Looking After your Fire and Chimney

Save Money by looking after your fire

Keeeping your fire as efficient as possible will save fuel and money.  Regular chimney sweeping, appliance maintenance and using fuels that are specifically designed for your fire and appliance will help you achieve higher temperatures and increase efficiency.

General Fire and Chimney Safety

A healthy dose of common sense will prevent most problems but there are some guidelines you should follow:

• Don't store wood next to your fire or stove
• Try to use wood that is dried to less than 20% moisture as it results in less tar build up in the appliance
• Don't leave open fires unattended
• Use fire guards where appropriate
• Use smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Have the chimney swept regularly by a registered chiney sweep.  They will do much more than just sweep the chimney to ensure your continued safe use of the fire

Keep your Chimney Clean

To ensure maximum efficiency from your fuel and appliance it is important to sweep the chimney regularly.  Keeping your chimney clean will minimise the risk of chimney fire, improve efficiency and help protect against any damage or dangerous gases such as Carbon Monoxide.

Sweeping Frequency

The sweeping of your chimney by a properly trained and registered sweep should be a quick, clean and modern process with very little disruption to you and your home. The frequencies below are only a guide and are the minimum recommended by the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps.  Your own chimney sweep may advise more regular cleaning depending on your particular situation.

• Smokeless Coal - At least once a year
• Wood -Up to 4 times per year
• Bituminous Coal - Twice a year
• Oil - Once a year
• Gas - Once a year