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Join us todayAs people are becoming more conscious of the consumption and reliance of gas and oil, many homes across the UK are bringing chimneys back into use. There are many services offered involving chimneys such as installation of wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves, an internal chimney investigation to check for blockages or structural failures using CCTV equipment and investigations into poorly performing chimneys. Alongside these services, many companies also offer repair, renovation, restoration, buildings and surveying services for chimneys.
In Regulation 2 of the Building Regulations, chimney flues are defined as controlled services. So, if a renovation, refurbishment or repair involves the installation of a new flue liner it should not be started without notifying the local authority beforehand as it is classed as “building work.” If you are unsure as to whether your chimney renovation, refurbishment or repair is classed as “building work” then it is best to seek advice from the Building Control department of your local council who are qualified to work with gas pipes and make sure regulations are adhered to. The chimney regulations for wood burning stoves are set out to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. If you are looking to get your gas fire disconnected before your chimney can be swept, they you must make sure that the chimney sweep you hire is Gas Safe registered. This ensures that they are legally qualified to work with gas fittings.
The average cost to have a chimney swept in the UK generally ranges from £40 to £100. If any building or repair work is needed on a chimney, then the cost is determined on the condition of the chimney and how much work is needed. For other work on a chimney, the typical costs are: repairing the flashing on a chimney stack will cost around £300 to £500, removing a chimney breast and repairing a ceiling will cost in the region of £1000, £60 to £120 to replace a chimney pot and if you would like a complete chimney rebuild this can cost anywhere between £1000 to £5000.
Chimney maintenance is very important as if a chimney is not swept properly, it could cause carbon monoxide poisoning or start a chimney fire. That is why finding the right person to carry out your chimney maintenance is a big decision. In the UK, it is reported that there are over 12,000 chimney fires each year which are most likely started through the build up of debris on top of existing soot. Chimneys need to be cleaned before their first use and it is necessary to employ a professional chimney sweep to conduct regular sweeps to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards. If you are looking for a qualified and recognised chimney sweep, you could see if they are registered in the National Association of Chimney Sweeps. It is advised that chimneys should be swept at least once a year, unless you are burning wood which would need more frequent sweeping.
Cleaning your chimney regularly is also advised by insurers as if your home has as insurance policy that is covered against fire, it could be invalid if your chimney has not been swept at least once a year. If you need proof of a chimney sweep, then approved chimney sweep
specialists registered in the National Association of Chimney Sweeps can provide you with an A4 Certificate of Chimney Sweeping which is recognised by local authorities, governmental bodies and insurance companies.