Diary

Book before silly season fills the diary

Updated 14 September 2026

For UK chimney sweeps, the diary tightens from September through December. Households light the stove, insurers and landlords want a current certificate, and thatch conditions often specify a sweep before the heating season. By November many registered sweeps in the wood-burner belts are weeks ahead.

Book in spring or early summer, or at latest in August. Early September is already late in some parishes.

What it means

• Same week everyone calls — cold snap, insurance renewal, holiday-let agents.
• Registered diaries fill first — cash-only no-certificate visits may still be free; that is not what most policies ask for after a chimney fire.
• Longer jobs block the calendar — nest removal, unused flues, thatch. Say so when you book.

When to book

1. Ideal: spring or early summer.
2. Still fine: August.
3. Late: early September — call several registered sweeps.
4. Crisis: November–December wait lists.

Before you light up

Once the flue is clear, burn dry fuel. England’s Ready to Burn rules exist because wet wood tars the flue and raises chimney-fire risk.

Buy Ready to Burn kiln-dried logs from LogsOnline (affiliate link — we may earn a commission if you buy).

How often · Cost · Certificate · Landlords · Bird nests · Logs.

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