Hire a Chimney Sweep
Service description
The legislature has largely abolished the previous monopoly on chimney sweeping. As of January 1, 2013, chimney sweeps no longer make unsolicited visits.
You can now freely choose a chimney sweeping company for the following non-regulatory services:
- Sweeping and Inspecting Your Heating System
- Measuring Exhaust Emissions
Note: The following
official duties will continue to be performed by the authorized district chimney sweep:- Inspection of Your Combustion Systems
- Fireplace Inspection: Over the course of 7 years, the authorized district chimney sweep will contact you twice on their own initiative, as usual.
- Maintaining the Sweeping Log
Procedure
You must hire a company to perform chimney sweeping services.
You are free to choose your authorized district chimney sweep or another chimney sweeping company. The work may be performed by any company registered in the trade registry as a chimney sweep. As a rule, this includes all German chimney sweeping companies, as well as a few companies in the plumbing, heating, and HVAC trades. In most cases, you can also hire chimney sweeping companies from abroad.
For your own safety, you should be sure to verify—before hiring anyone—that the contractor in question is actually authorized to perform the work. You can do this, for example, by checking online to see if the provider is listed in the chimney sweep registry maintained by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
The Hessian State Guild Association of Chimney Sweeps and the Central Association of German Chimney Sweeps (Zentralverband Deutscher Schornsteinfeger e. V.) offer you the opportunity to search for regional providers of chimney sweeping services on their website.
For further details and information on chimney sweeping, please contact
- from your authorized district chimney sweep,
- at the Federal Association of Chimney Sweep Trades—Central Guild Association (ZIV)—,
- at the Central Association of German Chimney Sweeps, e. V.,
- with the competent authority listed below.
- Chimney Sweep Registry
(Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control)
- State Guild Association of Chimney Sweeps in Hesse
- Central Association of German Chimney Sweeps, Inc.
- Federal Association of Chimney Sweep Trades - Central Guild Association (ZIV) -,
Prerequisites
You can hire a chimney sweeping service as
- Owners of single-family homes or condominiums, or
- Property management for a condominium owners' association (WEG).
Note: As
a tenant, you are not allowed to hire a chimney sweeping service.What documents are required?
The fireplace inspection report that was issued to you, as the owner, following the fireplace inspection conducted by your authorized district chimney sweep.
What fees apply?
- Non-governmental tasks: You are free to negotiate the
price for the work specified in the fireplace inspection notice. - Governmental duties:
The fees are set forth in the Federal Sweeping and Inspection Regulations (KÜO). As the property owner, you are required to pay these fees. The competent authority can provide you with detailed information on this matter.
- Non-governmental tasks: You are free to negotiate the
What deadlines do I have to observe?
The fireplace inspection notice specifies when you must have certain cleaning, measurement, and inspection work performed on your heating systems on a regular basis. As the owner of a house or apartment, you will receive this notice following each fireplace inspection.
As the owner, you are personally responsible for meeting the deadlines specified in the fireplace inspection notice. You must arrange for the work specified therein to be performed by a licensed contractor in a timely manner.
Any business that is registered in the trade register as a chimney sweep or that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 7 through 9 of the EU/EEA Crafts Regulation is authorized.
The work is not considered completed until the form—in which the contractor confirms that the work has been performed—has been received by the authorized district chimney sweep within the specified time limit. As the owner, you are responsible for submitting the form and ensuring it is received on time. However, you may arrange with the contractor to have them submit the form on your behalf.
Legal basis
- Act on Professional Regulations and Social Security in the Chimney Sweep Trade (Chimney Sweep Trade Act—SchfHwG)
- Regulations on the Cleaning and Inspection of Facilities (Cleaning and Inspection Regulations—KÜO)
- First Ordinance Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchV) (Ordinance on Small and Medium-Sized Combustion Plants—1st BImSchV)
- Energy Conservation Ordinance