FAQs

Will the Chimney Sweep leave a mess?

No mess at all! We use walking mats that cover your floor from front door through to where the fire is located, we also sheet up in front of the fire. We use a sponge blocking system too for maximum cleanliness.  Please see our testimonials to how clean we really are!

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is known as ‘The Silent Killer’. It is odourless and omitted from appliances and open fires. At Devon Chimney Sweeps, we always ask the question to our customers as to whether they own a carbon monoxide alarm. If not, we can source one for you.

I have a stainless steel liner as a flue, does it need to be swept?

Even more so these liners need to swept regularly, whether it’s a flexible or twin walled external liner, you have a very limited flue width and to allow it to go unswept will cause stubborn deposits to build restricting the flue draw making your appliance far less efficient. Also, any build up of soot or tar becomes a fire risk and offers the potential for a chimney fire.

Why do I need my chimney swept?

Having your chimney swept annually is a condition of most Building Insurance companies, they will expect you the home owner/tenant to receive a ‘Certification Of Sweep’ after the chimney sweep has taken place. Alongside the legal obligation, it is important for safety to keep your chimney and/or flues clear of soot/tar build up, as without regular sweeping the risk of a chimney fire starting increases.

Another reason is through having your chimney swept and appliance serviced, your keeping everything running efficiently, the stove or fire will draw effectively and give you a better heat source. Throughout the sweeping process, we at Devon Chimney Sweeps check all appliances to ensure all parts are free and working correctly, this is important in ensuring longevity of your appliances.

Why can’t I fit my own multi fuel stove or wood burner?

When a solid fuel appliance is changed or fitted, you are breaking building regulations on the property. To fit, replace or change a solid fuel appliance, regulations requires the works to be carried out by a member of the ‘Competent Person Scheme’, this covers HETAS, the body that represent quality within the solid fuel sector. Anyone fitting a solid fuel appliance must be registered with HETAS to do so, if they are not and an appliance is fitted, and in the worst case scenario it’s not compliant and causes a house fire or even worse a death, then your house insurance is likely to NOT cover this.

I always say to customers would you fit your gas boiler, and immediately people get defensive and say they would use a ‘Gas Safe’ installer, unfortunately solid fuel is sometimes seen as less important, but with 500 degrees of heat running through your property, you would want to know it’s safe and compliant wouldn’t you?

Another problem we come across is when people are trying to sell their properties with a DIY installation. The surveyors will pick up on and ask for the installation paperwork for the appliance; unfortunately if it’s not been fitted by a HETAS installer or company they the house sale can fall through as we have sadly seen time and time again. A HETAS installer CANNOT sign off an installation that is not theirs.

Still have questions?

Give us a call on 01626 780011.

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