Serious question, how long did you sweep before realizing you were using the wrong brush?

I was out on a job last Tuesday in an old Victorian downtown and the customer mentioned she'd had a bird nest problem before. I've been sweeping for about 6 years now and I always just used a standard 8 inch wire brush on everything. But she pointed out that the flue was terra cotta and round, not square like i assumed. She was the one who told me i was probably scratching the liner up with the wire bristles all this time. I pulled my brush out and sure enough the ends were all bent and catching on the clay tiles. I felt like an absolute beginner. Switched to a poly brush that same afternoon and the job went way smoother. Has anyone else had a moment like that where a customer actually knew more than you did?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark4362d agoMost Upvoted

Actually I was reading a blog from the National Chimney Sweep Guild just last month where they talked about this exact thing. They said something like 70 percent of new sweeps start out using the wrong brush because they just grab whatever the shop recommends without checking the flue material. I remember one old timer in the comments said he spent the first 3 years scratching up liners before a homeowner showed him the damage under a flashlight. It happens more than anyone wants to admit I guess.

the_elliot2d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too. What finally worked for me was keeping a little logbook with each job address and the flue type written down, so I'd grab the right brush before I even left the shop.

oliverhernandez2d ago

Caught myself using a wire brush on a clay flue once when I was starting out. Felt like a real professional when I realized what I'd done.