Advice
Short notes from the van — not a lecture. The habits that make a chimney safer and a sweep quicker.
Timing
September and October are the civilised months. Leave it until the first cold snap and every sweep in Cheshire is already booked. A pre-season visit also finds nests while the birds have finished, not while you are trying to light the first fire of winter.
Fuel
Wet wood, painted offcuts and the Christmas tree all lay down tar. Seasoned hardwood at under 20% moisture burns hotter, draws better and leaves a flue that is far easier — and safer — to live with. If the glass blacks up every evening, the fuel is usually the reason.
Safety
We open the flue. We cannot sit in your living room all winter. Fit a British Standard carbon monoxide alarm in the same room as the appliance, test it when the clocks change, and never ignore a headache that arrives with the fire.
Stoves
A worn door rope lets air in where it should not, which cools the fire and dirties the glass. It is a small, cheap repair. Mention it when you book and we can often refit it on the same visit.
