FAQ’s

This depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Ultimately a chimney should never be completely sealed even one that’s not in use.

This question is better answered by saying if a cap or cowl is fitted, then it has to be the right one.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon to come across dangerous situations where the wrong caps have been installed causing poisonous fumes including carbon monoxide to enter the living space.

Consideration must be given to whether you have an open fire , stove fuel type (oil, gas , wood, solid) and often the rated output of the appliance.

Environmental factors can also help determine the prudence of fitting a cowl , if in doubt seek professional advice .

Often different causes have the same symptoms.
So an understanding of chimney dynamics in conjunction with regulations is vital.

Even fitting bird guards and decommissioning terminals, there are guidelines.

Yes, I’ve seen the aftermath of chimney fires and all fuel types including oil and gas.

Most commonly chimney fires are associated with burning wood and to a lesser extent now coal.

Factors that increase flammable carbon deposits (soot,Tar, creosote) inside a chimney to cause a fire:

1. Burning damp /wet fuel.
2. Lack of appliance maintenance.
3. Open fireplace too large.
4. Chimney construction material.
5. Lack of ventilation into the room.
6. Slumbering fire or stove overnight.
7. Long low heat burns.
8. Not using stove controls correctly.
9. Not swept at appropriate intervals.
10. Incorrectly sized stove for space to be heated.

Oh yes! Birds nest catch fire too. Having your chimney swept is just part of the equation.

There has to be an understanding from the user how to operate the appliance correctly.

If in doubt, ask your chimney sweep. In fact he /she should be able to tell from the type of deposits removed from the chimney and advise accordingly.

An unswept dirty chimney sometimes combined with:
- very windy weather .
- burning rubbish, plastics, empty crisp packets etc.
- suddenly burning hot after long periods of slumber.
- putting candle wax , night lights on burning fires.
- burning Xmas trees.
- twigs from birds nests.
- lighting fires with accelerants eg. BBQ lighter fuel.

The noise can be quite loud and scary almost like heavy road traffic is driving outside.

Often a metallic crackling sound, like tinfoil being crunched is audible this is usually in stoves with a flu pipe.

Having your chimney swept is just part of the equation.

To prevent fires, there has to be an understanding from the user how to operate the appliance correctly.

If in doubt, ask your chimney sweep.

In fact he /she should be able to tell from the deposits removed if things are awry , and advise accordingly.

The chimney is designed to transmit fumes including carbon monoxide from the appliance safely to outside. So it doesn’t cause carbon monoxide unless of course you have a chimney fire. However, a failure with a chimney to do its job can most certainly cause carbon monoxide to enter your home. For this reason it is essential and a legal requirement to have a carbon monoxide detector/alarm in the room.

This question is really about the diameter of chimney termination.
Height of pot can be important if there are environmental influences.
Sometimes listed buildings (historic Scotland) will require chimney pots to be in keeping. I assume this is for aesthetic reasons.

Most modern chimney pots have an internal diameter of 8 inches; this would be deemed normal. However for most stoves  it would be acceptable to reduce it to 6 inches.

There are rules determining the inside diameter of a chimney flue, sometimes a liner runs through the chimney pot so clearly it must be wide enough.

There are different rules in Scotland and England for the flue diameter and termination depending on the stove spigot size, manufacturers instructions and whether the appliance is DEFRA approved. A good chimney sweep should know this!

For a chimney sweep this is a massive question. I am tempted to copy out the city and guilds or guild of master chimney sweeps training courses!

In essence the goal is to ensure the dangerous products of combustion is safely passed from the appliance to outside by removing deposits that have accumulated inside the flue.

Ultimately abrasion of the inside of the chimney is essential. When I started to be a chimney sweep and was taking my city and guilds we were taught to do this manually with rods and brushes.

Over the last couple of decades equipment and techniques have evolved and mechanical flails tend to be employed. Whatever process is used it is essential that the correct equipment is used to efficiently do the job without damaging the chimney.

When sweeping, consideration is given to the diameter of the flue, height of the chimney, fuel used, chimney construction material and sort of liner.

A chimney cannot be cleaned with a vacuum alone!

A vital part of chimney sweeping which is often overlooked is the importance of keeping the room clean clear of soot particles.

Advanced filtration systems, air scrubbers and ducts can be used. Aside from the irritating mess that can result there are potential health implications if precautions are not taken.