I usually get Abbots Stoves of Standstead Abbots to come for the annual maintenance of my clearview stove - which they supplied and installed.
This year I left it rather late in the season to ring up and, as they come from a distance and like to combine visits in the area, I missed my chance. As I don't use my stove every day, and last winter didn't have heating at all quite a lot of the time, I thought I would manage without.
A builder told a friend of mine that you don't need to sweep a chimney with a flue liner - which I have - and risk damaging the flue liner if you do. As I have never watched what the man from Abbots Stoves does, it is possible he maintains the stove and doesn't sweep. His visits don't take long!
Then another builder told my friend, yes, you definitely do have to sweep!
So I got "The log book: Getting the best from you woodburning stove" by Will Rolls which arrived today. I eagerly looked up "sweeping the chimney". "According to most chimney sweeps you should have your chimney swept at least once very six months". Well, they would say that, wouldn't they!
I think I will have to ring up Abbots Stoves early next year and watch what the guy does. If the flue is not being swept then in future years I can someone local to maintain the stove. Likely to be cheaper and very much easier to fix a mutually convenient time.
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