Chimney sweeping: 12 questions to ask yourself before you light your first fire!

1. What does chimney sweeping involve?

Chimney sweeping consists of cleaning the inside wall of the chimney flue to remove soot and deposits and to allow the smoke to escape properly.

2. What are the risks of not having your chimney swept?

An obstructed chimney flue poses two major risks:

• Fire in the chimney flue: the accumulation of soot in the flue or the presence of a bird's nest, for example, can cause a fire to start. Flames then spurt out of the flue, accompanied by thick smoke.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning: if the smoke does not escape because the chimney isn’t "drawing” smoke properly, then it will remain in your home. Remember that carbon monoxide causes asphyxiation of the blood cells, signs of which can be headaches or nausea. At higher doses you risk losing consciousness, falling into a coma or even losing your life.

3. My chimney is backing up – What to do?

If your chimney is drafting poorly, you notice a smoke backflow or suspicious noises - better safe than sorry: extinguish the fire immediately and have a chimney sweep come to perform a camera inspection.

The problem may be due to obstructions such as bird or insect nests mentioned above, as well as the chimney itself. For example, the company Gentleman Ramoneur can tell the story of a case where, after work on an upstairs room in a house, a brick had come loose from the inner side of the duct. It blocked the evacuation of the smoke and it had perforated the duct, which allowed soot and smoke to pass into the adjoining wall...

To ascertain the damage, Gentleman Ramoneur had to use a camera attached to the end of the flexible rods of its rotary chimney sweeping tool that transmits the image directly onto a monitor. Afterwards, this video could be used to create the insurance file against the contractor at fault.

4. Fireplace, insert, wood stove, does everything have to be swept?

Yes, even gas or oil boiler flues.

5. Is chimney sweeping compulsory in Luxembourg? And at what frequency?

It is your responsibility to regularly maintain your chimney flue pipes, as failure to do so puts you at serious risk.

Whether or not you are obliged to get your chimney cleaned is determined by the municipality in which you live. For example, the municipality of Luxembourg City obliges its citizens to sweep their fireplaces and boilers fuelled by solid fuels at least once a year. For other flues (e.g. gas boilers), an inspection has to be carried out every 3 years.

In the case of constant use of solid fuel chimneys throughout the winter, professionals (such as Cottyn Kieffer) recommend to carry out maintenance twice a year.

6. Is it up to the owner or tenant to pay for the chimney to be swept?

Normally the owner is responsible for the chimney sweeping, but check your lease contract, as it may say the opposite.

7. How much will it cost to sweep a chimney?

Count between € 90 and € 150.

8. Top or bottom sweeping?

That depends on your installation. If it is possible to correctly access the flue from your home without climbing onto the roof, this is the preferred option. The chimney sweep you call in will decide on the spot how best to proceed.

The advantage of using a rotating chimney sweeping tool by the inside is that the flexible rods that are attached one by one to the rotary engine, make it possible to pass through very narrow spaces or in right angled chimney pipe bends, which is not the case when using the classical chimney sweeping method via the roof. And the variety of the used brushes allows an efficient sweeping even in the corners of right-angled flues and without any wear and tear of the material (stone, bricks, aluminum, etc.).

9. When to plan the chimney sweeping?

Whenever you want! As soon as your chimney is no longer in use. But remember that, with the onset of winter, chimney sweeps are often in high demand with waiting periods of up to 5 or 6 weeks. So in order to be able to enjoy your chimney as soon as the first cold spells arrive, it is best to plan to carry out the sweeping in the spring.

10. Is there anything we can avoid doing to limit the clogging up of the flues?

• Do not burn waste in your chimney
• Avoid damp wood which produces more soot (your wood must be dry for 2 years before use).
• Opt for hardwood species such as: oak, hornbeam, maple, ash, elm, birch, beech, walnut, olive. Avoid using softwoods.

Please note that a good number of fires take place around Christmas. The fireplace has been out of action for a long time. Gift wrap or the remains of the fir tree (whose resin will stick to the walls) are inserted and the uncleaned flue ignites... But accidents also happen in the summer and Gentleman Ramoneur can tell numerous stories of people starting a chimney fire by attempting to burn pizza boxes after a party with friends. So, follow one main rule: wood, dry wood, and nothing else but firewood. And do put those pizza boxes in the recycling container :-)

11. What are the signs that your flue is clogged?

Smoke inside the house and stinging eyes are tell-tale signs Smoke detectors, which are now compulsory in the Grand Duchy are a good way of alerting you. Please note, however, that smoke is often the result of a poorly ventilated house. Because if the air doesn't enter, there’s no way for it to escape...

12. And where does insurance come into all this?

AXA's OptiHome home insurance policy does not require any frequency or proof of sweeping. However, for your safety and that of your family, it is recommended that you prevent any loss by sweeping your smoke extraction flues at least once a year. This frequency can be increased if the heating system is used intensively. Do not hesitate to ask the chimney sweeping professionals for more information.

For your complete peace of mind, fire cover is included in the basic, no-excess cover in OptiHome.

So, ready to spend a cosy winter by the fire? Thank you to Antony Martin, manager of Emil Antony chimney sweeping company in Mertert for his advice.