How can I tell if chimney is usable?

[sophedward]

Apologies if this sounds a bit dim but is there a way of telling if a chimney is viable?

We moved into our house (Victorian, terraced) around 4 years ago and are thinking about having a fire in the sitting room for the first time.

Is there a way of telling if it the chimney works without calling out a chimney sweep? I dont want to call one out only for him to find its been blocked up/ otherwise unusable.

You'd have to have it swept before using anyway. I would book and maybe discuss this with him when booking

After having a look up it to see if you can see daylight you should start with some coloured smoke pellets (from Amazon less than £5) or if you want to be cheaper some scrunched up paper on a metal tin lid to see if there is a draw and smoke actually rises up the chimney and not just out into the room.

After that use it as it is or get it lined for a solid fuel stove.

Oh and yes absolutely get it swept.

You have to get a sweep in. A chimney should be serviced every 12 months really. The only way you can check yourself is to light a fire and cross your fingers!

Don't gamble as to whether your chimney is in working condition. You need a professional to come in and inspect/clean it.

You need a sweep you can’t short cut it and it needs swept annually if being used for insurance purposes.

we had ours swept a couple of weeks ago and he said he was really busy as loads of folks were having their chimneys checked as they wanted to have fires, I guess due to energy costs

Someone on a period house group had 2.5 wheelie bins of sticks taken out of the chimney that hadn't been used in years.

I'd suggest putting nothing flamable anywhere near it until a sweep has taken a look. Insurance will require you to have it swept anyway.

It’s one of these costs op that if you want to use it you can’t avoid it.

you will be able to see if it’s open, by Checking if there is a damper.

id really not mess around if you don’t know what you’re doing and I’d get a sweep in

www.priddyclean.com/how-to-tell-if-damper-is-open-or-closed/

You'll need to get a chimney sweep out.

Piggy backing onto this - when do chimneys need lined?

A chimney sweep around here costs about £50.
Not expensive in my opinion.

Don't risk it. Sweeps do more than just clean chimneys. They can advise on the condition of the flue, replace pots, give (or withhold) certificates of safety and some will fit liners and stoves.

Our house had a bird nest that filled a bin bag in a chimney that the previous owner was using daily 😱 definitely get it swept. If the chimney goes through bedrooms on its way up it can leak noxious fumes as well so it’s worth asking advice for sake of £100.

We're in a Victorian terrace with original fireplaces. Got the sweep out, all good, decided to light it at Christmas. Bloody hell the heat was claustrophobic, we have never used it since.

Also check what you can burn depending if you are in a smoke free zone or not.

I second the advice above - you really need to call a chimney sweep. Where I am it’s usually £50. Also make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm.

When you install a solid wood stove, word of caution the cost of the liner and installing it can be as much as the solid fuel stove itself!!

Someone on a period house group had 2.5 wheelie bins of sticks taken out of the chimney that hadn't been used in years.

That happened to us with a chimney that hadn’t been used for six months.

Jackdaws.

Our chimney hadn't been swept or used for 35 years in our Victorian house.

Get it swept 😀

Works beautifully!

Get some incense and see if the smoke wafts up there? Check you have uncapped chimney pots

You can get a smoke test.

You put it in the grate and set it off and then you go outside and see if the smoke comes out.

If it does the fireplace is useable. You still need to get it swept before you lay a proper fire though. It doesn't mean the chimney is safe, just that it is useable.

Smoke Pellets Chimney Flue Test Single Pack of 10 Smoke Pellets (STOV-4176) amzn.eu/d/hs3aV0k

Thank you - so not needed for an open fire?

I question whether someone should be using a chimney that may be unsafe.

And I see that you are advertising.... hmm

You might need a liner for an open fire as well. If the interior of the chimney has deteriorated, the smoke will escape into upstairs rooms, neighbours house etc.

So you should line the chimney so the smoke goes from the fire to the chimney without leaking into other places.

The liner tends to be a double thickness and they have to be the 'right' liner. We had a rogue liner put in and it had to be pulled out like a sooty snake

When you get your chimney swept, your sweep can advise you on if the chimney is drawing properly.

Absolutely get it swept! Also lined and carbon monoxide alarm. Please don't risk it.
Goodness knows when anything was done with it before if you've not used it in 4 years.
I suspect you could risk your insurance if you don't sweep it / maintain it and it causes a fire.