Mandatory inspections are simply necessary for many reasons. Even if they are nothing new, today the owners of boilers and fireplace inserts who do not have the necessary inspection documents may also be surprised by the fact that the authorities already know about them.
Don’t forget the revision, the authorities know about you
While it’s cold outside, it must be really warm inside at home. Otherwise, in our conditions, it is impossible to survive the winter in good health. Chimneys are smoking, and in some households, flames are flickering in the hearth stove. No matter what kind of fuel you use, it is necessary to check the chimney, check the boilers and possibly also the fireplace inserts.
Although this is nothing new, many are still not used to it. Since 2016, the obligation to regularly inspect boilers and combustion equipment has been clearly defined by law. This year, or from September 1, 2024, the use of solid fuel boilers of the first and second emission class is also prohibited in our country. If you neglect to check or replace, you risk a fine and, thanks to the central emissions register, detection by the authorities.
Of course, checking boilers, fireplace inserts and chimneys is not just a matter of paperwork or a formality. Regular maintenance of equipment is essential for household safety, emission reduction and also a long service life, which is also desirable for the owner. It is inspection that can reveal deficiencies.
Thanks to the central register of emissions, which is operated by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, it is now possible to find out whether an inspection has already been carried out. If you forget, you can even face a fine of up to 20,000 crowns. While a chimney inspection is required once a year, an inspection of the so-called local furnace is required once every three years. This obligation applies not only to family homes, but also to cottages and cottages, i.e. any property that is heated.
Who should check the boilers?
Do you have a friend who is a chimney sweep who simply looks into your chimney from time to time? That’s really not enough. An authorized technician will check the device, find out if it is in order, and also issue a report. This serves as a document for possible inspection by the authority. This technician should also be certified for this.
The inspection protocol needs to be kept for at least three years, so that you can document it to the authorities. The office can even impose sanctions not only for failure to carry out an inspection, but even for failure to submit documentation.
It is also good to know that portable fireplace stoves are also subject to inspection. If you use them as the main source of heating. So be careful and don’t underestimate the authorities, laziness could make you uncomfortably expensive.
Sources: drevostavitel.cz, mzp.cz
