Almost 1 in 10 owners of wood burners and solid fuel stoves at risk of a chimney fire as stacks are left unswept for years

01 September, Scotland: New research from HETAS reveals 1 in 10 owners of wood burners and other solid fuel stoves leave it two or more years to sweep their chimney or never get it swept at all, increasing their risk of a chimney fire.

In 2023/2024 there were 398 chimney fires in Scotland, accounting for 1.6 per cent of the total fires in the country. The Highlands alone accounted for 92 incidents of chimney fires – the most of all Scottish counties – followed by Aberdeenshire at 41 incidents (up from 31 in 2022/23). The figures are similar across England, with chimney fires accounting for approximately 1.5 per cent of total fires as of the year ending December 2024.

Industry advice is for chimneys to be swept at least twice a year if you burn wood, and at least once every 12 months if you use smokeless fuels, regardless of what type of chimney you have and even if it is lined.

The new data from HETAS, an independent organisation promoting a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment, working with Government and industry experts, found that nearly 1 in 10 stove owners leave it two or more years to sweep their chimney or never at all, while a fifth have either never serviced their appliance or are unsure if they have or not. Servicing an appliance ensures all components are fit for purpose, significantly reducing the risk of emissions spilling into the home and incomplete combustion – which can cause a buildup of highly flammable soot.

Calvin May, head of technical services at HETAS said: ‘Chimney maintenance is an essential and responsible part of ownership. The best time to get your chimney swept and your solid fuel appliance maintained is just before the start of the heating season in September, alternatively after your stove has not been used for a prolonged period.’

The HETAS findings also suggest that some stove owners are not aware that their stove needs servicing, with others doing it themselves.

Calvin continues: ‘In addition to regularly getting your chimney swept, keeping a regular servicing schedule is essential to avoid chimney fires.

‘Professional servicing and regular chimney sweeping will help your stove run more efficiently, getting you more heat for your fuel, while also minimising the chance of hazards such as smoke spilling into your room or carbon monoxide poisoning.

‘When used correctly and with the appropriate fuels and maintenance routine, a solid fuel stove can be an excellent source of heat for the home – one that reduces your risk of a fine and prevents a build-up of creosote deposits in the flue which can lead to a chimney fire.’