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History of chimney sweeps Traditionally, chimneys were cleaned by a master sweep, who took on apprentices (climbing boys). Climbing boys were usually orphans or from the workhouse and were trained to climb chimneys. This was a really dangerous and difficult job. As buildings became taller and more sophisticated, chimneys were grouped together.  This meant theRead more

Your chimney is put through its paces, and the top is exposed to all the elements all the time. A falling brick or chimney pot can do some serious damage. Do you know if your chimney is safe? As part of our inspection service, we use a drone to check the chimney from all angles.Read more

There’s nothing better than sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold night but having to add more logs constantly isn’t so relaxing. Here’s a few tips to get your burner working effectively and efficiently. Always use dry, seasoned wood. The log may appear dry but it actually takes on average between 6-24Read more

We see a lot of stoves suffering from the effects of being used to burn all sorts of materials including cardboard, wrapping paper, envelopes, food wrappers and much more! This can cause unnecessary build-up on the glass door, and things like paper burn very quickly with the flames going into the flue, igniting any potentialRead more

Start them young!  Joe and Ben, Martin’s sons, are pictured here in their new branded Dorset Chimney Sweep t-shirts.  Gone are the days of sending young children up chimneys to sweep them, but we’ll happily train them up when they are old enough if they want to follow in their Dad’s footsteps!  

Have you got an AGA or Rayburn stove? If yes, when did you last get your flue swept? They MUST be swept even if they run on oil or gas. This article from the Guild explains why. We are experienced and qualified in all sweeps including AGAs and Rayburns. Contact us today for more information. Read more

It’s Chimney Fire Safety Week! This campaign is supported by HETAS and various fire safety organisations, and aims to provide consumers with information and guidance on keeping fire safe.  We’ve put together these top tips to keep fire safe, but for more information visit HETAS.  Always use a professional and registered chimney sweep like us! https://www.hetas.co.uk/find-chimney-sweep/Read more

September is fast approaching, and with it we may get some chillier weather.   Make sure your chimney is ready to use as soon as you need it.  We are offering a standard sweep for £45 (Ts and Cs apply).   Why sweep your chimney?   There are lots of reasons, but the main one is for yourRead more

A sweep appointment today showed up some very interesting results, caused by slumbering a stove.  Slumbering is the term for when a fire is burning at a low rate to keep it going by restricting the oxygen flow, for example, overnight.  This can cause problems, as the smoke and chemicals released condense and can block the flue, andRead more

Summer is here finally! We’re looking forward to warmer weather, long days, BBQs, and just being outdoors.  But please always remember to be fire-aware!  Smouldering embers, a discarded cigarette, an unattended BBQ, a campfire, a broken piece of glass – all of these can lead to a devastating fire.  Cheshire Fire has some great infoRead more