almafak

Today I received in my mailbox a numbered 'notice of mandatory chimney check' (kötelező kéményellenőrıést) to be carried out at my address at a certain date and time in July. It states something like, if this is not carried out then a second attempt would be made followed by a forced visit by the fire department (and its associated fee...). It was issued by Zala Megyei Katasztrófavédelmi Igazgatóság (Zala County Disaster Management Directorate).

Has anyone else received one of these?

duztee

Chimneys are inspected annually, Here they also inspect any which are used as gas boiler flues and also check for gas leaks, this may vary in other areas.
Here the guy rides around the streets on a bike and calls at houses until he has completed the area. so no doubt you have missed your guy and received a notice.

Be sure to only get ACTIVE chimneys checked!
I have 6 poking out of the roof but only two are in use.
This is important since each chimney inspected attracts a cost of 2030fts. so much better to pay for two than six.

And have something handy to catch the ash when he opens the inspection hatch, not his job to clean up the mess.

Peter_in_Hungary

You are right - chimneys are (should be?) inspected annually. In the 23 years we have been here we have not had one !!

Oh and I always clean my own.

almafak

Apparently every house in the village received a similar paper, each with a different time. My neighbour can not remember the last time an inspection was done.

I sweep my own chimney each year. We installed a wood-burning stove when we moved in. The man said not to bother to sweep but I collected enough soot from the flue to fill 2 pails as he watched.

scrubbedexpat0105

Same here (Vas county). First time in 12 years. My chimneys are walled up, I only heat with electric radiators – I'm not there in the winter. I wonder whether they'll take my word for it or will want to pay a visit to check anyway.

scrubbedexpat142

We have a compulsory inspection of the flues every year - just been done, also an inspection of the boiler.

fidobsa

Do you know what happens if it needs sweeping, does he sweep it and charge you more? I had a similar notice and I made sure I was in on the date stated but nobody appeared. He usually just turns up without notice so I might not always get chance to sweep it myself.

duztee

So basically it depends where you live if you get checked regularly or not, or even at all!

scrubbedexpat142

I think in England they call that a postcode lottery!

wolfi

Strange ...
Here in Zala county we've had these inspections once a year for a long time - just like in Germany, so I was prepared for this.

And of course something like this is necessary - many people don't care for fire safety, so the government has to take over ...

Pulaski

Maybe it depends how short of funds the local fire department is?

PaulinEger

When we lived in Sirok (8kms away) we never had our chimney checked once. Now we live in Bükkszék someone comes round usually twice a year :/ Not the same person either! we were recently told that all vályog houses must now have a chimney liner fitted to prevent the chimney catching fire. This will cost us around 150,000 huf but we will check with the relevant authorities first before splashing out.
Also, we don't have the little door near floor level to enable us to empty the build up of soot so this must be fitted. As our house is more than 100 years old I can't believe the chimney hasn't backed up yet.