Who needs to book a chimney sweep?
In Sweden, if your fireplace has not been used before, you need to register it with the municipality. At the same time, a cleaning and fire protection control is also booked by the municipality.
How often does the fireplace need sweeping?
It depends on how frequently it is used:
- Heater that serves as the main heat source (used most of the year): twice a year
- Local fireplace that mainly heats the house or room in which it is located (more than 1 cubic meter of chopped wood/year): Once a year
- Local fireplace that does not function as a main heat source (less than 1 cubic meter of chopped wood/year): Every three years
- Fireplace in seasonal accommodation: Every three years.
In Sweden, the Social Security and Emergency Planning Agency determines how often the fire protection needs to be checked. A fireplace that is not in use does not need to be fireproof-checked, but there will be an automatic ban on the use of this fireplace if the inspection is not performed and the inspection must be carried out before it is put back into service.
To think about before sweeping!
Do not use the fireplace during the day for the sweep.
Make sure you stay home or make some kind of arrangement with the key.
Set up a ladder and ensure that the ladders on the roof are secure and that there are anti-slip devices fitted. Make sure it is ice- and snow-free during winter time.
Make space around what should be sweeped, cover delicate surfaces and remove objects near the fireplace as there is a risk of soot leaking.
Have a metal container with a lid nearby to drain the soot.
And finally, watch out for scams! There are reports from time to time about sweeping companies who call and book control of the ducts or fan systems, and then send an expensive bill.
Note that all of the above are Swedish recommendations!
