Is chimney sweeping mandatory?
Yes, sweeping flue pipes is mandatory in France, whether you have a wood fireplace, an insert, a pellet stove or a gas fireplace.
This obligation does not come from a single text but from the overlap of several rules:
- Home insurance - standard clause requiring 1 to 2 sweeps per year
- Construction Code - Article R4222-17 (evacuation of combustion products)
- Order of 15 January 2004 - flue pipes in residential buildings
- Labour Code - for collective chimneys (2 sweeps per year)
The sweeping certificate must be kept: your insurer may ask for it after a fire.
Which frequency for your installation?
| Installation | Recommended frequency | Ideal period |
|---|---|---|
| Wood fireplace (regular use) | 2×/year | Spring + autumn |
| Wood fireplace (occasional use) | 1×/year | Autumn |
| Wood / pellet stove | 1 to 2×/year | Autumn |
| Closed insert | 1 to 2×/year | Autumn |
| Gas fireplace | 1×/year | Autumn |
| Collective flue (apartment building) | 2×/year | Autumn + end of winter |
Domuss automatically places chimney sweeping in the autumn season in your schedule, with a reminder before winter.
Checklist before the heating season
Before lighting the first fire of autumn, check:
- Sweeping done by a certified professional (certificate received)
- Flue inspected - no cracks, good draft
- Hearth cleaned - ashes removed, glass degreased
- Smoke detector - tested and working (mandatory since 2015)
- CO detector - recommended if a stove or insert is in a living room
- Dry wood - moisture below 20% (stored 18-24 months)
- Fireplace door - seals in good condition
- Certificate archived - in your maintenance logbook
Tick each item in Domuss to keep a maintenance score at 100%.
Consequences of a missed sweep
A clogged flue multiplies the risks:
- Chimney fire - 15,000 to 20,000 fires per year in France (source: SDIS)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning - around 100 deaths per year
- Refused payout - the insurer may invoke inexcusable fault
- Fine - €450 in case of inspection (municipality or co-ownership)
Plan chimney sweeping with Domuss
With Domuss, sweeping no longer falls through the cracks:
- Add a fireplace or wood stove to your inventory
- The schedule calculates the next deadline (6 or 12 months depending on type)
- Autumn reminder - notification 14 days before the recommended date
- After the visit, scan the certificate - filed automatically
- Home file PDF - proof of maintenance for insurance or resale
Article updated on 4 July 2026. Domuss - digital maintenance logbook, published by Programini.