 |
| Examples of problems with chimneys in use for live solid fuel, and some gas, appliances | ||
| Cobwebs | Cowls and Terminations | Bird Nests |
| Broken Pots | Rotten Chimney Liners | Plant Life |
These are a selection of issues you may
have with your chimney. For correct advice
we would be happy to come out and
inspect your chimney to ensure
peace of mind.
Cobwebs
Some chimneys are prone to collecting cobwebs.
It is most worrying in the case of gas fires. This is
because it could stop the fumes from going up the
chimney as normal and cause carbon monoxide
to get built up in the room.
Carbon monoxide is a
dangerous and poisonous gas and kills.
Pots
Often a chimney pot may be broken or damaged,
but may not be noticable from the street level without
close inspection. Incorrect chimney
terminations, as
can be seen in the image to the right, are also a
major concern.
Incorrect Cowls
Very often we find that unsuitable
cowls have been
installed
on a chimney. Another case may be, an
appliance has changed and what was correct for
the old appliance is now incorrect, and possibly
dangerous. If a new appliance has been commisioned,
it is very important for the sweep to
inspect the
chimney and ideally sweep it and issue a full
safety certificate. This may be for insurance reasons
as well as your own peace of mind.
Birds Nesting
Birds like to build nests in chimneys. This is not only a
carbon monoxide problem, it is also a major fire risk.
Plant Life
Occassionally seeds dropped into the chimney by
birds will take seed and begin to grow. This results in
breakdown of chimney structure and block the flue.
Rotten Chimney Liner
Some chimneys have stainless steel liners. These
will break down with age and need to be replaced.
This happens within 12 to 15 years, depending on
how often the appliance is used, and provided the
right appliance is fitted to the correct liner.