HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a chimney sweep in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A chimney sweep in Ireland costs €60–€110 per visit, typically around €80. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a chimney sweep in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers chimney sweep work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — advice and Maintenance Tips — chimney sweeps often provide homeowners with advice on proper chimney maintenance and usage.
- How does type of chimney change the price?What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of soot build-up change the price?What is already there often has to be removed first. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does whether any repairs are needed change the price?Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Chimney sweeping services usually do not cover extensive repairs or structural work on the chimney itself — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a chimney sweep job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO ROOFERS IN IRELAND. What governs the work is safety law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Work at Height) Regulations, enforced by the HSA. A roofer is not licensed; the scaffold, the edge protection and the method are what tell you whether you have hired a professional.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Edge protection or scaffold in the quote as a line item — a quote with no access cost has not priced the safe way of doing it; Public liability at a level that matches a roof, and employer's liability if they bring a crew; Whether they will go up and photograph the actual defect before pricing; A written scope saying what is stripped, what is reused and what is replaced; How they protect the inside if the roof is open overnight; The guarantee, in writing, on workmanship and on materials separately.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability and employer's liability; ask the limit, not just whether they have it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers chimney sweep work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — advice and Maintenance Tips — chimney sweeps often provide homeowners with advice on proper chimney maintenance and usage.
A good answer: What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What is already there often has to be removed first. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Years of use leave more to put right than a recent job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Chimney sweeping services usually do not cover extensive repairs or structural work on the chimney itself — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a chimney sweep job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and employer's liability; ask the limit, not just whether they have it — smoke Test and Efficiency Check — after cleaning, a smoke test may be conducted to assess the chimney's efficiency and draft.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the chimney sweep starts, and an itemised invoice after — sweeping and Cleaning — the primary service provided by a chimney sweep is the removal of soot, creosote, and debris from the chimney flue.
Getting the quote right
- Type of chimney — what is included in the package changes the total.
- Level of soot build-up — what is already there often has to be removed first.
- Whether any repairs are needed — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job.
- Complexity of the job — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: type of chimney — what is included in the package changes the total
- They will not talk about it: level of soot build-up — what is already there often has to be removed first
- They will not talk about it: whether any repairs are needed — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job
- A price for the chimney sweep before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the chimney sweep has begun
What a chimney sweep costs: €60–€110 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Standard chimney sweep and Chimney inspection each carry their own band. Chimney Sweep price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Chimney sweeps near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstType of chimney — what is included in the package changes the total — that is what the chimney sweep is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLevel of soot build-up — what is already there often has to be removed first — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfWhether any repairs are needed — years of use leave more to put right than a recent job — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the job — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the chimney sweep is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, regular sweeping is recommended at least once a year, depending on usage.
- Inspection and Assessment
- A chimney sweep begins with a thorough inspection of the chimney and flue system to identify any blockages or structural issues.
- Sweeping and Cleaning
- The primary service provided by a chimney sweep is the removal of soot, creosote, and debris from the chimney flue.
- Smoke Test and Efficiency Check
- After cleaning, a smoke test may be conducted to assess the chimney's efficiency and draft.
- Advice and Maintenance Tips
- Chimney sweeps often provide homeowners with advice on proper chimney maintenance and usage.
- Standard Chimney Sweep
- A comprehensive cleaning of your chimney flue to remove soot and creosote buildup, enhancing safety and efficiency.
- Chimney Inspection
- A thorough examination of your chimney’s structure and functionality, identifying any potential issues requiring attention.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a chimney sweep: questions people ask
The cost of a chimney sweep can vary based on the size and type of chimney, the level of soot build-up, and whether any repairs are needed. Additional services, like smoke tests or inspections, may also increase the price.
Typically, a chimney sweep service can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the condition of the chimney and the extent of cleaning required. A thorough inspection may extend the duration.
Many chimney sweep services offer emergency or same-day appointments, especially during peak seasons. However, availability may vary, so it's best to contact local services directly for urgent needs.
Yes, many chimney sweeps allow you to book multiple services, such as inspections or repairs, in one visit. This can often save you time and money, as bundled services may come with discounts.
Chimney sweeping services usually do not cover extensive repairs or structural work on the chimney itself. If significant repairs or modifications are needed, a separate quote and service will be required.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO ROOFERS IN IRELAND. What governs the work is safety law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Work at Height) Regulations, enforced by the HSA. A roofer is not licensed; the scaffold, the edge protection and the method are what tell you whether you have hired a professional.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in cleaning
Chimney sweeps near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- HSA — work at height
- HSA — using ladders safely
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — CHIMNEY CLEANING (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only