THE SWEEPING PROCESS
Preparation
A working space is created to put all my equipment into. If you have a carpet a special floor runner goes down first, to protect your carpet and then a hearth sheet, made of the same material, for me to work off. I wear special overshoes, when walking throughout your property.
Sheeting up
Next, I erect a specially made soot sheet and it's put in position in a variety of ways; tape, props or magnets. This is to ensure no soot escapes. As you can see, my brush and first rod are already in position and vacuum inserted. The hazardous vacuum creates a negative pressure behind the soot sheet, with much of the soot taken sucked up during sweeping.
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Cleaning the flue
After connecting enough rods to reach the top of the chimney, the flue is thoroughly cleaned by use of a Power Rotary Sweep System. I then carefully remove the soot sheet to reveal the remnants of a years worth of burning. Then starts the clear up operation.
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Clearing up
Finally, I carefully remove all the soot/creosote from the grate. I give the whole hearth area a good clean and, after about an hours work, I leave it ready for your next cosy fire. A smoke test is carried out, to ensure you have a good draw and no leaks.
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Start to Finish
Certification
After I have packed all my equipment back into my van, I fill out your Sweep Safe chimney sweeping certificate. With the new clean air act strategy now under way, your household insurer may, in the near future, require you to produce a certificate to comply.
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I am now using the Sweep Buddy App, so your certificate can now be sent to you electronically. Very handy for forwarding onto household insurers, estate agents etc, as well as doing your bit by saving the planet!
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IMPORTANT NOTE
If you have a wood burning stove that needs sweeping, please ensure that your appliance has either been fitted with a lined flue. Or, an access hatch has to be fitted to the closure plate to allow access to the main flue area. Failure to have a correctly fitted stove could result in loss of efficiency and possibly allow dangerous carbon monoxide emissions into your house.
By law, I am unable to dismantle a flue pipes, closure plates or move stoves once they have been professionally fitted and commissioned.
I do not condone any stove that has not been fitted by a HETAS/OFTEC registered fitter, and reserve the right to not sweep any DIY fitted appliances.
If a gas fire needs disconnecting to gain access to the flue area, please ensure you use a qualified Corgi registered gas engineer before booking me.