Summer sweeps mean lower prices and instant availability. Get your chimney ready for winter while demand is low.

Book Chimney Sweep

Find a Chimney Sweep Near You

Updated May 2026Prices verified 6 May 2026200 UK cities covered

A chimney sweep clears soot and creosote from a flue, checks the liner and cowl, and issues a dated certificate. Frequency follows fuel rather than season — smokeless fuel and gas once a year, wood and bitumous coal twice. That certificate is what a home insurer will ask for after a chimney fire, and its absence can decide the claim.

Chimney sweeping, inspections, CCTV surveys and cowl fitting. Compare quotes from vetted chimney sweep professionals across the UK. Typical cost: £60–£150.

Get Free QuotesView Cost Guide
Professional chimney sweep at work in the UK

Quick answer

What does a chimney sweep do, and how often do you need one?

A chimney sweep clears soot and creosote from the flue, checks the liner and cowl, and issues a certificate. Typical cost is £60–£150. Sweeping frequency depends on fuel, not season: smokeless fuel and gas once a year, wood and bitumous coal twice. Most home insurers will ask for a dated sweep certificate after a chimney fire, and a missing one can decide the claim.

Chimney sweep vs stove installer vs roofer — who to call for what

JobChimney sweepStove installerRoofer
Annual sweep and certificate✅ Recommended⚠️ Sometimes❌ No
CCTV flue inspection✅ Routine✅ Yes❌ No
Fit or replace a flue liner⚠️ If HETAS✅ Recommended❌ No
Fit a bird guard or cowl✅ Routine✅ Yes✅ Access only
Repoint or rebuild the stack❌ No❌ No✅ Recommended

A sweep works inside the flue; a roofer works on the masonry outside it. If the problem is damp on the chimney breast rather than smoke in the room, the stack and flashing are the more likely cause and the roofer is the first call.

The Complete Guide to Hiring a Chimney Sweep in 2026

A chimney sweep provides chimney sweeping, inspections, cctv surveys and cowl fitting. Whether you need routine maintenance, emergency repairs, or a major installation project, a qualified chimney sweep has the skills, tools and experience to complete the work safely and to a high standard. On TradeMatch, every chimney sweep is vetted, background-checked, and holds verified public liability insurance — giving you peace of mind that your project is in safe hands.

When Should You Hire a Chimney Sweep?

  • •You notice something that needs professional chimney sweep attention — don't wait for small issues to become expensive problems.
  • •You're planning a renovation or home improvement project that requires specialist chimney sweep skills.
  • •You need work that must comply with UK building regulations, safety standards, or manufacturer warranties.
  • •You want a professional assessment, survey or quote before committing to a larger project.
  • •You need ongoing maintenance to keep your property in good condition.

Chimney SweepQualifications & Credentials to Look For

When hiring a chimney sweep, always verify their qualifications. The following are the key credentials and trade body memberships regulated by Relevant trade association:

✓Relevant trade qualifications
✓Public liability insurance
✓Valid public liability insurance (minimum £1M)

On TradeMatch, we verify all of these credentials before any chimney sweep can quote on jobs.

Verified Credentials

UK accreditations every chimney sweep on TradeMatch is checked against

Every tradesperson is verified against the UK accreditation bodies that matter for the work — before they can quote.

Read the full UK accreditations guide →

Chimney Sweep tools and workmanship — UK trade professional

Chimney Sweep Hiring Checklist

Use this checklist before hiring a chimney sweep to ensure you get quality work at a fair price:

  1. 1Verify qualifications: Relevant trade qualifications
  2. 2Confirm valid public liability insurance (minimum £1 million cover)
  3. 3Check reviews from previous customers — look for consistent quality and reliability
  4. 4Get at least 3 written quotes that itemise labour, materials and VAT
  5. 5Ask for references and examples of similar completed work
  6. 6Agree a detailed scope of work and timeline in writing before work starts
  7. 7Confirm payment terms — TradeMatch escrow protects both homeowner and tradesperson
  8. 8Check whether Building Control notification or planning permission is required

Red Flags When Hiring a Chimney Sweep

Watch out for these warning signs when getting quotes for chimney sweep work:

  • ✗No verifiable qualifications or trade body membership
  • ✗Requests full payment upfront before any work has started
  • ✗No public liability insurance or unwilling to provide proof
  • ✗Pressures you to make a quick decision without time to compare quotes
  • ✗Cannot provide references or examples of previous work
  • ✗Unusually low quotes that seem too good to be true

TradeMatch eliminates these risks — every chimney sweep is vetted, insured, and payments are escrow-protected.

Best Time to Hire a Chimney Sweep

You can hire a chimney sweep at any time of year, but planning ahead and booking during off-peak months (typically late autumn to early spring) can help you get better availability and potentially lower prices. For emergency work, TradeMatch has professionals available for same-day callouts.

Looking for a Chimney Sweep Near You?

Browse vetted chimney sweep professionals across 200 UK cities.

Chimney SweepNear Me →

Chimney Sweep Services

Chimney Sweeping

Professional chimney sweep with smoke test, certificate and inspection report

£50–£100

Chimney Lining

Stainless steel flexible flue liner installation for wood burners and gas fires

£400–£1,200

Bird Guard & Cowl Fitting

Chimney cowl, bird guard and rain cap fitting to prevent blockages and downdraught

£50–£150

Find a Chimney Sweep by Location

LondonGreater LondonBirminghamWest MidlandsManchesterGreater ManchesterLeedsWest YorkshireGlasgowGlasgow CityLiverpoolMerseysideNewcastleTyne and WearSheffieldSouth YorkshireBristolBristolEdinburghCity of EdinburghCardiffSouth GlamorganBelfastCounty AntrimNottinghamNottinghamshireLeicesterLeicestershireCoventryWest MidlandsBradfordWest YorkshireStoke-on-TrentStaffordshireWolverhamptonWest MidlandsPlymouthDevonSouthamptonHampshireReadingBerkshireDerbyDerbyshireAberdeenAberdeenshireSwanseaWest GlamorganOxfordOxfordshireCambridgeCambridgeshireYorkNorth YorkshireBathSomersetNorwichNorfolkPortsmouthHampshireBrightonEast SussexHullEast Riding of YorkshireSunderlandTyne and WearDundeeDundee CityMiddlesbroughNorth YorkshireExeterDevonPeterboroughCambridgeshireCheltenhamGloucestershireGloucesterGloucestershireLincolnLincolnshireSalisburyWiltshireChesterCheshireWorcesterWorcestershireInvernessHighlandLutonBedfordshireIpswichSuffolkBlackpoolLancashireBoltonGreater ManchesterWarringtonCheshireCrawleyWest SussexColchesterEssexBasingstokeHampshireMaidstoneKentBedfordBedfordshireNorthamptonNorthamptonshireSwindonWiltshireWiganGreater ManchesterMansfieldNottinghamshireWakefieldWest YorkshireBarnsleySouth YorkshireDoncasterSouth YorkshireRotherhamSouth YorkshireGrimsbyLincolnshireScunthorpeLincolnshireHarrogateNorth YorkshireScarboroughNorth YorkshireCarlisleCumbriaBarrow-in-FurnessCumbriaLancasterLancashireBurnleyLancashirePrestonLancashireStockportGreater ManchesterOldhamGreater ManchesterRochdaleGreater ManchesterBirkenheadMerseysideSt HelensMerseysideWalsallWest MidlandsDudleyWest MidlandsSolihullWest MidlandsTelfordShropshireShrewsburyShropshireHerefordHerefordshireKidderminsterWorcestershireStaffordStaffordshireTamworthStaffordshireNuneatonWarwickshireRugbyWarwickshireKetteringNorthamptonshireCorbyNorthamptonshireWellingboroughNorthamptonshireBanburyOxfordshireAylesburyBuckinghamshireHigh WycombeBuckinghamshireMilton KeynesBuckinghamshireStevenageHertfordshireWatfordHertfordshireSt AlbansHertfordshireChelmsfordEssexSouthend-on-SeaEssexGuildfordSurreyTunbridge WellsKentCanterburyKentDoverKentFolkestoneKentAshfordKentMargateKentDartfordKentHastingsEast SussexEastbourneEast SussexWorthingWest SussexChichesterWest SussexHorshamWest SussexWokingSurreySloughBerkshireMaidenheadBerkshireNewburyBerkshireBracknellBerkshireWinchesterHampshireAndoverHampshireFarehamHampshireGosportHampshireAldershotHampshireFarnboroughHampshireTauntonSomersetYeovilSomersetTorquayDevonBarnstapleDevonTruroCornwallTrowbridgeWiltshireChippenhamWiltshireDorchesterDorsetWeymouthDorsetBournemouthDorsetPooleDorsetKings LynnNorfolkGreat YarmouthNorfolkBury St EdmundsSuffolkLowestoftSuffolkHarlowEssexBraintreeEssexBasildonEssexGraysEssexHemel HempsteadHertfordshireHitchinHertfordshireWelwyn Garden CityHertfordshireLetchworthHertfordshireChesterfieldDerbyshireLoughboroughLeicestershireHinckleyLeicestershireGranthamLincolnshireBostonLincolnshireNewark-on-TrentNottinghamshireWorksopNottinghamshireBuxtonDerbyshireCannockStaffordshireLichfieldStaffordshireBurton upon TrentStaffordshireLeamington SpaWarwickshireStratford-upon-AvonWarwickshireRedditchWorcestershireBromsgroveWorcestershireGreat MalvernWorcestershireCreweCheshireMacclesfieldCheshireCongletonCheshireWidnesCheshireRuncornCheshireKendalCumbriaPenrithCumbriaAccringtonLancashireChorleyLancashireLeighGreater ManchesterSaleGreater ManchesterBuryGreater ManchesterAshton-under-LyneGreater ManchesterFleetwoodLancashireDarlingtonCounty DurhamDurhamCounty DurhamBishop AucklandCounty DurhamHartlepoolCounty DurhamBlythNorthumberlandHexhamNorthumberlandWhitbyNorth YorkshireRiponNorth YorkshireNorthallertonNorth YorkshireSelbyNorth YorkshireGooleEast Riding of YorkshireBeverleyEast Riding of YorkshireBridlingtonEast Riding of YorkshireNewportGwentWrexhamWrexhamLlanelliCarmarthenshireAberystwythCeredigionBangorGwyneddStirlingStirlingshirePerthPerth and KinrossFalkirkFalkirkDunfermlineFifeKirkcaldyFifeAyrSouth Ayrshire

Chimney Sweep — Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a chimney sweep cost in the UK?▾
The typical cost for a chimney sweep in the UK ranges from £60–£150. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials needed, your location and the tradesperson's experience. Get free, no-obligation quotes on TradeMatch to compare prices in your area.
How do I find a reliable chimney sweep near me?▾
On TradeMatch UK, every chimney sweep is vetted, background-checked and reviewed by real homeowners. Simply post your job, receive up to 5 quotes from local professionals, then compare reviews, qualifications and pricing before choosing who to hire. All payments are escrow-protected.
What qualifications should a chimney sweep have?▾
A reputable chimney sweep should hold: Relevant trade qualifications, Public liability insurance. They should also carry public liability insurance. The relevant regulatory body is Relevant trade association. On TradeMatch, we verify these credentials before any tradesperson can join the platform.
How long does it take to get a chimney sweep on TradeMatch?▾
Most homeowners receive their first quote within a few hours of posting a job. Depending on demand in your area, you can typically have a chimney sweep booked within 1–3 days for standard work, or same-day for emergencies.
Are chimney sweep professionals on TradeMatch insured?▾
Yes. Every chimney sweep on TradeMatch must hold valid public liability insurance before they can quote on jobs. We verify insurance documentation as part of our vetting process, and payments are escrow-protected — your money is only released when you confirm the work is satisfactory.
How much does a chimney sweep charge per hour?▾
Most chimney sweep professionals in the UK quote per job rather than per hour, because the work varies too much for an hourly rate to be meaningful. Many chimney sweep professionals prefer to quote per job — post on TradeMatch for accurate fixed-price quotes.
What guarantee should a chimney sweep offer?▾
A reputable chimney sweep should offer a written guarantee of at least 12 months on labour. For larger projects, look for guarantees backed by Relevant trade association or an insurance-backed warranty. On TradeMatch, all payments are escrow-protected and every tradesperson is vetted.
Is it worth hiring a chimney sweep or doing it myself?▾
For small cosmetic tasks you may be able to DIY, but for anything requiring relevant trade qualifications it's safer to hire a qualified chimney sweep. Incorrect work can void insurance, fail inspections, or cause expensive damage. Compare free quotes on TradeMatch before deciding.
What chimney sweep services can I book on TradeMatch?▾
Chimney Sweep services on TradeMatch include: Chimney Sweeping, Chimney Lining, Bird Guard & Cowl Fitting. Each service has vetted specialists. Post your specific job to get quotes from professionals who specialise in exactly what you need.

How to Hire a Chimney Sweep on TradeMatch

1

Post Your Job

Tell us what chimney sweep work you need — it only takes 2 minutes.

2

Get Free Quotes

Receive up to 3 quotes from vetted chimney sweep professionals near you.

3

Hire & Review

Compare reviews, choose the best quote, and leave a review when the job is done.

Chimney SweepQuestions & Answers

Browse questions from homeowners about hiring a chimney sweep, costs, and what to expect.

Browse Chimney SweepQ&A →Chimney SweepCost Guide →How to Hire a Chimney Sweep→
Compare Platforms

How TradeMatch wins for Chimney Sweep work

Side-by-side with the four most-searched UK trade platforms. No subscription fees, up to 5 competing quotes, escrow-protected payments — three things every other platform misses.

FeatureTradeMatchCheckatradeMyBuilderBarkRated People
Up to 5 quotes✓BrowseUp to 5VariesUp to 3
Escrow payment protection✓✗✗✗✗
No tradesperson subscription✓£50+/mo✓Credits£15+/mo
Verified reviews (live)✓5-day delay✓Mixed✓
Background + qualification checks✓✓LightBasic ID✓
Dispute resolution team✓✗✗✗✗
See full platform comparison →Post a chimney sweep job free