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?

4 comments

4 Comments

ray3562mo 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.

piper7792mo ago

Flex rods are great until they kink, then you're worse off than when you started.

wilson.joseph2mo agoMost Upvoted

Ever try a pre-bent rod for that?

the_claire8d 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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