I pulled my old chimney brush from a box in the garage yesterday. It was a simple, stiff thing for basic brick flues. Back then, we worked mostly by guesswork and long hours. Now, we use small cameras to see inside without all the mess. That old tool shows how the job has gotten smarter over time. In my view, these updates help us do better work for folks. It's a good reminder of how far we've come in this trade.
I just learned that working in light rain cuts down on soot dust. Last month, I had a job on a damp day and noticed the mess was smaller. The wetness makes the soot stick to the chimney walls. Usually, dust gets on everything, but this time the client's room stayed clean. Other sweeps I talk to avoid rain at all costs. I think they're missing out on a easier cleanup. Now I check the weather and pick cloudy days for my appointments.