The Situation
I was recently at a chimney sweep appointment in Buxted, East Sussex, and it was a job that made a real difference.
A lovely lady called Chimneasy to book a chimney sweep for her open fire, mentioning it hadn’t been cleaned in over six years—super helpful info that let me prepare for a thorough chimney cleaning service.
On arrival, I was greeted by a kind lady and her super-friendly Labrador, who instantly made me feel welcome. I laid down my sheets, set my tool bag aside, and inspected the chimney with my torch and mirror. The flue was caked with soot and stage 2 creosote (that black, honeycomb-like buildup), clear signs of heavy use and a bit of neglect.
Actions Taken
I started with an abrasive brush to tackle the soot for the initial chimney maintenance. After pushing through four rods from the top, I checked behind the sheet—it was half full of debris already. The fireplace ended up brimming with soot and creosote, so I wasn’t fully satisfied with just one full sweep of the chimney.
I suggested to the customer that we sweep it twice for a proper creosote removal. She trusted my call and gave the go-ahead. Grabbing a top-of-the-range whip head from the van—perfect for stubborn tar and creosote in chimney sweep jobs—I sealed the chimney and swept again. This time, it filled three-quarters of the fireplace.
The Outcome
After cleaning up, I checked again with my torch and mirror. No soot, creosote, or tar remained—I was chuffed to see a clean, safe flue. Honestly, it’s a wonder the chimney had any draw with all that buildup clogging the flue and restricting smoke flow.
I warmed the flue with two fire lighters, carried my rods and bag to the van, and started tidying up. Back inside, I placed a smoke pellet in the warm chimney. The smoke rose perfectly, and a quick check outside confirmed no leaks from the pointing or flaunching.
I shared my findings with the customer, who was thrilled her fireplace was sorted. She felt a bit embarrassed about the chimney’s state, but at Chimneasy, we don’t judge—we fix the issue and offer friendly advice for chimney safety in East Sussex with a smile.
When I asked about a carbon monoxide alarm, she said she didn’t have one. I recommended getting one on Amazon and walked her through picking a reliable, affordable model, plus showed her exactly where to place it for proper carbon monoxide safety.
We were both happy with the outcome. After tidying up, we shook hands and parted ways, her home safer and cosier for it.
