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.

It's not worth chancing it. You need the chimney checking properly. Older chimneys might need lining - otherwise you risk noxious gases leaking into the rooms that the chimney passes through if the walls aren't sealed enough..

They aren’t saying that it’s an alternative to getting it swept before it’s used. They’re are answering the OP’s question about seeing if the chimney is viable with a simple check, before they go to the expense of getting a sweep to make a visit.

A word of caution though, my chimney sweep is on a 3 month waiting list at the moment, due to all those recommissioning their fires due to the cost of energy. So if you are hoping to use the fire, I’d get the sweep booked sooner rather than later.

Our chimney sweep pressure tested each of our four chimneys and also inspected the brickwork / pots. It's the only reliable way.

Going to jump on to say that yes, smoke pellets are sort of worth it as you can see if it smokes - BUT if its not smoking that doesn't really tell you not worth calling a sweep, because it might be blocked with birds nest etc that sweep can remove, not permanently blocked off.

So they don't really help you much, IYSWIM?

And please don't be tempted to use it without it being properly swept - if there's deterioration or detritus in the chimney, and the fire catches and spreads, you'll have invalidated your insurance by using an unswept chimney and would have to pay all repairs yourself.

Plus an actual risk of death through carbon monoxide poisoning! So categorically not worth it.

Pay the professional. It could kill you if you get it wrong

The important point about pressure-testing (see earlier post) the chimney (we live in a mid-terrace) is that the brickwork of our chimneys and those of our neighbours is shared - if there was an issue with a crack, we'd be in danger of sending fumes into our neighbours house.

I do agree with getting it swept, if its sooty you could have a chimney fire.

Also worth checking it is caged to avoid birds appearing in your fireplace or stuck in the chimney, sadly it does happen.

If it’s rented you should get permission from letting agent/landlord first.