A chimney that has not been used since spring is not quite the chimney you left. Over a summer it collects nests, debris, and whatever the weather has brought down it, and the deposits left from last winter are still there.
Lighting the first fire of the year is a poor way to find that out.
Why it matters more than people think
Two reasons, and they are both serious. The first is fire: soot and tar deposits inside a flue are fuel, and a chimney fire is exactly what it sounds like. The second is what a partially blocked flue does to the gases that are supposed to be leaving your house — if they cannot get out, they come back in.
Neither of these announces itself politely. Both are avoided by the same routine job.
What else it is worth doing
A sweep is a good moment to have the flue looked at properly. Cracks, damaged liners and loose pointing are much easier to deal with in September than in the middle of the winter, when the fire is the only thing keeping the room warm.
It is also worth checking that the chimney cap or cowl is intact. A missing one is how the nests and the rain get in, which is how you end up needing a sweep more often than you should.
Insurance and paperwork
Many home insurance policies expect chimneys in regular use to be swept, and can ask for evidence after a fire. Keeping the certificate somewhere sensible costs nothing and is worth a great deal on the one day you need it.
Booking it
Chimney sweeping is quote-based rather than a fixed online price, because access and condition vary a lot from house to house. Read what the job involves, or ask us for a free quote and we will give you a straight price.