It is chosen when the roof is steep, slippery or icy, when the chimney is very tall or when there is simply no safe way to reach it. Cleaning one flue costs from €100 with a certificate. Write in the form what the roof is like and where the cleaning door is.
When we clean from the bottom instead of from the roof
- The roof is steep or covered with metal tiles or slate that are not safe to walk on, and it has no roof ladder or walkways.
- In winter there is snow or ice on the roof, or in autumn it is wet and mossy.
- The chimney is taller than three storeys or comes out through the roof at a point that cannot be reached with a leaning ladder.
- The chimney head is weak and crumbling, so you must not lean on it.
- The chimney has a cap or a cowl that cannot be removed without repair work.
- The flue is a stainless steel liner with a side connection, and the cleaning door is at the chimney base.
The building code requires safe access from the roof only for chimneys that are meant to be cleaned from the top. That is why many newer houses with a modular chimney are designed for cleaning from the bottom, and there is no need to climb onto the roof at all.
Building code LBN 231-15 “Heating and Ventilation”, point 53: flues are fitted with cleaning doors whose cross-section is no smaller than that of the flue channel. Point 54: if the chimney is meant to be cleaned from the top, convenient and safe access to it from the roof is provided. Source: likumi.lv, checked 04.11.2026.
How cleaning from the bottom works
- Choosing the opening We find the cleaning door at the chimney base or in the attic. If there is no door, we work through the firebox or disconnect the flue pipe from the chimney.
- Covering up and vacuum Everything around the opening is usually covered and a soot vacuum is connected, because from the bottom the soot falls straight towards the person working.
- Rods with a brush We screw fibreglass rods together one by one and push the brush upwards until it comes out above the chimney or meets the cap. On the way we turn the brush and pull it back to clean the walls along the whole length.
- Collecting the soot The soot is taken out of the chimney base through the cleaning door.
- Check from the bottom With a mirror or a camera we check that the channel is clear to the top, and we assess the draught before the appliance is lit.
Where cleaning from the bottom has its limits
The method is good, but it does not always fully replace work from the roof. Honestly, here is what is hard to do from the bottom:
- Sharp bends and offsets in the flue: the rod with the brush may not bend through them, and part of the channel has to be cleaned from the other end.
- The cap mesh or cowl: it cannot be cleaned from the inside, and a clogged mesh is often the cause of weak draught.
- The chimney head and crown slab: cracks and crumbled spots can only be seen from the top or with a camera.
- A thick layer of tar in the upper part: from the bottom it is harder to press the brush against it with the force needed.
If after cleaning it is clear that something is left at the top, this is recorded in the certificate. Then a camera inspection helps, or work from the roof when the weather and the roof allow it. If there is glazed tar in the channel, see chimney tar removal.
What to prepare at home
To keep the work quick, clear the way to the cleaning door or firebox before the chimney sweep arrives: move firewood stacks, shelves and rugs. If the door is in the attic, there needs to be a safe way up and lighting. The stove or boiler must have cooled down.
How much cleaning a chimney from the bottom costs
Cleaning from the bottom costs the same as ordinary cleaning: from €100 per flue, usually €100–130, with the certificate and call-out in Riga and the Riga region. The price can go up with a long, winding flue, a layer of tar, or a missing cleaning door, which means the flue pipe has to be disconnected. If a new cleaning door needs to be fitted, that is repair work, which we price separately. All prices: prices.