Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

Chimneys & Open Fires.

Regular inspection and cleaning of chimney flues will help eliminate the build-up of soot from coal, wood, oil and gas-fired systems. Sweeping also clears obstructions such as bird nests, leaves and debris.

You should have your chimney swept before lighting the first fire of the winter and also ensure that any appliances which haven’t been used for a while are given a safety check

How often should I clean my chimney?

We recommend the following simple maintenance routines:

Solid fuel fires – Once a year for smokeless fuel; twice a year for coal

Wood burning fires – four times a year when in use

Gas fires – Once a year if designed for sweeping

Oil fires – Once a year

The Fire Service also advises that you:

Place a fireguard in front of the fire at all times.
Extinguish all fires before going to bed or leaving the property unattended.
Do not burn paper or rubbish on fires in the grate.
Check for smoke from cracks in the chimney breast. ü Consider fitting a carbon monoxide detector
Soot and smoke from a small chimney fire can cause extensive damage to personal property while larger fires can damage the roof, wipe out the first floor or even destroy a home completely.
Ensure that your smoke alarms, are in full working order so you have early warning should the chimney catch alight.

Approved chimney sweeps operating in your area can be found at: www.nacs.org.uk