FIRE!

[RogerS]

Had the chimney sweep in today to clean out the two chimneys in the cottage. As he was leaving, I asked if it was OK to have a decent fire.

'Yes..no problem' was his reply.

So I did.

Burnt a lot of very dry old laths - blazed away very nicely.

Went upstairs to see if the newly exposed chimney stack was leaking smoke....it was...quite a lot.

Went back downstairs to find the laths all burned away with a few glowing embers. That was when I heard the roaring sound...bit like a fan....surely not air rushing up the chimney, I thought, as there's not that much in the grate to cause it.

But there was ...up the chimney....glowing nicely...not too much smoke...but very red.....999....did you know that number withheld doesn't work with 999? Just as well, I reckon.....cut out the hoaxers...

Anyway, about 20 minutes later (I did say I lived out in the sticks, didn't I?) they arrived....very, very, very professional and hardly a drop of water. Fire out.

Brilliant job, guys (and young firewoman) !! Many thanks to you all.

 

[Gary]

Had the chimney sweep in today to clean out the two chimneys in the cottage. As he was leaving, I asked if it was OK to have a decent fire.

.

Money well spent there then. I hope it hasn't caused too much damage.

 

[DaveL]

So what did the sweep do then? If he had cleaned the chimney properly then surely there should not of been anything to burn in the flue?

 

[Paul Chapman]

I find it's quite easy to sweep the chimney yourself - if you have some drain rods, you can buy a brush that fits on the end. I do mine about twice a year. But always remember to turn the rods clockwise :wink:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Dave S]

But always remember to turn the rods clockwise :wink: Paul

How di you know find that out :?:

Dave :lol:

 

[Paul Chapman]

But always remember to turn the rods clockwise :wink: Paul

How di you know find that out :?:

No, but an ex-boss of mine didn't know about the clockwise thing and saw his rods disappear down the drain :shock: :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Shadowfax]

Oh dear!
You have found the best way to clear a chimney, but I would not recommend it!
What we used to tell anyone who had a chimney fire was that the flue would need to be scraped (especially if it was to be used for wood burning). Simply sweeping will not dislodge the resin that cakes onto the sides.
I must have done this dozens of times over the years but a handful of the cornflake-like stuff that lines the chimney was usually enough to convince people that the chimney sweep had not done a good job.
If you are unlucky and it happens again, flick some water (not too much) onto the fire in the grate, straight off the surface in a bowl or bucket of water. This will produce steam which will go up the flue and do the world of good while you wait for the big red lorry to arrive.
Cheers.

SF

Apologies if that sounded like Granny and Eggs etc. It wasn't meant that way - really. Just saying what our procedure was, and still is, come to that.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Roger
Sounds amusing but I bet it wasn't in reality! Glad all is OK.
S

 

[JFC]

An ole wives tale i heard was to blank off the fireplace with newspaper /cutting the air supply . If the fire is out but the chimney is ablaze would it work ?




PS ...Roger you are in the sin bin for not taking pics of the female fire fighter !!!!!!

 

[CHJ]

An ole wives tale i heard was to blank off the fireplace with newspaper /cutting the air supply . If the fire is out but the chimney is ablaze would it work ?

If it was anything like the ones we used to get from time to time the paper would rapidly join the burning soot and possibly make a smart exit out the top due to the chimney draft.

We had a steel plate with a handle attached for such times, it muffled the fire by reducing the oxygen available and prevented the burning soot shooting out of the fireplace.

No phone in those days, and 6miles to the nearest volunteer manned fire station means you cause it you fix it.

EDIT: No guesses as to which chimneys were involved. although 'phone had been connected at time of picture.