Chimney now swept

Just had the chimney swept and thank goodness we did. Seems the previous owner burnt wet wood and caused a buildup of soot in the chimney itself. The sweep said it was so bad a couple of sparks and the whole place would have gone up. He removed huge clumps of soot that almost blocked the chimney completely.

Wet wood aaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh for more than ten years in our old place I battled to explain to OH that you can't put wet wood into the boiler (Our CH system was fired by a coal burning boiler in the basement but needed wood to get it started)

People don't realise that wood which is infested with bugs, dry rot, wet rot, and all the other things is also 'wet' it won't burn easily and gives off horrible tar like smoke.

People see old wood lying around and think "That's ideal for burning" sorry no it ain't, don't use it, take it down the tip.

Thank goodness it is done and you are now fully 'certified' Mine must have been OK this time as he never said anything and there wasn't a lot of soot in the binliner they left.

Don't worry Harvey the wood that was left will gradually go down the tip. I have done my stint of cleaning and lighting fires and am not thinking of going that way again in the foreseeable future.

Yes we were left with the bag TW only ours doesn't look like soot more like black crispy biscuits and in huge chunks

Get some coal in Sue and light the fire, nothing better on a cold wet miserable day.

TW
with 10 radiators and 2 heated towl rails to keep us warm ,coal/wood fires are a definate no no

In my case for 'foreseeable future' read 'till I snuff it'

Chimney Sweeps - twaddle!!! If you can't find a small boy to climb up it, then drop a goose down it!! Works a treat either way! As far as wet/dry wood is concerned do you include Ash in that. For according to the old rhyme "Ash wood wet or Ash wood dry, to toast the King's own slippers by!" Bye fer now.

Out of interest how much did your sweep charge? Should get ours done really

Gordon we live in the 21st century so may be in trouble with both your suggestions

It cost us £46 Dobermonkey so not really expensive.