Re: chimney sweeping
 

Do you need to have the chimney swept if you've got a woodburner? It would be difficult to introduce any kind of brush up the flue pipe inside it. Or do they get on the roof? The chimney has a top on it, shaped a bit like a narrowboat chimney, so it wouldn't be too easy from up there either.

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Yes you do. Is it a free standing or an insert? If the former, the sweep will just disconnect the pipe at the back and rod up the flue. If an insert, I don't know how it works. My neighbour removes the fire and then rods it himself

Re: chimney sweeping
 

We have an insert that heats the two floors above through ducts. There are two pipes, one that conducts the heat and the other the smoke.

It was swept last week by our usual sweep, well these days his son! All done and dusted in half an hour from the ground floor - absolutely no mess. Certificate duly signed, stamped and handed over and pastis consumed as it was his last call of the day. Cost? €65.00 and a couple of pastises.

A friend down the road was charged €100.00 for a single storey house then an extra €10,00 for the certificate. Mind he saved on the pastis ;)

Re: chimney sweeping
 

70€ here, for a two-storey house with just the one flexible flue in the chimney. The assistant on the roof with the brush, and the sweep downstairs hoovering what dropped into the fireplace. No mess, either!
No pastis offered, as we were his first port of call (but no coffee accepted either!)

Re: chimney sweeping
 

As said, yes of course you do, and don't worry your sweep will know exactly how to sweep it, that's their job, you pay them 50/60/70€ or whatever for knowing what to do.

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Hello GrannyB,
Were those 'pastises' of the cornish variety with added garlic?.....:scarper:
If the anise-flavoured aperitif, I believe 'Pastis' remains the same in the plural.
That reminds me, it's about aperitif time. Sante! ;)

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Santé from me too TP. You of course are correct but it just didn't look right.

Now a good paaarsty would do very well right now!

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Touché, or is it touchée for a Granny?

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Either just say it LOUD..:lol:

Re: chimney sweeping
 

...:rofl:

Re: chimney sweeping
 

In case of a fire you will be obliged to show your certificate to your insurance company. If this was lost in the fire then yes the duplicata is kept by the company who did the sweep. Always, always ask for your certificate and its better to pay by cheque rather than cash.....
The Pompiers do not receive the duplicatas its not their concern - whoever told you that doesn't have a clue.

Boiler chimneys, oil AND gas must be swept once a year. Wood boilers & burners have to be swept TWICE a year; once during the heating period and once outside the heating period. This is VERY important as most people only do it once a year but beware as the regulations say twice.

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Could you specify which 'regulations' this refers to, please? Just to clarify whether you're quoting French law, insurance law, ramoneurs' law or 'best practice'?

Re: chimney sweeping
 

I too would like to know because when we asked our sweep and he assured us that that was only for wood burning apparatus that fires boilers for water circulation.

As our insert is correctly installed and does not involve any boiler just ducted hot air once a year is perfectly adequate, both legally and practically.

If he is wrong then there are at least 6 households in the hameau - including a pompier's, we are all in trouble:confused:

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Its common knowledge for people like me in the trade so any plumber or sweep would be able to tell you.
The official regs are to be found in "la réglement départemental sanitaire" which, despite the name, is valid for the whole of france. Its under Article 31.6. There is also the articles 37 et 40 de l’Ordonnance de Police du 5 mai 1974. Otherwise HERE is a quick article (in french but easy to read)

Re: chimney sweeping
 

Well I knew and I am neither plumber nor sweep but then I can search the internet and read French, which is perhaps not so common (even amongst the French)

Ramonage obligatoire : la réglementation