You ask,
we answer.

Once a year as standard. Stoves used heavily for wood (especially unseasoned wood) may need twice-yearly sweeping. Gas fires can usually go longer between sweeps. We'll recommend an interval based on your appliance, fuel, and use — and most insurers require annual sweeping as a condition of cover. The best time to book is May–August, after the burn season finishes — your flue is clean for the next winter and we run a 20% off summer rate.

Summer — May through August. Three reasons. First, it's right after the burn season, so we're removing soot and tar before it sits damp in the flue all year. Second, you skip the September–October rush when every sweep in the North East is booked solid; you get the appointment slot you actually want. Third, we run a 20% off summer rate to spread out demand. Same sweep, same certificate, same HETAS-certified service — just 20% less, no waiting, and your chimney is ready before the cold even arrives. Booking a sweep in October when your fire won't draw properly is the most expensive way to do it.

Yes — 20% off all chimney sweeps booked May to August. It applies to open fires, wood-burners, multi-fuel stoves and inset cassettes. The discount is automatic when you book online — the summer rate shows in the booking flow during those months. CCTV surveys and stove services qualify too when booked alongside a sweep. The only thing it doesn't apply to is emergency or same-day call-outs.

Better, in most cases. A sweep in May–August removes the soot and creosote from the season you've just finished — left in place over a damp North East summer, that residue absorbs moisture, hardens, and becomes more difficult to remove. A summer sweep gives the flue six clean months before the next burn season. Your certificate is valid for 12 months either way, so you're insured the whole year. The "must sweep before winter" idea is a myth that mostly benefits sweeps who want to charge winter rates — annual maintenance works to any 12-month cycle, and a clean dry flue is always better than a sooty damp one.

Most domestic sweeps take 45 to 60 minutes from arriving to issuing your certificate. CCTV inspections add another 20 to 30 minutes. Stove services typically run 90 minutes to two hours depending on what we find.

Almost never. We use sealed HEPA-filtered vacuums and run dust sheets across the hearth and surrounding floor. Modern rotary sweeping is dramatically tidier than the old chain-and-brush method. The worst of it stays inside the equipment, not your living room.

Yes — gas appliances still need their flues kept clear of obstructions and debris. We sweep gas-fire chimneys to manufacturer schedule. Note we cannot service or commission the gas appliance itself; that requires a Gas Safe engineer.

Quite common for properties that have been unused or recently inherited. We'd recommend a CCTV inspection first, before sweeping, so we know what we're dealing with — bird nests, debris, or structural issues. Book a survey and we'll quote sensibly from there.

Yes. Our certificates are HETAS-recognised and accepted by every major UK home insurer. Most insurers ask for one annually as a condition of cover for solid-fuel appliances. We email a digital copy the same day; let us know if you want it on paper too.

A standard chimney sweep is £65–£85 depending on appliance and location. CCTV inspections start at £95. Stove services start at £120 and depend on parts required. We always quote upfront and never start work before you've approved the price.

Almost certainly. We sweep across Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Northumberland, and Tees Valley — see the Areas page for a full list, or just send your postcode by WhatsApp and we'll confirm within minutes.

Where we can, yes. Genuine emergencies (smoke in the room, suspected blockage) go to the front of the queue. Same-day appointments depend on what's already booked but it's worth asking — WhatsApp is fastest.

Card, bank transfer, or cash — whatever's easiest. We invoice on the day with a 7-day payment window. Receipts and certificates emailed automatically.