Chimney & Stove Questions, Answered

It depends on the fuel you burn and how much you use the fire. As a general guide, chimneys used with wood or bituminous house coal are swept more frequently than those used with smokeless fuel or gas, and a chimney in heavy use through the winter may need sweeping more than once a season. If you are unsure, tell us what you burn and how often, and we will advise.

Burning fuel leaves soot and tar deposits inside the flue. Those deposits narrow the chimney, reduce the draught and make the fire less efficient, and they are what burns in a chimney fire. A blocked or restricted flue can also push smoke and combustion gases back into the room instead of taking them outside.

Yes. Wood burners and multi-fuel stoves are swept regularly, usually by removing the baffle plate and sweeping the flue through the appliance. Wood burning tends to leave tar and creosote deposits, particularly if the wood is not properly seasoned, so stove flues often need attention.

The hearth and surrounding area are sheeted up first. The flue is then swept with rods and brushes suited to the chimney, and the soot and debris are vacuumed away rather than brushed into the room. Where appropriate a smoke test is carried out to check the chimney is drawing, and anything we notice about the condition of the chimney is explained to you before we leave.

A camera is passed through the flue so the inside of the chimney can be seen along its length. It shows cracks, spalled brickwork, breaches between flues, collapsed parging and blockages that cannot be seen from the fireplace or the top of the stack, so decisions are based on what is actually there.

Do not light the fire. A nest is a solid blockage and burning under it is a serious fire and carbon monoxide risk. Get in touch and we will check the chimney, remove the nesting material where it is lawful to do so, sweep the flue and confirm it is clear. Nesting birds are protected by law, so timing matters and we will explain the position honestly.

A cowl is a fitting on top of the chimney pot. Different types do different jobs: a bird guard keeps birds and debris out of the flue, an anti-downdraught cowl helps with smoke being blown back into the room, and a cap protects a chimney that is no longer in use. A disused chimney still needs ventilation, so a cap should not seal the flue completely.

Common signs are cracked or crumbling flaunching at the top of the stack, loose or damaged pots, open or washed-out mortar joints, damp patches appearing on a chimney breast, and a stack that looks to be leaning after storm damage. Repairs we carry out include pot replacement, flaunching, repointing, rebuilding and weatherproofing checks.

Finch Stoves covers King's Lynn, Downham Market, Swaffham and the surrounding villages across West Norfolk. If you are nearby and not sure whether you are in range, call or message and we will tell you.

Call +44 7440 034420, message us on WhatsApp, email phil@finchstoves.com or send an enquiry through the contact page. Tell us the property, the appliance and roughly when suits you, and we will come back to you.