Just realized folks keep using the wrong brush size for clay flue liners

I've been sweeping in Denver for 8 years and every new crew I meet grabs a 7 inch brush for standard 8x8 clay tile, not realizing it leaves a full inch gap on each side. That gap lets soot pile up in the corners and hides hairline cracks in the liner over time. Why does everyone think smaller is better when it just means more buildup?

3 comments

3 Comments

lindag3313d ago

Gotta say, I'm not convinced a half inch of soot buildup in the corners is the end of the world. Most of those hairline cracks start from the inside anyway, not from the edges. A 7 inch brush still cleans the main flue path fine, and it's a lot easier to push through tight spots without getting stuck. Seems like a small tradeoff for avoiding a stuck brush and a call back.

emmaclark13d ago

Haven't you ever pulled a brush that got so stuck you had to cut the cable and leave it up there? That's the real nightmare, not a little leftover soot. I switched to a 6.5 inch poly brush for my tight flues years ago and stopped worrying about getting wedged. Sure, I might not hit every speck in the corners, but I've never had a single call back about a chimney fire from a little buildup. Most of the time folks are just burning seasoned wood anyway, so it's not like there's thick creosote everywhere. I'd rather have a clean enough job and a happy customer than a perfect job and a stuck brush.

holly_reed5513d ago

Honestly linda I used to think that too but seeing buildup hide cracks changed my mind.