Good To Know
The things people ask us most, answered plainly. If your question is not here, just call Alan or Dean on 0208 668 9914 and we will happily talk it through.
Every time you burn a fire, soot and tar build up inside the flue. Left to gather, that build-up can catch light and cause a chimney fire, and a partly blocked flue can push dangerous carbon monoxide back into the room instead of safely up and out. A regular sweep keeps the flue clear so your fire draws properly and burns safely. It is simple, sensible upkeep for any working chimney.
It depends mostly on what you burn. As a general guide: wood should be swept quarterly while the fire is in use, house coal twice a year, smokeless fuel at least once a year, and gas or oil appliances once a year. If you use the fire heavily or burn a lot of wood, err on the more frequent side. If you are not sure, give us a ring and we will talk it through with you.
Price depends on the type of chimney, the fuel you burn, how many flues need doing and how easy the access is, so there is no one flat figure. The fairest thing is to give us a quick call with a few details and we will give you an honest price before we come out. There are no surprises and no hidden extras.
A straightforward single chimney usually takes under an hour from arriving to packing up, including laying out our sheets and cleaning down afterwards. Extra flues, a heavy build-up or a bird's nest can add time. We never rush the job, and we will always let you know if anything looks like it needs longer.
No. This is the worry we hear most and the answer is that a proper sweep is clean. We seal the fireplace, lay down sheets to protect your floor and furnishings, and use a vacuum to catch the soot and dust as we work. We leave the hearth as tidy as we found it.
Just a little. Please do not light the fire for at least 24 hours beforehand so it is cold, and clear any ash if you can. Move ornaments off the mantelpiece and give us a bit of clear space around the fireplace to work. That is all we ask, we will take care of the rest.
A smoke test is a simple check of how well your chimney draws and whether the flue is sound. We light a smoke pellet and watch that the smoke pulls up and out cleanly, with none leaking into the room or through cracks. It is a good way to spot a blockage or a fault in the flue, and it gives you peace of mind that everything is safe to use.
Yes, we issue an official NACS certificate with every sweep. It is your proof that the chimney has been professionally cleaned, and many home insurers will ask to see a valid sweeping certificate before they pay out on any chimney-related claim. It is also useful if you are selling your home or getting a stove signed off. Keep it safe with your paperwork.
Yes. A stove still gathers soot and tar in its flue just like an open fire, so it needs sweeping regularly, often more so, because stoves are used hard through the winter. We sweep wood burners, multi-fuel stoves and their liners, and we will check the flue is drawing properly while we are there.
Two main ones. A build-up of soot and tar can ignite and cause a chimney fire, which can be frightening and can spread into the house. A blocked or dirty flue can also let carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell, back into the room, which can make you very ill. Regular sweeping and a working carbon monoxide alarm are the best protection against both.
Very likely, yes. Jackdaws in particular love to nest in chimneys and can drop a surprising amount of twigs down the flue. By law, an active nest with eggs or chicks cannot be removed during the nesting season, which runs from March to August, so we would remove it once the birds have finished and the nest is empty. As a NACS sweep we are authorised to clear nests to keep the flue safe, and we can then fit a guard to stop them coming back.
It is well worth considering. A cowl or bird guard sits on top of the chimney and keeps out birds, leaves, debris and driving rain, while still letting the flue breathe. It is the simplest way to avoid a repeat nest next spring. We can advise on the right type for your chimney and arrange to fit one for you.
Yes, we can carry out a CCTV inspection where we feed a camera up the flue to see its condition from the inside. It is a good idea if you have had a chimney fire, suspect a crack or blockage, are buying a house, or want to check the flue before installing a stove. You get a clear look at what is really going on inside the chimney.
Any time of year is fine, but late spring through early autumn is the quietest and easiest, once the burning season is over and before the winter rush. Having it swept before you first light up in autumn means the chimney is clean, checked and ready for the cold months. That said, we are happy to come out in winter too if you have left it a while.
NACS is the National Association of Chimney Sweeps. Its members are properly trained, assessed, insured and work to a code of conduct, and they issue the recognised sweeping certificate insurers look for. Using a NACS sweep means the job is done thoroughly and safely by someone qualified, not just quickly. As a long-established family firm, that standard matters to us.
We are based in Coulsdon and cover Coulsdon, Croydon and the whole of south London. If you are nearby and not sure whether you are in range, just give us a call and we will let you know. We have been sweeping chimneys in this part of the world since 1870.
Call Alan or Dean Naish for a free quote or a friendly bit of advice.
Call 0208 668 9914