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CHIMNEY SMOKE TESTING

Apex Chimney Services carry out a full range of smoke testing chimneys in London and North Kent.

The purpose of chimney smoke testing is to establish whether or not a chimney flue is sound and fit for use and has adequate draught to ensure the safe removal of smoke and to ensure that the combustion gasses evacuate from the fireplace upwards and out through the chimney pot and not leak into any other areas which surround the chimney system.

The smoke test will identify cracks and leaks in the chimney flue which if unidentified could result in harmful gasses and Carbon Monoxide (Co) leaking into your home or that of a neighbours.

Our chimney sweeps have attended and passed the assessments necessary to allow us to issue National Association of Chimney Sweeps ( NACS ) Certificates of Chimney Smoke Testing. We are also deemed competent under both the HETAS and GASAFE approval schemes to allow us to competently smoke test your chimneys for safe use when burning either solid fuel (smokeless fuel, coal & wood) or gas appliances.

The smoke testing is carried out in accordance with the relevant Building Regulations and British and European Standards. It is a requirement prior to smoke testing to first sweep the chimney to ensure that it is clear and free from soot which could block existing cracks in the chimney flue.

smoke testing

Smoke leaking into the
bedroom above the fireplace
smoke testing2

Here we are using a skylift whilst smoke testing chimneys for solid fuel use where the top of the chimney needs to be sealed off when under test.

smoke test london

Smoke discharging from two outlets
showing a leaking flue
smoke testing 3

This customer thought that she could smell smoke in a fourth floor bedroom, having moved the wardrobe and lifted the carpets we soon found the problem. Further investigations found that a wood burning stove fitted in the fireplace in the lower ground floor (5 floors below) was the culprit, this could have resulted in a Carbon Monoxide incident and / or a house fire, as when the floorboards were lifted we found joists and the underside of the floorboards were badly scorched.
smoke testing

Smoke leaking into bathroom on the second floor whilst we were testing the chimney serving the ground floor gas fire, this could have resulted in a Carbon Monoxide poisoning had we not detected the fault. The gas fire was made safe and we advised that the flue concerned should be relined.