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Warning: I was cleaning a flue in a 1920s house and the brush got stuck for good.
I was working on a job over in the old part of town, a real tall chimney on a brick house. I was using my standard 8-inch poly brush, pushing it up like I always do, when it just jammed tight about twelve feet up. I pulled and twisted for twenty minutes, sweating like crazy. The homeowner came out and said, 'My old guy always used a smaller brush first to feel it out.' That was the lightbulb moment. I'd been going in with the size I thought was right based on the tile, not checking for buildup or warped clay liners. I had to cut the rods and leave the brush in there, which was a tough call to make. Now I start with a 6-inch brush to scout the condition before I commit the big one. Has anyone else had a brush get stuck because of an unexpected narrow spot?
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paul876mo ago
Cameras are great, but sometimes you just need that physical feedback from a smaller brush first to really feel what's going on up there.
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williamhenderson6mo ago
Ever get that sinking feeling when the rods go stiff? I had a brush lock up in a flue that looked fine from the bottom, but the old liner was bowed in the middle. Now I always run a camera up first if I can.
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