Maintenance & Sweeping

Why Service & Maintain?

Solid fuel and wood appliances are well known for their high quality, robust construction and long-term durability. However, like any product in continuous use they do require attention by the user and a regular service by a competent engineer.

Please do not put your stove, your property, and lives at risk by not having your stove and chimney properly maintained.

How often should you sweep your chimney?

The flueways in the chimney and flue pipe must be cleaned regularly to remove all soot deposits to prevent blockage or chimney fires. If in continual use, this should be done at least twice a year, preferably before the heating season begins to check that the flue has not been blocked by bird’s nests for example and at the end of the heating season to prevent soot deposits from resting in the chimney during the dormant period.A twice-yearly sweep is recommended by most stove manufacturers, HETAS (regulatory body) and the Solid Fuel Association but many have a yearly service & maintenance visit which they find to be adequate.

Sweeping the chimney is one of the most important tasks associated with having a stove. Tar and soot deposits build-up in a chimney reducing draw, making the stove run poorly and, in the end, can make the stove smoke by blocking the flue. The build up of deposits in your chimney can also lead to a chimney fire and a build-up of Carbon Monoxide (see Terms & Further Information section for full details) neither of which you want!

For those who haven’t had their stove serviced for many years here’s a breakdown of what a service and maintenance visit contains:

Protection of surrounding carpeting and if necessary, furniture with dust sheets.
Thorough clean of the inside of the stove and all glass.
Check all parts of the stove for distortion, wear, breaks, missing parts.
Inspect bricks, bars, grates, riddler mechanism & ash pit.
The stripped out stove is then closely inspected and we discuss whether any parts need replacing. We carry an extensive range of stock parts within the vans so if a part needs replacing (for example, door rope) it can be fitted, on approval, there and then.
All flue pipes are thoroughly and carefully cleaned using the Viper system.
If required, we can check the stove fuel and storage and provide advice on how to get the best from your fuel and appliance.

Natural seasoning is air drying the wood and can take up to two years depending on the tree species, when it was felled, and the drying conditions. Kiln dried wood is wood that has had an accelerated seasoning by being force dried in a kiln to the required moisture content. Also don’t burn varnish or plastic-coated wood, wood treated with preservatives or household waste as these can generate emissions that damage the environment and can be harmful to health.

Tip

If smoke fills the room when you try to light a fire, the chimney may be cold. This causes a down draft that pushes the smoke down the chimney instead of up. To warm the chimney and reverse the flow of air, stuff newspaper into the fire and light it. Once the draft is being drawn to the outside, you should be able to get your fire going. However, if you have this problem repeatedly, give us a ring.

Parts Service

We only use approved manufactured parts in all our stove servicing and maintenance which are fully guaranteed items.

The Law.

Building Control

Note: If you use a Registered Installer, you do not need to seek Building Control Approval. This saves time and money.

From 1st April 2002, people wishing to install a new, or replace an existing, solid fuel or wood burning appliance in their homes have been required to either obtain a Building Notice from the Local Authority, which can cost up to £300, or have the work carried out through a government approved HETAS Competent Persons Scheme (CPS). The registered CPS choice is the cheaper option.

The CPS provides a safeguard for customers, ensuring that the work complies with Building Regulations, is safe and fit for purpose. HETAS Registered installers, such as us, use the distinctive three-tick logo, as can manufacturers of appliances who have had their stoves and boilers approved through the HETAS product approval scheme.

As a HETAS Registered Installer we will issue you with a signed copy of a HETAS Certificate of Compliance confirming that the complete installation complies with Building Regulations. Remember: It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that you have a valid Certificate of Compliance and only Registered Installers can give you this certificate.

The Law relating to: Landlords/Tenants

The HSE view is that the maintenance of solid fuel & wood appliances forms part of the landlord’s undertaking, that the sweeping of flues cannot be delegated to tenants, and that this requirement of maintenance can be enforced under Section 3(1) of the Act. We therefore recommend that appliances in tenants properties receive at least an annual service (including sweep).