I think ultrasonic cleaning is overkill for most soot jobs

Everyone in my shop in Pittsburgh swears by ultrasonic cleaning for chimneys, but I've been doing this for 12 years and a stiff wire brush with a shop vac does the same work. I cleaned a 3-story flue last Thursday that hadn't been touched in 8 years, and the ultrasonic rental cost me $150 for nothing extra. Am I missing something, or is this just a trend that tool companies pushed on us?

3 comments

3 Comments

thea6028d ago

Used to think the exact same way honestly. Did a job last month where the brush and vac left a ton of residue in the cracks and the ultrasonic pass made it look brand new. Changed my mind pretty quick after seeing the difference firsthand.

beth_park8d ago

Every time I think the brush and vac did the job I look closer and nope, still gunk hiding in the little grooves. The ultrasonic just melts it all out, it's kind of magical honestly. Been a total convert since the first time I tried it.

scott.olivia8d ago

First job I used ultrasonic on was a restaurant hood with years of grease baked into the joints, and it cut the scrub time in half.