Wilkins Chimney Sweep Gower Peninsula

Spring cleaning? Don’t forget your chimney…your sweep can alert you to any bird activity and take action now, next month will be too late. It’s against the law to remove a nest in May or June as there may be young in the nest.

Well done Stephen - another happy customer!

Be aware at this time of year, if birds are nesting in your chimney, it may be obvious as when you light a fire smoke enters the room. However, if you have a gas fire it may be more difficult to spot as there is no smoke. Carbon Monoxide is the by-product of incomplete combustion of fuels such as wood, coal, gas and oil. It is colourless, odourless and you cannot see it. It can therefore enter a room undetected. Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning include headaches, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, stomach pain and shortness of breath. Stay safe and make sure you have a Carbon Monoxide alarm. Speak to your Wilkins Chimney sweep if you require further advice.

Spring, means those little Jackdaw fiends are eyeing up your chimney to build their nest. By May chicks will have hatched – so in May and June it is against the law to remove a nest as it may contain young birds. The problem will be obvious when you choose to light a fire as smoke will enter the room. Have a quick check of your chimney stack – is there any bird activity – do you have anything to prevent the birds from entering the chimney? Your sweep should be able to guide you on the type of cowl or bird guard that you need depending on what type of fire or woodburner you have.

Another excellent review...

This is a great month to consider ordering your logs and seasoning them yourself (dry storage). We have been very surprised at the number of times people believe they are using seasoned wood, only to discover (using our moisture meters) that the wood is really damp! It should only contain 15-20% moisture – it burns more efficiently and makes your log purchase more economical.

What causes tar in a chimney flue? Unseasoned wood, burning woodburners at a low ‘tick over’ temperature. We’ve all been guilty of using the fire as our ‘secure waste’ disposal or throwing on the Christmas wrapping paper – and indeed crisp packets. These things can potentially lead to igniting tar deposits in the chimney and causing a chimney fire.

Another happy customer :-)

Happy New Year! If you have been burning throughout the winter so far and your insurance policy stipulates twice yearly sweeps (often the case for thatched properties.) this is the month you should consider a second sweep!

FINAL REMINDER! LAST CALL! If you haven’t already, now it’s time to book your sweep. Have a safe and Happy Christmas from all at Wilkins Chimney Sweep.

Are you caring for an elderly relative or neighbour? Do you know when their chimney was last swept? Keep loved ones safe during the cold weather and make sure their chimney is regularly swept.

Wow, what a wonderful review...

Avoid a Sooty Santa! It’s nearly that time of year – Santa will be calling down your chimney next month, if you’ve been good…Don’t leave it too late to have your chimney swept.

Another 5* review

Thanks Mr Davies for my 5* review...

There are a few pieces of important safety kit that might help keep you safe this year: *A carbon monoxide alarm will act as a first alert – definitely a worthwhile investment *A temperature gauge for your woodburner will help to ensure you’re burning it at a good temperature suitable for the unit and to prevent creosote build up in the flue. *Having your chimney swept is also a great preventative measure!

Stay safe - get your chimney swept regularly.

It's Chimney Fire Safety Week 3rd - 9th September. Is your chimney clean? Are you burning the correct fuel? https://www.hetas.co.uk/chimney-fire-safe ty-week-2018/