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In the UK, the average cost for chimney sweeping typically ranges from £70 to £105 for a standard open fire or lined stove, with unlined stoves costing between £85 and £105.
In Great Britain, a chimney sweep, in the most simple of terms, would always cost between £60 and £100. Apart from these charges, there are certain factors that come into play, affecting the price of the work. For instance, open fireplaces are usually the cheapest to sweep; however, log burners or multi-fuel stoves can be pricier as they tend to take up more time and require specialised equipment.
Properties belonging to major cities such as London or the South East can get chimney sweeping at the higher end of the spectrum due to increased labour rates. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for some time, then second charges might apply for a deep sweep or blockage removal. Regular upkeep shall put the charges at a lower level. Find all details here about the chimney sweep cost in the UK.
Standard sweep cost – Standard sweeps usually cost anything between £60 and £100, depending on the chimney type and location. Generally, the sweep includes brushing of the flue, removal of any soot deposits and the issuance of a simple sweeping certificate.
Full inspection cost – Full inspections normally cost from £120 to £200 due to the rigour of the assessment, CCTV camera surveys, smoke testing and structural integrity checks.
Why Does Inspection Cost More Than a Standard Sweep? – Full inspections essentially require specialised equipment and are very time-intensive, and hence their typically higher pricing of about £50–£100 compared to a standard sweep.
| Region | Typical Cost Range For Standard Chimney Sweep | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| London and South East | £80-£110 | Labour rates in London are considerably greater. Congestion or parking charges may also be factored into the price. With demand being high and living costs high, sweeps in the South East sometimes charge a little extra. |
| South West | £70-£100 | A little less than the South East but still above the national price average for busy cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter. Outside cities, rural areas may have travel surcharge charges if a property is located far away. |
| Midlands | £60-£90 | Being somewhere in the middle is often how prices are in the Midlands. Big hits like Birmingham or Leicester may be closer to the higher end of the range, while smaller towns tend to be cheaper. |
| North West | £60-£85 | Competition among local sweeps keeps the prices in this area quite low, especially in places as Manchester, Liverpool, and Lancashire. |
| North East | £55-£80 | This area generally has the least labour cost in the UK, and hence, chimney sweep services are more affordable here. Travel fees are hardly ever charged unless the place is in an isolated location. |
You can find similar average cost ranges for chimney sweeping in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Independent Sweep – It can cost you about £55 to £80 for a standard sweep. They would normally have lower overheads and therefore can be more flexible with their pricing, especially if repeat customers or multiple chimneys in the same property are involved.
Professional Company – For the same service, the larger firms would ideally be charging £80 and £110. Hence, their prices reflect their higher operating costs, formalised training, insurance, and certification.
What You Get for Your Money – A professional firm may throw in digital certificates, full liability insurance, and access to state-of-the-art inspection equipment. The independent sweeper gives a much more personal touch but may require additional fees for inspection or documentation.
The time taken normally for a chimney sweep to finish a job in the UK ranges from thirty minutes to one hour. The time depends on the kind of fireplace and the state of the flue. An open fireplace is cleaned faster than a log burner or multi-fuel stove, which sometimes requires dismantling of the internal works and thus may take around 45-60 minutes to clean.
An extremely filthy chimney may present an easier situation; heavy deposits of soot or creosote, or maybe a blockage, such as that resulting from a bird nest, may indeed take one or two hours. Full inspections, including CCTV cameras or smoke testing, would take extra time.
Many offer some discounted rates to people who ensure regular or annual cleanup activity. Instead of giving a full one-time immediate payment every time, the customers at least yearly sweep are provided with 10% to 20% off from the base price. Some companies may give more discounts as a loyalty special after the second or third visit.
If you own more than one chimney or flue on the premises, most sweeps will also discount the second-and-later chimneys: usually, £20 to £30 less per added flue. Likewise, discounts for early bookings around the off-peak season (spring to summer) will pave your path to the lowering of rates and avoiding extra emergency call-out fees.
Chimneys left unmaintained generate a great hazard with safety and damage risk up to very high degrees on account of the time passed and inaction.
With regular sweeping, on the other hand, the system remains safe and operational while being able to save you from spending on bigger repairs.
A sweep approved by HETAS would maintain strict safety and compliance standards for solid fuel appliances and chimney systems.
The National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) registers sweeps who conform to one accepted code of practice and who issue legitimate sweeping certificates that many insurance companies require.
Another worthy body offering accredited training whose members issue valid certificates.
If offered, these guarantees of workmanship or insurance-backed warranties help provide peace of mind in case of defective work or a future problem.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.
