Chimney sweep in Mežaparks - fireplaces and gas boilers in historic villas

A garden city with its own heating

The neighbourhoods portal describes Mežaparks as having unique private house architecture, with tall apartment buildings outside the private house area. On the AS “Rīgas siltums” heat supply map (data as of 01.01.2019), most of Mežaparks is not coloured as a district heating zone; the map shows only a few small boiler houses. So the villas usually have their own heating, and rental listings also show homes with their own gas boiler.

Several flues in a villa, each with its own deadline

A historic villa may have two or three chimneys on the roof, each with several flues. Some still serve a fireplace or stove, some a gas boiler, some are ventilation, and some were bricked up long ago. Before the work we find out which flue leads where, and in the certificate we describe each one separately.

A gas boiler in an old chimney

The flue gases of a modern gas boiler are cool and moist. If the boiler is connected to an old brick channel without a liner, the moisture condenses in the masonry, and the chimney in the attic or its head above the roof starts to crumble. A condensing boiler needs a liner that resists condensation. If the boiler is replaced, a certificate on whether the new appliance may be connected to the existing flue is needed before it is connected.

Riga binding regulations No. RD-24-260-sn on heat supply allow an existing appliance in a private house to be replaced with a new ecodesign appliance of up to 50 kW without changing the fuel, and every appliance must be registered with the Riga Energy Agency. From 1 January 2031, new appliances that burn fossil fuel, including gas, will be banned in all zones. More: chimney check for a gas boiler and liner for a gas boiler.

On Riga's zoning map for choosing the type of heat supply, by our reading of the map, part of Mežaparks is coloured as zone I or II. In zone I, when you change the type of heating or install a new appliance, both solid-fuel and gas appliances are banned, and only district heating or zero-emission solutions such as a heat pump are allowed. Replacing an existing gas boiler with a new gas boiler of up to 50 kW is still allowed, however. Check the zone for your address on the map before you choose new heating.

A fireplace in a villa: lit less often, but cleaned all the same

If the fireplace is more a part of the interior than of the heating, little soot builds up, but in fireplace flues we more often find birds' nests, leaves from the surrounding trees and crumbled bricks. The draught suffers, and the first time it is lit in autumn, smoke comes into the room. If you plan to use the fireplace during the season, it must be cleaned by 1 November. More: fireplace cleaning.

Tall roofs, pine trees and the historic look

Villas often have steep and complex roofs, surrounded by forest with tall trees. The forest, Ķīšezers and the protected cultural and historic character set the working conditions. Such roofs are climbed with safety equipment; if this cannot be done without damaging the roof covering, the flue is cleaned from below through the cleaning door.

If the chimney head needs repair or a new cap, check with the building authority (būvvalde) before the work whether there are requirements for the building's external appearance. We assess the repair separately and start only with your agreement: chimney repair.

Access and price

Mežaparks is reached along Meža prospekts and Kokneses prospekts, where the tram also runs. During large events traffic changes considerably. At the villas a car can usually get up to the gate; write whether a code is needed to drive in.

Cleaning a fireplace, stove or boiler flue with a certificate costs from €100, usually €100–130 per flue, and the call-out is included. If several flues in the house need cleaning, list them in the form. For a technical condition report, camera inspection and lining, we quote the price after looking at the chimney. All prices: prices.