Every year, at the end of the summer, we should always pay attention to fire safety and make sure that our chimneys and flues are in good working order as the heating season approaches.
"Time flies fast and autumn will come without notice. This is why we remind you to start thinking about your heating appliances well in advance and to carry out maintenance and chimney cleaning to keep yourself warm and safe in autumn and winter. It is obligatory to do this by November 1, but the heating season can start earlier," Lagzdiņš said.
If solid fuels are used, it is compulsory to clean the chimney every year before the heating season. If a slow-burning, long-burning stove is used, the chimney must be cleaned again at least once during the heating season.
"Of course, it all depends on what you're burning. You may need to clean more often. Of course, if [the heating equipment] is used according to the conditions, with dry wood and everything else, it may be enough to clean it once before the heating season," Lagzdiņš explained.
Although it is commonly thought that soot in flues from solid fuels is the biggest hazard, those who use gaseous fuels should also think about their heating appliances.
"The chimneys of gas boilers must also be cleaned [annually] and inspected at least every five years so that everything there is safe," Bambis added.
People need to understand that it is not only solid fuel appliances and chimneys that need to be cleaned. Gaseous and liquid fuel appliances also need to be given extra attention at least once a year, Bambis stressed.
According to the regulations, gas appliances should also be checked at least once a year to make sure they are burning properly, Lagzdiņš reminded.
You can find a list of certified chimney sweeps and find your own chimney sweep on a dedicated website. In a private home, the chimney can also be cleaned by the owner, but a specialist should also be called in every five years to carry out a technical assessment.
Lagzdiņš said that the statistics available from the State Fire and Rescue Service also show that people are thinking more and more carefully about the technical condition of their heating equipment.
"If, say, in 2021-2022 there were on average about 600 cases per year related to soot burning and the fires that broke out as a result, then in 2023 there were half as many. [..] Let's hope it will be even better," Lagzdiņš said.
