Who is allowed to do it
This isn’t a job for a general handyman. By law, flues are inspected by a master chimney sweep (mistrz kominiarski) or someone holding the relevant building qualifications. A report signed by anyone else has no legal standing. When an offer comes in through the app, ask about the contractor’s qualifications and have them listed in the offer.
What it costs and how to book: handyman services in Warsaw.
What the price depends on
The price depends on the number of ducts, the type of building and what you need on top of the inspection itself. A flat with ventilation and a gas water heater is less work than a house with a boiler, a fireplace and roof access. Flue cleaning and a written chimney opinion (opinia kominiarska), required for instance when a new gas boiler is connected, are priced separately. Rates are in the table.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Chimney inspection (chimney sweep) | 180–230 zł |
Indicative prices. Ranges for a typical scope. Fixings included, materials separate. Minimum order 300 zł.
Repairing any faults found isn’t part of the inspection: rebuilding brickwork, new vent grilles or a flue liner are separate jobs, often for other trades. Materials for that work are paid separately as well.
What gets checked
The sweep goes through every duct: the smoke flue from a stove or fireplace, the gas flue from a boiler or water heater, the ventilation ducts from the kitchen and bathroom. They check the draught and whether the duct is clear, look for cracks and leaks, and see that appliances are connected properly. On the roof or in the loft they look at the chimney top.
Afterwards you get a report listing each duct, its condition and recommendations. Keep it somewhere safe. After a fire or a poisoning, the insurer may ask for it.
Inspection and cleaning are two different services. How often flues need sweeping depends on the fuel and is set by fire safety rules. A solid-fuel stove needs it more often than a gas boiler, and the sweep will give you the exact schedule.
Safety: carbon monoxide
Poor draught is dangerous above all because of carbon monoxide. It has no smell or colour, and the first signs of poisoning feel like ordinary illness: headache, dizziness, nausea. A flat with a gas boiler, water heater or fireplace needs a CO alarm. If the alarm goes off or you notice those symptoms, open the windows, leave the room and call the emergency number. Smell gas? Don’t switch on lights or appliances; get out and call the gas emergency service.
How the inspection goes
- Access is arranged: to the flat, the loft, sometimes the roof.
- The sweep measures the draught in every ventilation and gas duct.
- Connections to the boiler, water heater, fireplace or stove are checked.
- If needed, the duct is inspected with a camera or run through with a brush.
- The chimney is checked from outside: brickwork, top, cowl.
- A report is written up with any issues and the date by which they must be fixed.
Common mistakes
- Taping over a vent grille for winter to stop the draught, which kills the airflow.
- New airtight windows without trickle vents, so fresh air has no way into the flat.
- A cooker hood plugged into a duct designed for natural ventilation.
- Burning rubbish and wet logs in the stove, so soot builds up in the flue.
- A new gas boiler installed without a sweep’s opinion on the flue.
- Not letting the sweep into the flat on the assumption that the building manager handles it all.
What to prepare
- A list of appliances: gas boiler or water heater, fireplace, stove, cooker hood.
- Access to every grille: kitchen, bathroom, toilet, walk-in wardrobe.
- In a house, a way into the loft and, if possible, onto the roof.
- Last year’s report, if you have one.
- Anything that changed this year: new windows, a new boiler, a relocated hood.
Frequently asked questions
Who books the inspection in a block of flats?
Usually the building manager: the housing cooperative or owners’ association. Residents have to give access to the ducts in their flat.
How often is an inspection needed?
Under building law, at least once a year. Flue cleaning follows its own schedule, which depends on the fuel.
Can a general handyman do it?
No. The report is signed by a master chimney sweep or someone with the relevant building qualifications. Check this in the offer.
Is cleaning included?
Not always. If the ducts need sweeping, that’s a separate item, so agree on it in advance.
How to order
Describe the building in the app, how many ducts there are and what appliances are connected, and add photos of the grilles and boiler. Chimney sweeps near you will send offers with their own price, timing and qualifications. Pick one by reviews; only that person sees your address.
You pay directly and the contractor issues the invoice. They answer for their own inspection and their own report. The state of the chimney, earlier installers’ mistakes and hidden damage to the brickwork are not on them: their job is to find it and write it down.
Qualified chimney sweep? Create a tradesperson profile and pick up inspection jobs in your area. It’s your business, and how you set it up is your choice.
Order in the app
Describe the job, add photos and the address. Tradespeople send their own prices and dates, and you pick one of the offers.
Open the app