Signs your chimney needs to be swept urgently

Understanding if your chimney needs to be swept can help eliminate hazards. If you experience any of the following signs, stop using your appliance and book a sweep as soon as possible:

• Smoke is re-entering the room when the appliance is in use.

• There is a persistent bad smell when you have not lit a fire.

• You can see signs of tar around the flue entrance or damper (the small door in your fireplace near the base of the chimney).

• Soot is falling back into your appliance.

• Your fire isn’t burning as well as usual and you haven’t changed anything.

• You often see birds by the top of your chimney or hear frequent scratching (there may be birds nesting in your chimney).