Services

As expert chimney sweeps, we pride ourselves on our professionalism honesty and safety. Servicing the private and commercial sectors in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and all villages in between.

We provide a wide range of services using the latest sweeping techniques to all customers in the residential and commercial sectors. Chacombe Chimney Services are registered members of the (ICS) Institute of Chimney Sweeps and HETAS certified. We guarantee our work is of the highest standard and compliant with the latest document J building standards.

We offer, traditional sweeping, power sweeping, CCTV inspections and full survey`s, smoke pressure / integrity testing, sweeping certifications, CO detectors (supplied and installed), multi fuel or wood burning stove and liner Installations, fireplace repairs or refurbishments, chimney cowls (supplied and fitted), chimney and roof repairs, and the promotion of fire safety within the household.

Chimney Sweeping

Regularly having your chimney swept is essential to keeping it safe and efficient. Preventing the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide emissions.

Depending on fuel type, chimney size and roofing material will determine how many times per year your chimney needs to be swept.

How often should your chimney be cleaned?

Smokeless coals – At least once a year
Wood – Twice a season when in use
Bitumous coal – Twice a year
Oil – once a year
Gas – once a year
Biomass Boilers — Every 6 Months

Chimney Sweeping Certificate

After every sweep & smoke draw test a chimney sweeping certificate is issued showing the health of the chimney or any concerns that may require addressing to make it safe to re-use & also ensure the appliance & flue are up to current building regulations.

An in date Chimney Sweeping Certificate is required to validate your house insurance encase of a chimney fire

Power Sweeping Service

When Traditional sweeping just isn’t enough.

To really clean the chimney a powered sweep is essential. Particularly if the fire is heavily used or the opposite, if the fire has not been lit for some time.
If the fire hasn’t been used in a while it is essential that the chimney is checked to ensure there is no damage or blockage that could cause the smoke to return to within the room, which is very dangerous.

Once we’ve inspected the chimney / flue, a power sweep will ensure the chimney is in a safe clean re-useable condition.

The power sweep is the most effective way of cleaning heavy built up tar / creosote deposits from with in the chimney.

Bird guards and cowls

Bird guards and cowls can prevent birds and squirrels from getting in to your chimney and making a nest. Even worse they can get in to the living space and cause costly damage and mess.

There are different types of cowls. A basic cowl can prevent birds and rain and the better ones reduce downdraft and increase the draw of the chimney to reduce smoke blowing back in to the room. Fitting the correct type of cage or cowl is important as problems may occur as a result. These can be supplied & fitted

Stove Installation

All Stove & Liner installations are done to a highest standard and HETAS specifications.

From classic, modern & contemporary stoves, situated within chimney recess, free standing & with a twin wall chimney system if you do not have a chimney.

Common Installation Questions:

Q: Do I need planning permission?

A: No, not normally. The fitting of a stove and/or flue does not normally require planning permission. However any work carried out will require sign off from your local Building Control Office. We are HETAS certified meaning all of our work is to the highest standard Document J Building Regulations.

Q: Do I need to line an existing chimney?

A: If there is a chimney in place and your house was built after 1964 there may be a concrete or clay liner in place already (we can check for you). Older houses which have an exposed inner brick or stone chimney may need a liner as this will improve the overall efficiency and safety of the fire.

Q: Do I need a Hearth?

A: Yes. The heat from fire/stove can be in excess of 100°C. This will cause surrounding materials (carpet, wood or plastic) to overheat and catch fire (a minimum distance to combustible materials is required) A hearth is essential to the safety of having a fire.

Q: Flue Sizes?

A: A majority of solid fuel appliances in the UK have either a 5” (125mm) or 6” (150mm) flue outlet. Open fires which are lined require a minimum 8” (200mm) liner.

Q: How high will the flue be?

A: When installing a new twin-wall flue system, if the flue exits the roof within 600mm (horizontally) from the ridge (high point) of the roof then the flue must extend a minimum of 600mm above the ridge. If the flue exits the roof further down then it must extend high enough to achieve 2.3m of horizontal clearance. That height will be determined by the pitch (angle) of your roof.

Q: Should the room be ventilated?

A: If the stove is rated less than 5kW or less then typically no you won’t need extra ventilation. If you have over a 5kW rated stove then yes it is advised that you ventilate the room.

Q: Carbon Monoxide?

A: Where a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance is installed in a dwelling, a Carbon Monoxide alarm should be provided in the room where the appliance is located.

i. on the ceiling at least 300mm from any wall, or if it is located on a wall, as high up as possible (above any doors and windows) but not within 150mm of the ceiling; and

ii. between 1m and 3m horizontally from the appliance. By Law.

Repairs and refurbishment

Marble, slate, granite fire surround & hearth refurbishments, replacements & upgrades these works are carried out sympathetically with great care & detail to retain original features & look, chimney stack / pot repairs & replacements, Clay liner removal & chimney reaming for liner Installations.

CCTV Inspection

Occasionally a problem with a chimney occurs which can’t always easily be seen. The inspection service involves pushing a camera in to the flue which is similar to sweeping the chimney. The chimney void then can be seen on a video monitor. Any obstructions or issues found during chimney cleaning can be clearly identified. This can also be useful for assessing damage for remedial work, insurance and repair purposes & full survey reports.

Smoke Testing

Smoke Sound Testing (pressure test)

This is a test that will fully ascertain the health of your flue or liner and establish if it is sound (sealed Unit) and fit for use. It is important to reveal any cracks and leaks that may result in harmful gases and carbon monoxide leaking in to the house. The chimney should have adequate draught to ensure the safe removal of smoke. This is a thorough procedure which requires access to all rooms & loft space that the flue passes through.

Smoke Draw test

After every sweep a smoke draw test is required to ensure smoke is evacuating the appliance up the flue adequately & any pipe work is not leaking causing any dangerous gases re-entering the home, a smoke visual inspection is also checked on the chimney to ensure smoke exits the chimney pot & not the chimney stack or roof space.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my chimney?

There are specific recommendations for minimum intervals between cleaning chimneys. These will vary depending on the amount of use and the type of fuel used, but generally they are:

Smokeless Fuels – At least once a year
Coal – At least twice a year
Wood – Quarterly during use
Oil – Once a year
Gas – Once a year

How can I recognise problems with my chimney?

Symptom	Possible Cause
Fireplace with large opening smokes all the time	Opening too large for flue size. Incorrect terminal. Partially blocked flue. Flue too large.
Fireplace with standard (small) fire opening smokes all the time	Flue to large. Flue to small. Badly formed throat. Incorrect terminal. Partially blocked flue.
Fire only smokes with doors and windows closed	Lack of room ventilation
Fire smokes continuously in certain wind directions	Chimney in pressure zone. Seek advice from a chimney sweep.
Fire puffs occasionally in certain wind directions	Chimney in downdraught situation. Anti down draught cowl required.
Fire (woodstove) worked well for a time, smoking gradually got worse.	Flue partially blocked with soot/tar build up. Sweep required.
Fire suddenly started smoking (after the chimney was swept)	Flue partially blocked by mortar/mid-feather brick collapse.
Smoking Chimneys (Down Draught and Pressure Zone) problems	Downdraught In this position, the wind is blowing over a tall tree, or it could be a hill, or say, a block of flats, it descends onto the chimney top, causing smoke or fumes to puff into the room from time to time. For downdraught problems, certain types of chimney cowls and pots can help reduce the problem. Pressure Zone In this situation the chimney is sited in the line of the prevailing wind, with the house roof, or it could be a tall building, behind the chimney terminal. This can cause puffing or even a continuous smoke spillage when the wind is blowing. Pressure zone problems can be more difficult to solve. The simplest way would be to raise the chimney until it is above the pressure zone (though not always practical) This can be done with a tall chimney pot. (Chimney pots are made up to (5′) tall). On the other hand, if the chimney is much too low, you could raise the stack by 2 to 3 feet and add a tall pot. You could try opening a small window on the windward side of the house, if this helps then fit a permanent air vent. Doing this helps to equalize the pressure at the top and bottom of the chimney. If all else fails, then an electric chimney fan may be the only solution.

What advice do you have for fire safety?

Always seek expert advice before reactivating or using an open fire. Visit our fire safety guidelines for a brief overview and tips for enjoying your open fire.

What is the best way to light my fire?

Before lighting your first roaring fire of the year you may need to pre-warm the chimney so that it will work properly. Follow this quick guide on making a fire.