Chimney Sweeping

Chimney Sweep Services in Bury St Edmunds & Surrounding Suffolk Areas

The Good Sweep is your local, friendly chimney sweep based in Bury St Edmunds, serving all towns and villages within a 20-mile radius. We take pride in offering professional, mess-free chimney care for all types of fireplaces and stoves. As a certified member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps, our service is trusted, fully insured, and comes with an insurance approved certificate after every sweep.

Wood Burners, Lined Stoves & Open Fires Chimney Sweeping

Keeping your chimney clean is essential for safety and efficiency. Our chimney sweeping service covers small wood burning stoves, lined multi fuel stoves, and open fireplaces commonly found in homes across Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk.

We remove soot, ash, and creosote buildup to prevent chimney fires and ensure proper airflow. The Good Sweep uses modern chimney sweeping methods including power brushing and traditional rods, along with sealed dust sheets and HEPA-filter vacuums for a no mess experience. We treat your home with respect, leaving your fireplace area as clean as we found it (or cleaner!).

Why Choose Our Chimney Sweeping Service?

• Professional & Certified: Our sweep is Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps certified, following strict standards for a thorough job. We also perform a smoke draw test (where possible) to ensure your chimney is drawing properly and your appliance is safe to use.
• Safety First: Regular sweeping (at least once a year is recommended) greatly reduces the risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. We’ll advise on any issues we spot, such as cracks or missing chimney caps, so you can address them promptly.
• Local Expertise: As a chimney sweep in Bury St Edmunds, we understand the common soot and tar issues in Suffolk’s chimneys. Whether you have a cozy wood burner in Thurston or an open fire in a historic Lavenham cottage, we have the right tools and experience.
• Insurance Approved Certificate: After every sweep, we issue a Certificate of Chimney Sweeping from the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps – recognised by home insurance providers. This gives you peace of mind and proof that your chimney has been professionally cleaned, especially important for thatched properties and insurance compliance.

Ready to keep your fireplace safe and efficient? Book a chimney sweep with us today. We make it easy, just call 01284 365010 or use our online contact form to schedule a visit at your convenience.

Unlined Stove Sweeping

Do you have a wood burner or multi fuel stove connected to an unlined chimney? Our unlined stove sweeping service is here to help. Many older homes in and around Bury St Edmunds have stoves venting into a traditional masonry flue without a modern liner. Unlined chimneys can accumulate soot and tar in the brickwork joints and on the register plate, requiring extra care and thorough cleaning. The Good Sweep specialises in sweeping unlined flues, using flexible rods, brushes, and vacuum techniques to reach every corner of your chimney.

What Makes Unlined Chimney Sweeping Different?
Unlined flues often have rough surfaces and bends where debris can gather. We take a methodical approach to ensure no soot or blockage is left behind:

• We start by inspecting the flue (often with a flashlight or camera) to assess buildup. If needed, we can use CCTV for a closer look.
• Using the appropriate size brushes or power sweeping equipment, we scrub away soot, ash, and creosote that cling to the masonry. This process may be more time consuming than for lined systems, but it ensures a thorough clean.
• We clean the register plate (the metal plate sealing the bottom of your chimney above the stove) to remove any debris resting on top of it. This helps prevent future fall-down soot that could block the stove or cause smoke in your room.
• All debris is contained with dust sheets and cleared with our HEPA vacuum, keeping your home dust-free.

After the sweep, we perform a smoke test if possible and ensure your stove and chimney are drawing correctly. Just like our standard sweep, you’ll receive a Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps certificate for your records and insurance purposes‍.

We’ll ensure your stove runs safely and efficiently, so you can enjoy your fire with confidence.

Open Fire Sweeping (Including Dog Basket Fires)

Open fireplaces bring warmth and charm to many Suffolk homes, but they also produce a lot of soot and smoke that must be properly managed. Our open fire sweeping service is tailored for those big, traditional fireplaces, including “dog basket” fires (open fires using a dog grate or fire basket). Whether you have a grand open hearth in a period property or a large inglenook style fireplace used for solid fuel or even a gas effect fire, The Good Sweep can keep it clean, safe, and efficient.

Comprehensive Cleaning for Big Fireplaces:
Sweeping a large open chimney often requires special attention due to the greater flue size and soot volume. Here’s what we do to ensure a thorough job:

• Preparation and Protection: We carefully sheet up the fireplace opening with extra large dust sheets, sealing off your room, and use a high powered vacuum to capture soot. No matter how big the hearth, we guarantee a no-mess sweep.
• Professional Sweeping: Using our extendable rods and oversized brushes (or power sweeping equipment for wide flues), we remove layers of soot, ash, and any debris from the chimney walls. Large open fires, especially those burning wood and coal, tend to deposit significant soot, we’ll make sure it’s all swept away.
• Dog Basket Grates: If your fireplace uses a dog basket (a type of cast iron grate for holding fuel), we’ll clean around it and ensure the area beneath is clear. We can also advise on best practices for using your dog grate fire efficiently, to reduce excessive soot buildup.
• Safety Checks: After sweeping, we perform a smoke draw test to check that smoke vents properly up the chimney and not into your room. We inspect the chimney pot and flue visually (and with CCTV if needed) to ensure there are no obstructions or damage.

As always, our Guild-certified chimney sweep works to the highest standards. You’ll receive an insurance-approved Certificate of Sweeping on completion, documenting that your large open fireplace has been professionally cleaned. Regular sweeping (at least annually, or more frequently if used often) will help prevent chimney fires and keep your open fire burning brightly.

We serve all around Bury St Edmunds, from large country homes in villages like Woolpit and Rougham, to classic Georgian fireplaces in town. Our friendly sweep arrives on time and in uniform, ready to tackle even the sootiest chimneys. We’re happy to answer your questions and will treat your home with respect.

Inglenook Fireplace Sweeping

Inglenook fireplaces are a stunning feature in many older homes and cottages across Suffolk. These hearths create a cozy atmosphere, but their size means they can accumulate a huge amount of soot and debris if not maintained. Our inglenook fire sweeping service is designed to handle these wide, historic chimneys found in period properties. The Good Sweep has the expertise and equipment to thoroughly clean your inglenook fireplace, keeping it safe, efficient, and preserving its character.

Experienced Care for Historic Chimneys:
Sweeping an inglenook is a specialized task, but we love the challenge! Here’s how we look after your inglenook chimney:

• Careful Containment: Inglenooks have very large openings, so we use oversized sheets, screens, and professional techniques to seal the area. Our team takes extra care to prevent any soot or dust escaping into your room, using industrial HEPA vacuums throughout the process.
• Thorough Sweeping: We employ a combination of traditional brush sweeping and modern rotary sweeping to scrub the entire flue interior. Inglenook chimneys often have wide throats and smoke chambers; we make sure to clean all sections. If needed, we’ll go in from the roof as well as the fireplace to get to every corner.
• Debris Removal: Over years, bits of brick, old birds’ nests, or broken tiles can accumulate on internal ledges of an inglenook chimney. We utilise chimney cameras and rods to locate and remove such blockages or debris, ensuring your chimney is completely clear.
• Safety Inspection: As Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps professionals, we inspect the inglenook for any issues like cracked linings, excessive tar deposits, or structural concerns. We can advise on whether your inglenook might benefit from a modern lining or other improvements for efficiency.

After sweeping, you will receive a Guild-issued sweeping certificate for your records, just as with all our services. This documentation is important for insurance (especially if your property is thatched or historic). It also gives you confidence that the job has been done to the highest standard.

Our friendly, respectful approach is trusted by homeowners, estate managers, and landlords alike. We understand the value of your property’s heritage, and take every precaution to protect and preserve it during our work.

Pre-Installation & Flue Closure Sweeping

Planning to install a new stove or fireplace? Or closing off an old chimney? Don’t overlook the important step of a pre-installation or flue closure sweep. The Good Sweep offers a specialized service to sweep and inspect your chimney flue before installation or decommissioning, ensuring everything is clear and safe for the next steps. This service is highly recommended for homeowners around Bury St Edmunds who are upgrading heating appliances or renovating – it can save you from big headaches down the line.

Why Sweep Before Installation or Closure?

• Remove Soot & Debris: Before fitting a new log burner, gas fire, or liner, it’s critical to remove any existing soot, creosote, or blockages in the chimney. Old deposits can dislodge during installation or later use, potentially causing smoke issues or chimney fires. Our sweep clears the flue so your new appliance starts with a clean slate.
• Ensure Flue Integrity: As part of this service, we conduct a CCTV chimney inspection and possibly a flue smoke test This checks for cracks, gaps, or unseen obstructions in the chimney. Identifying structural issues before installation means you can address them (e.g. installing a liner or repairs) to ensure your new stove operates safely and efficiently.
• Flue Closure Benefits: If you’re decommissioning a chimney (perhaps removing an old appliance and capping the chimney off), sweeping first is vital. Why? Because leaving soot inside a closed chimney can lead to damp and nasty odors over time. We’ll remove all soot and even old bird nests so that when the flue is closed, you won’t get lingering problems.
• Meet Regulations & Warranty: Many stove manufacturers and HETAS installers require that the chimney is swept prior to installation for the warranty and building regs compliance. We provide documentation, your insurance approved sweep certificate – as proof that the flue was professionally cleaned and inspected prior to the new installation. Installers in Suffolk know The Good Sweep’s reputation for quality, so you can hand them our certificate with confidence.

Our pre-installation/flue closure sweep service is a bit more involved than a standard sweep (it typically takes longer and includes the CCTV survey), but it’s well worth the peace of mind. You’re investing in a new appliance or renovation, let us make sure your chimney is ready for it!

We often coordinate with local installers in Bury St Edmunds and surrounding areas. With flexible booking times, we’ll ensure the sweep is done at the right stage of your project.