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I finally had to pick between a standard brush and a whip for a really tight flue
Got called out to a house in Springfield last week for a standard cleaning, but the fireplace opening was tiny, maybe 14 inches wide. The flue was narrow and had a sharp offset right above the smoke shelf. I stood there with my standard poly brush and my steel whip attachment, trying to decide. The brush is my go-to, but I worried it would just get stuck. I went with the whip, figuring I could work it around the bend more carefully. It was slow going, had to feed it in a few inches at a time and really feel for the angle. Took me about an hour longer than usual, but it got all the soot out without a single scratch on the clay liner. Anyone else faced a tight offset like that? What's your move when the brush just won't make the turn?
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ray3567mo ago
Yeah, that's a tough call. Read a forum post a while back where a guy swore by using a smaller diameter brush head on a flexible rod for those tight offsets. He said it gives you more control than a whip but still cleans better than just poking at it. Your choice makes total sense though, especially with a sharp bend. Protecting the liner is the main thing, even if it takes forever. Sounds like you made the right move for that job.
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piper7797mo ago
Flex rods are great until they kink, then you're worse off than when you started.
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wilson.joseph7mo ago
Ever try a pre-bent rod for that?
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the_claire4mo ago
Used to think the smaller brush on a flex rod was a gimmick, but honestly that makes sense now. Less drag and way easier to navigate those bends without stressing the liner. Gonna have to try that next time.
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