Roger O

Our ramoneur (chimney sweep) is just doing the necessary now for this winter.

For those of you with fireplaces - don't forget this important step - and to get your "certificat de ramonage" -
and keep a copy for your house insurance. Very important!

Right now is the time as they're not yet busy and a cold snap next month could occur...

dmu

Good advice!
Our ramoneur is also a plumber and you have to make an appointment well ahead...

smithyandlisa

Thanks so much for that info. We've lived here 18 months and had our log burner installed last October. Had no idea it had to be swept each year. Did a bit of phoning around following your post and have just booked an appointment. Thanks again.

Andrea50

Drat, I forgot about that. When we bought the place I kept on at the agent about this, asking him if there was a certificat, if chimney had been swept etc. only to keep getting the reply "this is France, not the UK" so, as the woodburner had only been installed in December 2008 and only used twice, I assumed the chimney was ok. In the past I always swept my own, but of course one can't do that here and anyway I have used half the poles now with plastic bottles on top as mole deterrents and the other half for poking down the fosse to unblock it.

Another thing on the list but thanks Roger for the timely reminder - a true gent m8.

Roger O

Well, you can do it yourself - and in the DIY shops like Castorama, Tridôme, Weldom, Bricomarché, Bricodepôt, etc., you can also buy a "bûche de ramonage" like this http://www.shopix.fr/buchederamonage,p150.html but not really advisable!!

With a professional chimney sweep (ramoneur) which costs something between 45-65 euros on average, you get an official certificate (insist on it when you make an appointment before the actual visit so you are sure to get an "accredited" ramoneur with a siret number!).

This is the only way to be sure you are really safe in case of a chimney fire and insurance claim because the ramoneur is responsible for having done a correct job!!

smithyandlisa

What would we do without you?

Le Chant

Now, not long back I had the chance to ask our insurance agency a couple of questions. The reason I got in touch with them was on behalf of a friend in the village. He wanted to know whether stud wall partitions in a house had to be built from alu as per fire regs or something. She told me categorically not. As long as the construction was of a good standard, it could be built of wood. She then mentioned that many people believe it's a condition of their house insurance policy that they must have the chimney cleaned by a registered artisan to be properly covered. She assured me that it was an 'urban myth'.

I also know of one guy who had a house fire which started from the poele, and he was paid out no questions asked. He'd never had a rammoneur near the place.

Not starting an argument, just pointing out that folks should ask their own agences d'assurance of their stance on this, as they may differ, before spending money they could likely hold onto.

chuba

Our ramoneur just comes in for coffee now as we don't have a chimney sorry just wanted to be a bit silly, yes this is a very important thing to do in France, there you go fixed

analyst

Dammit! and here's me thinking Ramonage was some kind of annual religious festival.






or maybe it is

Roger O

I'll say Halal to that!