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Chimney Sweep Costs

By Kim

Last updated 11th June 2024 - Reading time: 12 mins

At a glance

The average cost of chimney sweeping is around £95
The job will take approximately 1 - 2 hours to complete

In this article, you'll discover the following:

A complete pricing breakdown which includes what cost factors you need to consider, types of chimney, along with what such a task usually involves
How long the job should approximately take and a general overview of what kind of jobs can be performed
How to find and hire a chimney sweeper

Are you looking for in-depth information on the average cost of chimney cleaning?

This complete guide will go over everything you need to know about chimney sweeping costs, the processes involved with chimney cleaning, and the fees chimney sweepers will charge.

It costs around £70-£120 for a local chimney sweep, depending on certain factors.

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Average Cost of Chimney Sweeping

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes:  1-2 hours

£95

How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost?
- Chimney Sweep Prices
Additional Costs
Labour Costs and Timescales
Cost Factors of Sweeping a Chimney
What's Involved in a Chimney Sweep?
Can I Sweep a Chimney Myself?
Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Chimney Sweeping
Types of Chimney
- Masonry Chimneys
- Metal Chimneys
Hiring Contractors to Sweep a Chimney Checklist
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost?

Are you looking for information on the costs involved with getting your chimney swept?

This guide will go over everything you need to know about chimney sweep costs and the processes involved with chimney sweeping.

The price you will pay for chimney sweeping can vary based on several factors, including the type of chimney, the difficulty of the job, the state of the chimney, and your location in the UK.

The average cost you can expect to pay to have your chimney swept in the UK is around £70-£120. Chimney sweeping should only take a couple of hours to complete usually.

One of the most difficult types of chimneys to sweep is an unlined chimney. If you have this type of chimney, you can expect to pay around £50-£100 more for the job, depending on its condition.

My chimney hasn't had a clean in some time. I'm planning to hire a chimney sweep. How much will it cost to have my chimney swept in total? I have a medium semi-detached house.

"I’ve seen these sweep companies before but not that often to tell the truth. I think the bloke mentioned around £149 to sweep a chimney but depends on condition"

Au Faix

Chimney Sweep Prices

The price you can expect to pay for chimney sweeping will vary depending mostly on the type of chimney you have, its condition, and your location in the UK.

Below is a table highlighting the average chimney sweep prices that you can expect to pay for different types of chimney sweeping.

Type of Chimney	Average Cost
Chimney sweeping on open fire chimney	£60-£100
Chimney sweeping on lined stove chimney	£80-£120
Chimney sweeping on unlined stove chimney	£90-£150

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Additional Costs

There are several additional costs that you may need to think about when it comes to chimney sweeping.

Below is a list of the additional jobs that you may want to get done around the same time as your chimney sweeping job:

Removing a Chimney Breast

If you no longer require the chimney and want to have it completely removed, then you may want to hire a professional contractor to completely get rid of it. This is quite a big job, and it should be done by a professional.

The costs will vary depending on your particular chimney, but you can expect to pay somewhere around £2200-£3500 for a chimney breast removal on average.

Installing New Gas Fire

When getting work done on your chimney, this may get you thinking about having a new gas fire installed.

The average cost of installing a new gas fire will vary depending on the type of fire you choose.

On average, you can expect to pay around £300-£700 to have a new gas fire fitted. Those based in London can expect to pay more for having a new gas fire fitted.

Labour Costs and Timescales

For a budget chimney sweep on an open fire, you can usually expect to pay around £60-£70. This should only take around an hour to complete.

If you need are looking for a chimney sweep on an unlined chimney, this will usually cost around £90-£150. This type of chimney sweep will usually take around 1-2 hours.

Sometimes, there may be additional work that needs to be carried out on your chimney, increasing the costs and timeframes.

Bird nests can be an issue with chimneys and may need to be removed. This can add around £20-£40 to the cost of the job.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£50 more for a chimney sweep than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

Cost Factors of Sweeping a Chimney

There are several cost affecting factors when it comes to having your chimney swept. Below is a list of things that may affect the overall cost of the job:

Type of Chimney

The type of chimney that needs to be swept can play a big part in the price you will pay for the job.

For example, a chimney sweep on an open fire chimney will cost around £60-£100, a chimney sweep on a lined stove chimney will cost around £80-£120, and a chimney sweep on an unlined stove chimney will cost around £90-£150. As you can see, each different type of chimney comes at a different cost.

Size of Chimney

The size of the chimney can affect the overall cost of the job. A larger chimney will take much longer to sweep, and, therefore, you can expect to pay more for the job. Most average-sized chimneys will only take around an hour to complete.

If your chimney ends up taking longer than that due to its size, then you may be looking at some additional costs.

Location of Property

Your property's location can affect the price that you can expect to pay for a chimney sweep.

Those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£50 more for a chimney sweep than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

Also, chimneys that are difficult to access may end up costing more.

State of Chimney

The state of the chimney can also affect the cost of the job. A chimney in a very bad state will take much longer to sweep than chimneys that don't require sweeping.

If your chimney hasn't been swept for a good few years, then you can expect the job to take a little bit longer and, therefore, you may end up paying slightly more than average for the job.

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What's Involved in a Chimney Sweep?

Below you will find a guide on how to sweep a chimney:

Preparation

Before the chimney sweeping begins, the contractor will cover the fireplace with a protective sheet which will be vacuum sealed and secured with duct tape. They will then move the vacuum outside so that they can collect the soot.

It will need to have long connectors so that it stays attached to the fireplace. All of the doors and windows to the home will then be closed to avoid any soot from entering the home.

Cleaning

The contractor will then go onto the roof and will use a chimney cleaning brush to clean the flue on top of the chimney and remove any soot from it. The vacuum will then be turned on, usually by a colleague that they bring along with them.

The contractor on the roof will then continue using the brush to clean further down the chimney until the brush won't go any further.

Once the above steps are complete, the contractor will then leave the roof and go back down to the fireplace, where they will then clean the firebox and smoke shelf.

To do this, they will use a long-handled brush to remove any soot. They will then use the vacuum to clean out the firebox.

Can I Sweep a Chimney Myself?

The only time you should sweep your chimney as a DIY job is if you have experience in doing so.

There are several dangers that come with chimney sweeping, plus you risk voiding your insurance in cases of chimney fires.

A chimney sweeping job should be done safely. If it's not completed correctly, this could result in carbon monoxide leaking into your home, which could be fatal for you and your family.

Working on the roof can also be difficult for someone who doesn't have the appropriate experience or equipment.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Chimney Sweeping

There are no particular requirements when it comes to a chimney sweep. However, if the contractor is carrying out any installation, inspection, or maintenance work on your gas fire, they will need to be on the Gas Safe Register.

It is down to the contractor to ensure that they follow health and safety guidelines when working at height and that they wear the appropriate safety equipment to ensure they don't suffer from inhaling too much soot.

You won't need planning permission when it comes to hiring a chimney sweep, and there aren't any building regulations that need to be followed for chimney sweeping.

Types of Chimney

There are two main types of chimney, a masonry chimney and a metal chimney. Below you will find some facts about each of these types of chimney. We will also list the pros and cons of each type.

Masonry Chimneys

A masonry chimney is the most common type of chimney found in the UK. These are a traditional type of chimney that are constructed with bricks.

The design of a masonry chimney can vary from home to home, depending on the homeowners' preference. Some masonry chimneys designed with one layer of bricks, and others are designed using multiple layers of bricks.

PROS

✔ Very durable
✔ Timeless traditional appearance
✔ Increases the value of the home

CONS

✖ Difficult to build
✖ Constructed with heavy materials so your home may not support it
✖ It can be quite expensive, so not great if you're on a budget

Metal Chimneys

Metal chimneys are constructed in a factory rather than built on site. They are simply brought to the site and assembled, making the installation process much easier than masonry chimneys.

This type of chimney tends to be constructed with metal materials that can handle high temperatures.

PROS

✔ Much cheaper than masonry chimneys
✔ Easy to install
✔ Many are designed with extra layers for energy-efficiency
✔ Variety of designs

CONS

✖ Shorter lifespan than masonry chimneys
✖ Require frequent maintenance

Hiring Contractors to Sweep a Chimney Checklist

There are a few things you will need to consider before hiring someone to sweep your chimney.

Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

Does the contractor offer any guarantees with their work?
How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs so you can ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.
What steps will the contractor take when completing the work?
Is the contractor experienced in the type of chimney sweeping that you require?
How many years' worth of experience does the contractor have in chimney sweeping?
How many contractors will carry out the job?
Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
Does the contractor provide any insurance if any parts of the job go wrong?
Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?
Does the contractor have any qualifications of accreditations associated with the type of work that is to be carried out?

FAQs

How often do you need to sweep a chimney?

It is recommended that you arrange to have your chimney swept once a year to keep it working efficiently and to keep it in its optimum condition.

How do you sweep a chimney with a woodburner?

You should undo the indoor part of the chimney once per year to inspect it for debris. Be sure to clean out any creosote that has built up within the chimney. You can use a wire brush to clean it out properly. It is recommended that you hire a professional local chimney sweep to sweep your wood-burning chimney.

Will a chimney sweep cause any mess?

A professional chimney sweeper will have specialised tools and procedures to leave behind as little mess as possible. A vacuum is usually used to collect any soot that is removed, and your doors and windows should remain closed during the chimney sweep to ensure none of the soot makes its way into your house.

Why should I get my chimney swept?

A chimney should be swept regularly to ensure it is safe and efficient. Removing all of the soot and debris from the chimney will improve the airflow of the chimney and allow all hazardous gasses to escape easily. Your fire will also burn quicker with a clean chimney whilst also preventing heat loss.

How long does it take to sweep a chimney?

On average, it should take no longer than an hour to have your chimney swept. If a bird's nest blocks your chimney, this will require specialist equipment to remove and could take all day.