Wood burning stoves and chimney sweep prices

pd001

I am in the process of shopping around for my buildings and contents insurance and I havnt yet been asked if i have my chimney regularly swept.
Nor have I been asked by what means I am heating my home.

Swipe

pd001 wrote: »

I am in the process of shopping around for my buildings and contents insurance and I havnt yet been asked if i have my chimney regularly swept.
Nor have I been asked by what means I am heating my home.

Have to told them you have a stove?

POPPYOSCAR

A._Badger wrote: »

I have been told this business about the need for certificates is an urban myth. Certainly it isn't a requirement of my home insurance policy, nor of that of another property I own. I recall seeing the subject discussed either on a forum or in a newspaper and it was debunked.

Which isn't to say that insurers don't tend to be thieving swine who would wriggle out of any claim they could, so it's worth checking for sure.

Exactly this.

They will wriggle out if given half a chance and I prefer not to give them any excuse to do so.

I have heard of too many cases where people thought they were insured and yet for some reason the insurance company have refused to pay out.

It could come down to "adequate maintenance" in the small print, with the certificate you could prove that you have done your bit.

I recall a case where an insurer refused to pay out a claim on a house because the roof had not been "adequately maintained".

A._Badger

Providing it has been properly swept and you can prove it has been swept, that is sufficient. The certificates business was started by trade associations as marketing tool.

Seems like it worked.

POPPYOSCAR

A._Badger wrote: »

Providing it has been properly swept and you can prove it has been swept, that is sufficient. The certificates business was started by trade associations as marketing tool.

Seems like it worked.

This is the nub of it, easily proved with the certificate.

I insure my house with the max. excess as I am not interested in making small claims, I just want to be covered in a disaster, such as a fire, so the price of employing a professional who has the kit and the know how and provides me with the proof is worth the small amount it costs for me personally.

A._Badger

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

This is the nub of it, easily proved with the certificate.

I insure my house with the max. excess as I am not interested in making small claims, I just want to be covered in a disaster, such as a fire, so the price of employing a professional who has the kit and the know how and provides me with the proof is worth the small amount it costs for me personally.

Likewise. But my sweep doesn't issue bits of paper other than receipts, many don't. It doesn't make him, or them, any less professional or their sweeping any less kosher..

POPPYOSCAR

A._Badger wrote: »

Likewise. But my sweep doesn't issue bits of paper other than receipts, many don't. It doesn't make him, or them, any less professional or their sweeping any less kosher..

No I agree.

It just makes it easier from a paperwork point of view(presuming the whole house does not burn down!!)

SEE

beetwaste wrote: »

Interesting thread. Thought I'd share my experience.

I've had at least two sweeps let me down, and as I have no time off during the week, I need to arrange a sweep during my holiday time. I have a week off soon, so was going to arrange a sweep. Quotes are around £20-£25.

Anyway. Last night I had a minor sootfall, enough to cause concern in a particularly cold spell. So today, I bought an appropriate brush attachment for my drain rods - £6. I came home and set about the chimney.

Good news, the brush worked, and I shifted a lot of crud. A lot. I have a wood burner with a metal flue, so cleaning the chimney wasn't too tricky.

However, the living room is now coated in a thin film of black crud. Every door handle in the house is covered in a thin layer of black crud. I am covered in a thin layer of black crud, which after 15 minutes in the shower I can't shift. And I'm coughing up black crud, which is very bad.

So my advice is, don't do it yourself, get a sweep (I'll still be getting someone in) unless you need the chimney cleaning quickly, like I did. Cover everything - everything - with newspaper and sheets. Hoover up. And most importantly, wear a mask. It wasn't apparent how much dust was flying about, until after the event, and I hate to think how much I've been breathing in.

BLIMEY! Sweeps are about £70 here!!!!!

suki1964

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

As I understand it some Insurance companies will not pay out for chimney fires if they have not been swept by a professional chimney sweep(Our sweep gives us a certificate).

I would rather not have the bother of getting all the necessary equipment and also have the peace of mind that in the event of a chimney fire the insurance company would not have an excuse to not pay out.

I really wish people would post who these insurance companies are because I can assure you I have never been asked if I have either an open fire or stove, and I change insurers regularly

pd001

Swipe wrote: »

Have to told them you have a stove?

The question doesnt crop up in their questionnaire