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Found a way to clear a tricky offset flue without taking apart the whole fireplace
Had a job in an old farmhouse near Springfield where the flue had a sharp 45-degree offset about four feet up. My rods kept getting stuck. I ended up wrapping a small, deflated soccer ball in a plastic bag, tying it to a rope, and lowering it down from the top. The ball filled the space and pushed the worst of the soot past the bend so I could sweep it normally. It saved me at least two hours of fighting with the rods. Has anyone else tried something like this for a really tight offset?
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uma_williams19d ago
Saw a video from a chimney guy in Vermont who used a foam pool noodle for a similar problem. He cut it to length and it flexed around the bend to break up the crust. Your ball idea is basically the same kind of smart workaround.
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valellis19d ago
Ever think about what kind of soot you're just pushing further down? That heavy, wet creosote from a slow-burning wood stove might not clear out, it could just pack into a dam lower in the system. Your ball trick works great for the dry, fluffy stuff, but it's a real gamble on a fireplace that's been used wrong.
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