Your fireplace usually tells you when the flue is closing up. The signs are easy to miss at first, but they tend to arrive together as the heating season wears on.
Fires that fight you
If lighting the burner has become a chore — smouldering starts, smoke spilling out when you open the door, flames that never quite take hold — poor draught from a soot-narrowed flue is a likely cause.
Smoke where it should not be
Smoke stains around the firebox opening, a strong smoky smell on damp or windy days, or visible haze in the room all suggest the flue is not clearing gases the way it should.
More wood, less heat
Burning noticeably more wood for the same warmth is the classic symptom of a flue that needs brushing. If any of these sound familiar, call A Better Chimney Sweep on 027 570 2027.