Services, Prices, T&C 

Services & Prices

Standard sweep of small lined wood burners, lined  multifuel stoves and open fires - £70. This includes:  a  basic check of the appliance and lower parts of the flue and the chimney stack as visible from the ground, a  clean using appropriate sweeping equipment, a smoke draw test and paperwork/certification backed by the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. Any repairs or work undertaken to remove blockages e.g birds nests etc, will be charged as below

Standard gas fires - £70.  Some flues serving gas fires can be swept without disconnecting the appliance - a void will be clearly visible. Others need disconnecting for sweeping. Note I do not disconnect or connect gas - if the fire needs disconnecting this must be done in advance by a qualified and registered gas engineer.  The client is responsible for confirming that the gas is disconnected if needed - please send photos and information before confirming a booking.  

Unlined Stoves - £85. These are multi fuel stoves and wood burners which are installed into masonry/clay flues without a modern solid fuel liner, where separate access is needed via a sweep hatch as well as access to the main body of the stove - they take much longer than a standard stove. Any repairs or work undertaken to remove blockages e.g birds nests etc, will be charged as below

Rope replacement - from £40. Most door rope sizes are kept on the van - for these a single door is £40 and a double door is £50 when fitted at the same time as a sweep. For some stoves specialist rope is needed which can be ordered separately and will require a return visit, 

Cement and other minor repairs - from £10.  It is common for stoves to need cement or thin rope round the collars or pipe repaired, or door rope simply reattached. Depending on the situation I can carry out these minor repairs at the same time as the sweep for a nominal charge.  Where new fire bricks are needed, if a customer sources these in advance I will normally fit the replacements during the sweep at no charge.

Large open/dog basket or inglenook open fire. Prices from £85. These type of fire need a lot more sheeting up and preparation to sweep cleanly so take longer.  If you have one of these please send photos so I can evaluate before confirming a booking. Any repairs or work undertaken to remove blockages e.g birds nests etc, will be charged as below

Pre-installation/flue closure sweep - from £100.  Before any new appliance installation the flue should be swept and tested. This is to ensure the flue is free of soot deposits and debris.  If a flue is to be decommissioned, the flue should be swept. Included within this service is a camera examination of the flue. ​Any work undertaken to remove blockages e.g birds nests etc, will be charged as detailed below.

Tar blockage, hard soot or creosote removal sweep - POA In the event tar and or soot has hardened within a flue, this will result is the blockage of the system and will require addition work in order to return the flue to an optimal and safe condition. Where a flue has considerable deposits of tar or creosote, chemical treatment may be needed to reduce fire risk. These kinds of blockage can not be dealt with by the normal sweeping process. Advice will be given on the best course of action.  Once the blockages have been removed, I will undertake a full sweep, clean and test of appliance/set up, where possible

Nests and bird retrieval - from £140. Nest and animal removals will include a CCTV inspection to determine the nature of any blockage, a sweep and subsequent post removal CCTV inspection to confirm the flue is safe and operational. Should a live nest be identified, we must comply with the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 - this legislation makes it an offence to destroy a live nest. However, should a nest be determined to be uninhabited, we will remove it and sweep. 

Terms & Conditions

Access and safety: Please make sure that there is clear access to the appliance to be swept so that I can get tools in and out cleanly and easily.  A clear area of about 2 meters at the front of the appliance/fire is needed and there should be nothing on top or to the sides of work area. I will require access to a power plug. Because I may need to make multiple trips to the van, leaving access doors open, please ensure all valuables and fragile items are secure and away from the work route/area before the appointment time. For their (and the job's) safety,  pets and children  must be supervised and kept out of the way while the sweep is in progress.  I'll need a safe (and legal) place to park a small van. Any charges incurred as a result of attending a client's location such as  parking, congestion, emission charges and tolls will be chargeable, in addition to the any work undertaken. 

Appliance preparation and soot disposal: Fires, wood burners and appliances to be swept must not be used within the 24 hours leading up to an appointment - the appliance or fire needs to be fully cold for me to sweep it. It should be free from ash, fuel, combustibles and in a reasonably clean condition. To comply with waste disposal regulations I will leave any sooty waste with you, bagged up, to be disposed of (or put on the garden in the case of wood soot)

Limitations: All services are carried out in good faith: due to the concealed nature of chimneys and associated appliances information from a visual inspection should not be relied upon as a guarantee that the appliance and/or chimney are safe and/or free of faults or issues related to age, misuse, or poor installation. For a chimney and items connected to the installation to be considered fit for use, it must be in such condition that it can be safely cleaned and tested - this includes the correct cowl being securely installed on any flue being swept. Therefore unless otherwise told we assume that the appliance is correctly and safely installed and is in a fit state to be swept. We are not responsible for any damage which may occur as part of, or be associated with the sweeping process. This includes, but is not limited to; stacks, chimney pots, liners, property and persons. It is also the clients responsibility to ensure any installation complies with the appropriate industry standards. If you are unsure of these standards, please ask us and we will supply you with further information. We are not under any circumstances responsible for the installation of your stove/appliance or opening. In the event I find any issues or observations in respect of your stove/appliance or opening, I will point these out to you and would strongly advise you to ensure all remediation work is undertaken by a competent installer, before use. You should also ensure any obligations with regards to working with local councils/planning departments are met and appropriate documentation is present and signed off. 

Payment: Payment is via cash or BACS on the day of the appointment. By booking and having Dr Sweep undertake work for you, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Where an invoice is issued, our payment terms are strictly 7 days for payment. Any payments which are not made within 7 days, will be subject to a £50 administration fee and interest chargeable at 8%. By requesting Dr Sweep to sweep for you, the person/party making the booking is responsible and liable for payment in respect of the work undertaken. 

Missed appointment and cancellations: If you do need to cancel or rearrange please give at least 48 hours notice so someone else can have your slot. If I'm unable to gain access to the property on the day/time of the appointment, if the condition of the fire/appliance means I'm unable to sweep it at the booked appointment, or for any appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, I reserve the right to charge the full sweeping fee.

Additional Information: Dr Sweep is covered by Public Liability insurance of £2million as required by the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps. Dr Sweep also holds Public Indemnity insurance of £250,000