If you have an open fire, oil, gas, coal, or wood-burning fireplace, it’s recommended to have your chimney swept on a regular basis.
A build-up of soot, creosote, and potential blockages risks dangerous fume emissions in your home and even worse, a chimney fire.
Therefore finding an experienced, reliable chimney sweep in your area is a key piece of household maintenance not to be avoided.
How to find an experienced chimney sweep near you
At Checkatrade, we’re committed to connecting homeowners with high-quality, reliable tradespeople. There are two simple ways to do this using our directory:
Option 1: Complete our ‘request a quote’ form
Short on time? Let us do the searching for you. Simply fill in our quick ‘request a quote’ form to receive quotes directly to your inbox.
- Add your details to the form
- Include any specific details regarding the work
- We’ll search our leading directory for you
- A selection of top-rated chimney sweeps near you will be in touch to discuss your requirements
Option 2: Browse our online trade directory
If you prefer to search our directory of approved tradespeople yourself, simply type your postcode in the box below to see who comes highly rated.
Find and book your trade with us and we'll guarantee their work up to £1,000*.
Guaranteed for 12 months. Eligibility and T&Cs apply
What does a chimney sweep do?
Perhaps you’re approaching your first winter in a property with a chimney and aren’t quite sure how this all works. Here’s what you can expect from a chimney sweep service:
- A chimney sweep will prepare the area ahead of starting the job – putting protective sheets around the work space
- They will then insert handheld brushes up through the chimney or flue to remove blockages and creosote
- A single chimney, that was swept within the last 12 months, should take around one hour to clean
- If everything is deemed safe after your chimney has been swept, your chimney sweep should give you an insurance-accepted certificate
- If you suspect a blockage in your chimney at any time, a chimney sweep can conduct an internal chimney CCTV survey
Questions to ask a chimney sweep before you hire
Once you’ve found a good, reliable chimney sweep near you, it’ll hopefully become a long-term relationship. Here are some key questions to help find a reputable chimney specialist in your area.
How often should I get my chimney swept?
Asking this question will give you a good gauge of a chimney sweep’s experience and professionalism.
NACS (the National Association of Chimney Sweeps) recommends:
- At least once per year for fires burning smokeless fuel
- Quarterly (when in use) for fires that burn wood or bituminous coal
- Once every year for gas and oil-burning appliance chimneys
Are you a member of any trade associations?
It’s hard to physically see the result of a chimney sweep’s work, so you need to be sure that you’re hiring a certified professional.
For chimney sweeps in the UK, there are two main trade bodies that assess and certify a chimney sweep’s capabilities:
- The National Association of Chimney Sweeps
All NACS members undertake a rigorous training course, hold valid insurance for chimney sweeping, adhere to the NACS code of conduct, and have the correct equipment for the job.
You can find a certified chimney sweep on the NACS website.
The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps offers the industry’s highest standards in training and assessment.
Here’s how to find a Guild chimney sweep.
Can you provide customer reviews or testimonials?
With a quick online search, it’s easy to find out what previous customers have to say about a tradesperson you’re thinking of hiring.
If using a Checkatrade member, you’ll find this on their business profile within our directory.
How much do you charge?
Most chimney sweeps will charge a fixed rate for the job, but this will vary depending on where you are in the UK.
The average cost of having your chimney cleaned is around £65.
If you have multiple chimneys, are based in London, or have an abnormal blockage (e.g. a bird’s nest) that needs to be cleared, expect to pay a little more. If your chimney is particularly hard to access, this could also affect the price you are charged.
For more information about the cost of a chimney sweep service, check out our cost guide.
Do you have insurance?
A chimney sweep service is often thought of as a messy job, but if you hire an experienced professional, your home should be just as clean after the job as it was before.
Having said that, should something go wrong, you’ll want to know that your chimney sweep is fully insured to be able to put things right.
This is why all Checkatrade members must have up-to-date public liability insurance to be listed in our directory.
Do you offer an insurance-accepted certificate?
Once your chimney has been swept and everything is deemed to be ok, your chimney sweep should issue you with an insurance-accepted certificate. This will offer you protection should you ever need to make a claim on your home insurance.
It’s also reassuring to know that when you contact a trade through Checkatrade, our guarantee could cover you for up to 12 months. You can claim up to £1,000. Exclusions and T&Cs apply.
How do I find an experienced chimney sweep near me?
In summary, there are three easy ways to find a professional chimney sweep near you:
A professional directory
Search our leading directory of approved tradespeople, where you can view a chimney sweep’s credentials, experience, and customer reviews all in one place.
To become a Checkatrade member, our tradespeople have to pass up to 12 rigorous checks, so you know they’re the real deal.
You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our quality checks on Checkatrade.
Check online reviews
Take the time to do a quick online search to see what previous customers say about your chimney sweep.
At Checkatrade, all our member reviews are checked and verified by us, providing you with recommendations you can rely on.
Ask for recommendations
Of course, local friends and family may be able to recommend a chimney sweep they’ve previously hired. Don’t forget to cross-check these on Checkatrade!
For more advice and tips, take a look at our guide to hiring a chimney specialist.
Ready to find a local chimney sweep near you? Simply enter your postcode into the search box below.