Mr Sweep
Chimney Sweep Services
Call 07971 280906
Chimney Sweep Services
Mr Sweep provides a professional, friendly, reliable and clean chimney sweep service in Lymington, The New Forest and Surrounding Areas. Please see below for more details on my chimney sweep services.
The Cleaning
The cleaning starts with seeing what type of fire, stove, wood burner or any other appliance you may have. If it has a chimney, and I can gain access to it; I can clean it! I’ll select the right brush, big enough to get into the corners if its a square chimney or the same size as the flue if its round. It may be I’ll use traditional method or a viper, or power sweeping.
The aim is to get the chimney cleaned safely and with no mess. Once cleaned I carry out smoke test to make sure the fire/appliance is drawing properly. If it’s a stove wood burner or has any type of door enclosing the fire I check the door seals properly that there is no smoke leaks.
Finally I fill out a certificate saying all is well or pointing out any defects you may have and how we can work to resolve them.
Carbon Monoxide
Also known as the silent killer. A big misconception is that only gas fires produce Carbon Monoxide. WRONG !
Any fuel that burns creates Carbon Monoxide. Too much Carbon Monoxide in the blood will kill. Less well known is that is the fact that low levels of the gas endanger health. Such as brain damage and organ damage. When fuel is burnt in the fire, wood burner etc the fumes including Carbon Monoxide are taken safely away by the chimney. So it follows that if the chimney is maintained properly then there is no danger. Problems may happen if something blocks the chimney or the fire can’t draw properly. Have the chimney cleaned at least once a year for wood or twice a year for coal or to the manufacturers recommendations.
Having an alarm will protect you. The average cost of one is £15.00, not a lot considering what it can save you from. Most of the big supermarkets, DIYs stores, they all sell them.
Storing Your Fuel
Storing your fuel in a dry place, whether it’s logs or coal, is of the upmost importance! Don’t cover wood up with plastic sheeting this will make it sweat and get wetter. If possible get yourself a log store. Its like a mini shed but it allows the air to pass through and dry the wood.
A good tip is to buy your logs in the Spring & early Summer time, for burning in the coming Winter.
Creosote
Creosote build up is caused by unburned fuel. Burning wet wood or allowing the fire to slumber (keeping it in) over night. Creosote comes in different forms, all bad. It’s foul smelling and eats away liners and stove parts and brickwork. Even more serious is the risk of chimney fire. Above is a picture of Type 2 creosote, its normally flakey or cake-like and is prone to catch fire. This can usually be removed by sweeping.
In contrast glazed creosote (picture below) is very difficult to remove and normally has to be treated with chemicals. If you have the early signs of creosote call me! It can usually be treated more easily if caught early on
Creosote Build Up
The diagram above shows exactly how your woodburner should be working – you can see the airflow around the box & up in to the flue. Ensuring you have an efficient fire box & hot flue is essential in keeping the flue clean.
Woodburner Air Flow
You can also follow these 2 easy steps to further minimise reducing the build up of creosote:
Don’t burn wet wood – if you can hear the logs sizzling then the wood is wet. If your wood has sitting in the rain, unprotected, then don’t bother using it! Clearly, water can’t burn so the logs will smoulder, making lots of smoke and not a lot of heat. As this smoke goes up the chimney it cools and creates your creosote. This will coat everything it comes into contact with and increasing the risk of a chimney fire.
unless your wood burner is designed to burn slowly over night don’t let it! What I mean is don’t load the stove up with fuel and shut the air vents; this will make lots of creosote.
Curing Creosote
Most of the time creosote can be removed by brushing. However, the glazed type is very difficult to remove and normally has to be treated with chemicals. I use “Cre-Away Pro”, a powder based creosote modifier. First I heat the chimney, then shoot the powder up the chimney using compressed air this make sure the whole chimney gets coated.
Removing Glazed Creosote
You then use the fire as normal & the heat from the fire activates the powder – breaking the glazed creosote down into a powder form. The powder also contains an inhibitor which prevents chimney fires.
A week to ten days later I’ll return & sweep the chimney again, with a further dose of Cre-Away put up the chimney the treatment is then complete. As long as you have your chimney/liner cleaned regularly and follow the advice to prevent creosote build up it will be ok!
Do's & Dont's
Do
- Bring the stove to operating temperature quickly and try to keep it there
- Use dry wood – 20% moisture or less
- Use manufacturer’s recommended fuels
- Sweep your chimney regularly. A professional sweep can give lots of useful extra advice.
- Store and stack your logs so they are well ventilated
- Use a thermometer, moisture meter and stove fan to help improve efficiency, save money and reduce pollution
- If you have an older or inefficient stove or one that’s too powerful, consider replacing it with a modern efficient model. You’ll instantly begin to save money and burn cleaner
- Always use firelighters or even better natural firelighters
Don't
- Don’t close off the air to “slumber” the fuel for long periods or overnight
- Don’t use large logs – 4 to 6 inch / 100 to 150mm diameter is best
- Don’t burn wood or coal on open fires in Smoke Control Areas
- Unless you have just lit or just refuelled the fire, don’t allow smoke to come from the top of the chimney by closing the air vents down
- Don’t buy a stove which is too big (too powerful) for the room. You’ll get too hot and be likely to shut the air controls too much. The burning temperature will drop, fuel is wasted and pollution increased. Always use the services of a Heta's registered installer. (web address)
- Don’t be tempted to fit or alter any part of a solid fuel system yourself – it’s far too easy to get something wrong!
- Don’t mix smokeless fuel and wood, you won’t get the best from either fuel
- Don’t burn plastic waste or treated waste wood or paper. It stinks and it’s toxic