The industry standard for chimney sweeping recommends that you should have your chimney swept twice a year if you burn wood or house coal and once a year for smokeless fuels. Ideally, you should have a sweep before you start using your stove or fire for the winter, so it is best to get it done through spring/summer before the particularly busy period commences to avoid disappointment. Wait times increase during our busiest time of the year September to January for sweeping, as the weather turns colder homeowners start to light their fires again.