I spent 3 years cleaning chimneys with the wrong brush size

Yep, I was using a 7-inch brush on standard 8x8 flues for years. Figured it out when a customer handed me their old brush from the 80s and it actually scraped better. The smaller brush was leaving a ring of soot on the corners that I never noticed. Any other sweeps find out they've been using the wrong gear this whole time?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas1053d ago

Wait, are you serious? I always figured a smaller brush was better for "cleaning the flue walls" but now I'm questioning everything. I actually switched to a smaller brush a couple years back because I thought it was easier to handle, but now I'm wondering if I've been leaving hidden crud in the corners too. This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to go back and re-sweep every job from the last two seasons, you know?

ericp671d agoRising Star

Oh man, I feel this in my bones. I did the exact same thing a few years back, thought I was being smart with a smaller brush, then pulled my head in to check after reading something similar and found little ridges of soot all along the edges. It's like realizing you've been doing a job wrong the whole time and that nagging feeling is rough. You're probably not alone in wanting to double back, I've caught myself standing in my living room staring at the fireplace like it owes me money.

henry_moore553d ago

Yeah, "hidden crud in the corners" is real, I just use a shop vac and a stiff wire brush after a regular sweep.