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Chimney Inspection in the Cheltenham area
A comprehensive guide to carrying out a chimney survey
Winter is on the way, and now is the perfect time to ensure your chimney is in good working order before you begin using it again.
One of the most important actions to maintaining a chimney is to make sure it is frequently swept. The regular sweeping of a chimney becomes even more important towards the end of summer after your chimney flue hasn’t been used for a prolonged period. A professional sweep will make sure all residue from the previous winter, plus additional dirt, debris and materials dropped by nesting birds are completely cleaned out.
The chimney sweep will bring to your attention any issues regarding blockages in the flue, the level of debris found during cleaning or even spot certain degradation or materials coming away from the side of the flue. In the case of damage or degradation, the chimney sweep will recommend that you book for a chimney inspection in Cheltenham.
It is extremely important to have your chimney surveyed and inspected by a professional if you are looking to reuse a chimney that hasn’t been used for a long time.
So, when searching for a chimney inspection in Cheltenham, what are some of the benefits you can expect to receive? Above all else, it will provide you with a comprehensive picture of your chimney and whether it is safe to use.
As the colder month’s approach and you begin using your wood burner, gas appliance, open fire or boiler again, having the peace of mind that all fumes produced will escape safely up the chimney flue is important. This will also alleviate any risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or a potential chimney fire.
A flue is a hidden part of a property that can become a health risk if not regularly surveyed and maintained.
How can a chimney inspection in Cheltenham help?
A comprehensive chimney survey identifies the condition and strength of your chimney and can be very beneficial in the following situations:
- For an old property where you would want to use a chimney that hasn’t been used for a long time
- The purchase of a new building or property will require a complete inspection of flues to make sure that they are safe to use
- To locate the extent of damage caused after a chimney fire
- In older buildings, you may need to plot the course of the current chimney flue
- To provide information for Insurance Companies regarding the current condition of the flue
The equipment used during a chimney inspection
A CCTV survey is commonly carried out using modern camera technology to review and record the entirety of the chimney flue. A miniature chimney camera with effective lighting is passed through the chimney flue using support rods. This little camera is passed through the entire length of the flue and then the recording is used to identify potential hazards.
What do we look for when carrying out a chimney inspection?
Our chimney inspections have returned various findings – some more common than others. Birds’ nests and cobwebs are common objects but here are a few that you might not have thought about:
- Loose brickwork and mortar joints
- Timber lintels stuck in the brickwork
- A small ledge or hole
- RSJs or steels
- Spit mechanisms that have been used for roasting over a fire
Edward Turner, our chimney expert says “Turner Baker carry out a lot of chimney CCTV surveys. The things that we are looking to find out are – is the flue lined or part lined; what the condition of the flue is like – are there are any loose mortar joints that might leak smoke or dangerous fumes into another part of the property? Are there are any blockages, such as birds nest or loose masonry. The older the property, often the more interesting the finds.”
Preparing for a chimney inspection in the Cheltenham area
The team at Turner Baker are fully trained to use chimney CCTV equipment and spot defects and damage throughout the flue. The chimney camera used is battery operated and doesn’t require access to any power socket or plug.
Before carrying out a chimney survey, it’s important that the flue is to be swept and cleaned to remove any debris and expose the surface of the flue. The space around the fireplace should be cleared in advance to allow our Technicians adequate space to work. Our team will take great care and use protective materials to ensure that any dust or dirt that is dislodged during the survey can be easily cleaned up after.
Other types of chimney survey
A chimney camera survey will give a wide range of information on the condition and quality of your flue. What it doesn’t tell you is how effectively your flue operates. To find this out, there are two types of smoke tests available.
A Dynamic smoke test – checks the draw of an open fire. In other words, when the fire is started, the dynamic smoke test is designed to see if the smoke escapes up the flue efficiently or if it fills the room with smoke.
A Static smoke test – checks the integrity of the flue. When an appliance is used or a fire is started, does smoke leak from the flue into other rooms in your home?
Turner Baker regularly carry out a range of chimney CCTV surveys and tests in a range of residential and commercial properties.
To find out more about our chimney inspections in the Cheltenham area, call our friendly team of chimney experts today on 01242 649660.