Chimney caps must be inspected before homeowners begin to burn their fireplace, as it could ensure that chimney cowls and flue accessories will not suffer any damage from a build-up of debris.
Ask the Chimney Sweep has offered this advice after claiming that chimney caps which are not sufficiently cleaned will cause a radical decrease in chimney drafts and chimney cap cleaning is especially important after "a long winter of frequent burning".
The procedure of cleaning a chimney cap involves accessing the peak of a chimney and using a suitably sized wrench to remove the screws that are connecting the cap to the top of the chimney.
Once this has been accomplished, Ask the Chimney Sweep has advised utilising a "stiff bristle brush", doused in detergent, which should be used to scrub away any visible creosote from the chimney's cap.
If this is unsuccessful, an alternative method is to pour vinegar on the brush before cleaning the creosote, as vinegar acts as a "great cleaner".
Castanet reporter Hugh Cairns also highlighted the dangers of creosote, saying that the material "is pretty sneaky" and that most people are unaware of its build up because they "simply don't complete regular chimney inspections".