Tag Archives: safety

  • 04
    Mar 26
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End-of-Winter Chimney Checks for Blandford Homeowners

Category:Safety Tags : 

As the colder months start to fade (finally!), it’s tempting to forget all about your fireplace until next autumn. But spring is actually one of the best times to think about booking a chimney sweep Blandford homeowners can rely on.

A winter’s worth of soot is sitting in your chimney

After a long winter of open fires or wood-burning stove use, your chimney will have worked hard. Soot, ash, and creosote naturally build up inside the flue, especially if you’ve been burning wood regularly. Left sitting over the warmer months, that build-up can cause unpleasant odours, attract moisture, and even lead to internal damage.

An end-of-winter sweep gives you a clean slate, meaning you’re ready to go come October.

For many properties in and around Blandford – particularly cottages and older homes – chimneys can also be more vulnerable to small cracks, loose brickwork, or worn mortar. Catching these issues early means they can be dealt with before heavy rain or nesting season makes things worse.

The birds are starting to nest

Spring is also prime time for birds looking for somewhere to nest. An unused chimney is the perfect summer home for many birds. A professional chimney sweep Blandford will not only clear soot and debris but also check for blockages or early signs of nesting.

Even if you’ve only used your fire occasionally this winter, it’s still worth having it checked. A clean chimney improves airflow, helps prevent lingering smoky smells during warmer weather, and reduces the risk of chimney fires when you next light it.

Benefits of off-season booking

Spring and early summer are often quieter times for chimney professionals, so you won’t be added to a length waiting list. Booking outside the autumn rush means you can choose a time that suits you, without the last-minute scramble before the first cold evening.

Think of it as part of your spring-cleaning routine, like deep cleaning floors or clearing out the airing cupboard. A simple end-of-winter sweep keeps your chimney safe, efficient and ready for when you need it again.

If it’s been a while since your last chimney sweep Blandford, now’s a great time to tick it off the list. Get in touch today!

  • 05
    Feb 26
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How often should you book a chimney sweep in Wimborne?

Category:Chimneys Tags : 

If you have a chimney at home, it’s likely that you use it all winter then forget about it until the cold weather rolls around. But by then, it’s sat there for a whole year, collecting soot, potentially hazardous residues, and general debris.

So, how often should you book a chimney sweep Wimborne?

For most homes that use an open fire or wood-burning stove regularly – in Wimborne and elsewhere in Dorset – a chimney should be swept at least once a year. If you burn wood or solid fuel throughout the winter, twice a year is often recommended – once before the colder months start and once after intense use.

If your chimney is connected to a gas fire, sweeping is still important, but usually only needed once a year. Even though gas burns cleaner, debris, dust, and nests can still build up over time.

Why is it important in Wimborne?

Many homes in Wimborne are period properties with older chimneys, and these can be more prone to soot build-up, crumbling mortar, or blockages. In these cases, regular sweeping helps spot small issues early, before they turn into costly repairs.

Even if you don’t use your fireplace very often, it’s still worth having a chimney sweep Wimborne every year or two. Birds’ nests are a common issue locally, and a blocked chimney can cause smoke to back up into your home or allow harmful gases to build up unnoticed.

It’s a safety issue too

Booking a chimney sweep isn’t just about cleanliness – it’s about safety. Regular sweeping reduces the risk of chimney fires, improves airflow, and helps your fire or stove burn more efficiently. It can also keep home insurance valid, as many policies require proof of routine maintenance.

If you’re unsure when your chimney was last swept, or you’ve recently moved into a Wimborne home, it’s a good idea to book a professional chimney sweep Wimborne sooner rather than later. From there, they can advise on the best time frame for your next sweep.

A little bit of care goes a long way – and your chimney will thank you for it.

  • 04
    Sep 24
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Chimney Fire Safety Week 2024

Category:Safety Tags : 

Chimney Fire Safety Week is back for 2024! The annual campaign takes place 2–8 September this year. What will you be doing to support the campaign this year?

All About Chimneys are pleased to be supporting the campaign which works with industry and Fire and Rescue Services to promote this positive safety message to consumers. We really want to know how you will be supporting the campaign this year and hope you stay safe using our top safety tips.

As the national fire and rescue statistics show, chimney fires have been steadily decreasing in most regions over the years, despite recent wood burner popularity. In England across 2023-24, chimney fire incidents reduced by 16.29% in comparison to 2022-23, representing approximately 1.5% of the total fires for 2023-24.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

  • 14
    Aug 23
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Chimney Fire Safety Week

Category:Safety Tags : 

Chimney Fire Safety Week is from Monday 4th September until Sunday 10th September.

This important week raises awareness of chimney fires and promotes safety messages including the importance of chimney sweeping and regular chimney maintenance, to decrease the number of avoidable chimney fires.

Being your modern-day chimney sweepers, we have come across a few common issues that can occur if you don’t take care of your chimney. Doing this regularly can really help prevent unwanted fires in your chimney.

We’ve seen a few things that could lead to fires in chimneys. So, here’s some stuff to remember:

  • Chimneys can get dirty and have sticky stuff called tar inside. Tar can catch fire easily as it’s extremely flammable. But don’t worry, with our regular checks, we’ll keep your chimney clean and safe.
  • Once your fire is burning, be sure that you never put any paper or rubbish onto the fire. This can create floating embers which can cause a chimney fire, or even float out and land on things in your home, like carpets and furniture which can start a house fire.
  • If you have a fireguard or spark guard, use it. This keeps the fire where it’s supposed to be and stops it from spreading to your furniture or carpets.
  • When going to bed or going out, even if it’s for a loaf of bread at the shop, PUT OUT YOUR FIRE. Make sure that it’s completely out, you don’t want to come or home or wake up to a house fire.

Did you know the national fire and rescue statistics show, chimney fires have been decreasing in most regions over the years. In England chimney fires have decreased by 2.75% compared to the last year.  This is great news, but we need to stay vigilant!

Remember, it’s a really good idea to get your chimney checked and fixed up before you start using it a lot. If you need help with your chimney, just give us a call at 07415449800. We’re here for you!

What to do if there’s a fire

  1. Get out of the building, closing any doors behind you.
  2. Stay out of the building.
  3. Call 999 and ask for the fire service.
  • 19
    Dec 19
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Your Festive Fireplace

Category:Safety Tags : 

The image of a beautiful fireplace dressed for Christmas with boughs of holly and ivy and stockings hung with care is a well known Christmas staple, but are you aware that your seasonal decorations could be a fire risk! Here are some tips to help you stay safe over Christmas

 

  • Your Christmas tree should be at least 3 feet away from your fireplace.
  • Ensure your real tree is watered regularly to prevent it drying out and causing more fire risk
  • If you are placing candles on your mantle ensure they are always supervised and extinguished correctly
  • When dressing your mantle with greenery ensure the boughs do not drape in front of the opening
  • If hanging stockings ensure they do not block the opening and where possible use non-flammable materials
  • Use a fire guard to prevent sparks dropping on to your festive fireplace adornments

Yes the fireplace in this image is an accident waiting to happen!

  • 18
    Nov 19
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Keeping your fireplace safe for all the family

Category:Safety Tags : 

If you don’t have children then although fireplace safety is still and issue it is not as difficult as it is for those who do, but at Christmas little visitors are much more likely, so here are some tips to keep little ones safe around your fire

 

  1. Get a fire safety gate that you can put up when smaller family members visit.
  2. As Christmas presents get unwrapped do not burn the paper in the fireplace – coloured papers can release toxic fumes when burnt
  3. Don’t keep your Christmas gifts too close to the fire
  4. Make sure you take the time to carefully explain the dangers of the fire to little visitors
  • 18
    Sep 19
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Bin that Ash

Category:Safety Tags : 

How often do you clean out the ash? Once a week, once a month, once a season? Our advice is to remove the ash after each burning. Hot or cooling ash can be a fire and carbon monoxide hazard. Here are our tips for cleaning out your ash

 

  • Let ash cool for sufficient time after a fire and keep your stove door closed
  • Use appropriate equipment, including safety gloves
  • Use a galvanised steel or metal ash can or bucket that can be sealed to collect the ash
  • Take your time to avoid spreading ashes across the room
  • Carefully transport the container outside of your home
  • Dispose in a designated area
  • Do not collect ash in a bucket in your home for any period of time
  • 14
    Aug 19
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Where should I stack my wood?

Category:Wood Tags : 

Although it may be very attractive from an interior design point of view, the best place to stack your fire wood is not neatly piled up next to your stove. This can be very dangerous and there have been cases of the stacked firewood igniting!

In Oct 2018 a house fire occurred in Dorchester due to logs being stacked too close to the wood burner.

Your wood burner’s operating instructions should give a minimum distance for combustible materials, but we would advise at least 3 feet.

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