Freephone: 0800 043 7668
Equipment, Research and Development
Vacuum Cleaner Machine
Most chimney sweeps use a vacuum cleaner to clean up the flue debris. Some use industrial vacuum cleaners and adapt them for sweeping flues e.g. they make, or have made, filters to cope with the debris as I did. Some may buy vacuum cleaners, which are used by the chemical or asbestos industries, which have a far higher specification than is required for flue debris, which is reflected in the cost. Some sweeps have even bought vacuums from abroad. At the beginning of 2008 I decided to try to have a vacuum cleaner made or assembled in the UK for British sweeps. After risk assessing chimney sweeping I came up with a set of specifications:
The vacuum should be able to take a disposable bag in which the flue debris is captured (the machine should be able to run with or without a disposable bag); It should have at least a three or four stage filtration system. The last stage should be a HEPA filter.
Good manual handling was also considered. (The weight where handles are fitted, if a trolley is required and even the length of the hose and cables).
With these requirements and specifications I visited several vacuum machine manufacturers. After about three months a company said they would be prepared to assemble a vacuum cleaner to my requirements. With the help of the company engineer who configured the filtration stages we now have a vacuum cleaner with filters that confirms to BS 3928 and whose filtration system has a 99.997% efficiency on particles to 0.6 microns. This vacuum cleaner is a lot less expensive than similar vacuum cleaners with the same filtration specifications.
If you require more information on this vacuum cleaner please contact myself or Sturdyvac.com
ROTARY CLEANING SYSTEM (TAR & CREOSOTE)
At the beginning of 2007 I started looking for a method of cleaning tar and creosote from flues - normally ones that have not been cleaned for some considerable time. I did not want to use chemicals as there are many complications which I didn't want to get involved with. After a conversation with an American chimney sweep I found a company who had developed a system called RoKlean which used a rotating brush driven by a hand drill. So I imported the whole system which consists of five different types of brushes made of plastic, titanium-impregnated plastic chains and steel wire. At about the same time I discovered an English company called Tamar which had also developed a rotary cleaning system. 
I managed to obtain some flexible flue lining and some rigid flue lining from a local flue-fitting company and got to work testing both products. I also managed to gain access to a derelict building which had four pre-1966 lime and cement linings. I then tested both systems on all these flues and checked the results with my CCTV equipment. I found that the American system was very aggressive and severely damaged the pre-1966 lining but seemed to be very efficient on the flexible and pre-fabricated linings. However the American rods seemed too rigid for English flues as these flues tend to have two or more bends in them. The English system, which consists of rotating chain or a Standard English brush on flexible rods, appeared in some cases not as aggressive as the American system. So I made a trip to the local engineering company and had some adaptors made so I can mix and match the two different systems plus a few refinements and innovations of my own. Again the hybrid system seemed to be too aggressive for the pre-1966 flue. Unfortunately I will not now use any rotary cleaning system on these flues if they are severely tarred. The only thing I can say is, if you do burn lots of wood perhaps you should have your flue swept more regularly to prevent the build up of tar and creosote (prevention is better than cure). For the first year of using a rotary system on flexible or rigid pre-fabricated flues I always used my CCTV equipment to check the results and I must say, I was impressed with the results.
In my opinion rotary cleaning is not a replacement for the traditional British way of cleaning flues but a useful weapon in my arsenal against heavily tarred and creosoted flues, which have been neglected. All flues before they are swept either by the traditional method or rotary cleaning method are fully risk assessed by myself to see if they are suitable and safe for sweeping.
CCTV Camera Equipment
All through this website I mention my CCTV equipment so I think it's only fair I should mention the type of equipment I use and why. After looking at various types of camera equipment at trade shows and on the internet, I decided to go with Wohler, a German company that specialize in chimney sweeping equipment and top quality measuring equipment. I use both black and white and colour cameras with a remotely controlled camera head and its own small LED screen. It's very simple to use and has many different interchangeable parts, all available from Wohler UK.
Because of the nature of fires and flues (quite a hostile environment) I have very occasionally damaged both the camera and the lead. Fortunately Wohler UK are only a phone call away and a new part is normally dispatched that day, so you are not only buying a very good camera system the after-sales service is excellent too.
Look-See Camera
Over the last two years there has been an increase in stove installations. A very small minority of installers have been fitting these appliances incorrectly or to a low standard so I have found it necessary to use my Wohler camera to check on all first sweeps of these installations. 
Although the Wohler is a very good camera system whose primary use is to carry out inspections and record its findings, it is a lot of equipment to carry and to work just to have a look at the connections and standard of the flue and appliance installation. So, I've been on the look out for a smaller camera system which is easier and quicker to operate. At the last NACS trade show I found that camera, namely, the AMAC Look-See camera. Although this camera doesn't record its findings it is a very easy and versatile camera to use. And so I acquired the camera with some modifications which AMAC were happy to do for me.
Since using the camera I have come up with a small adapter which I've sent to AMAC for appraisal. In my opinion the adapter makes the camera even more versatile. This camera does exactly what it says on the tin: it's a look-see camera.
Equipment Under Evaluation
I am currently testing a high quality needle-felt filter which can be used with the Camvac vacuum. Also under test is a stainless steel canister which may be able to take a disposable bag as a replacement for the standard Camvac canister. Unfortunately the stainless steel canister prototype did not work out as well as we expected and we are unable to place a disposable bag in this or any Camvac canister, although you could have a very nice looking stainless steel canister. The needle-felt filter has proved a great success, although expensive I'm sure once you've tried this filter configuration in your Camvac you will never go back. Available from Sturdyvac. Recently I have made contact with an American company called A.W.Perkins Co.which may have an answer to the flexible rod problem. I have acquired a set of their rods which are made of a thick nylon with a patented button lock connection. This allows the rods to be spun in both directions. The rods also have a high level of strength and importantly for British flues, flexibility. These rods can also be used with an adaptor with all RoKleen brushes. This company also has a range of chimney sweeping equipment that some British sweeps may find interesting. If you like large vacuum cleaners this is the company for you. Feel free to look at or download their brochure from this site.
Vacuum Cleaner Update
Recently at the request of a few NACS chimney sweeps, Sturdyvac has adapted their canister to take a Numatic Hepa-Flo disposable filter bag. Unlike the paper bags these bags are made of a fabric-like material and seem to be a lot stronger. This may also be the answer to the Camvac disposable bag problem so I've dusted down the Camvac test rig and I will let you know the results in due course on both the Hepa-Flo bag in the Studyvac and the Camvac.Ordering from the USA
Should you order any equipment from the USA beware you will be liable for any import tax and an administration fee that most carriers charge of between £12-£30.If you order any of the above items please mention this website and use this code when dealing with the supplier; Dave Essex UK.
Download Catalog
Click the icon to download the A.W. Perkins Catalog.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files. This is a free program available from the Adobe web site.
Follow the download directions on the Adobe web site to get your copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
