Chimney safety
How to keep your chimney clean and safe to help prevent fires and other damage.
Most chimney fires are preventable. Keeping your chimney clean can help prevent fires and structural damage to your property.
Chimney safety advice
Essex Fire and Rescue Servicee has advice for keeping your chimney safe:
- have your chimney swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood
- do not stack fires too high and remember to let them burn down well before you go to bed
- use a fire or spark guard
- do not place objects on or over the mantelpiece which may cause you to lean over the fire to reach them
- inspect your chimney regularly - particularly in the roof space - to ensure that it is sound and that sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks
- avoid burning soft woods as resin and soot builds up more quickly
- buy suitable fuels. Using the wrong type of fuel on a liner will cause corrosion and reduce the life of the liner
Get an inspection
Regular inspections and cleaning of your chimney or flue will prevent the build-up of soot and clear any obstructions such as bird nests, leaves and debris.
You can search for an approved chimney sweep on the HETAS site.
Wood burning education
We all want to stay warm this winter, and you may be tempted to burn wood in the belief that it could help ease pressures on household finances or be more environmentally friendly. But there is an uncomfortable truth we all need to know about burning wood.