised, you’ll save money and your chimney will be cleaner and safer. Step 1: Use plenty of... View Article
Getting it right is easy once you know how and it really is important. You can have a great fire and chimney with lovely dry fuel, but if it’s not burning hot enough, you will... View Article
If you have a real fire, stove or woodburner you may have heard the fluttering and flapping occasionally. When birds land on the chimney, the sound can travel down the chimney void and into the... View Article
I’ve just moved house, should I get my chimney cleaned? Yes! 100% and please do not be tempted to “try it out” before it’s swept. A chimney fire isn’t the kind of housewarming you want.... View Article
There were around 5000 reported chimney fires 2014 – 2015. The real number will be far greater as not all fires result in an emergency call. Also, as professional sweeps, we know that some customers... View Article
Looks pretty but could be deadly. Logs stacked around a stove might look nice but it’s an accident waiting to happen. As professional sweeps we see this sort of thing too often. Never stack... View Article
DOS AND DONT’S Do Don’t Bring the stove to operating temperature quickly and try to keep it there Don’t close off the air to “slumber” the fuel for long periods or overnight Use dry wood... View Article
All larger towns and cities have Smoke Control Areas, often called “Smokeless zones”. If you use a woodburner or open fire in a Smoke Control Area it is important to know the rules or you may unknowingly... View Article
USEFUL TOOLS Flue pipe thermometer Moisture meter Stove fan These tools will help you get the very best from your stove and your fuel. They can save you money, help keep the chimney cleaner and... View Article
There is a health problem in the UK which affects us all. Air pollution can come from a number of sources such as vehicle engines, construction, agriculture and roads (dust from passing traffic) etc. Less... View Article
CAN I BURN PINE / CONIFER / WILLOW / POPLAR / SOFTWOOD ON MY WOODBURNER? Yes, of course, as long as they are dry. You may have heard that these types of wood cause “tar”... View Article
Radio 4 presenter Steve Carver’s documentary on the run up to Christmas following a Cambridge Chimney Sweep!
