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I used to brush creosote toward the smoke shelf like everyone else
Been sweeping chimneys for about 6 years now. Always brushed top down and pushed everything toward the smoke shelf, then scooped it out from the cleanout. Last winter I had a job at an old house in Portland where the flue had a serious offset. I couldn't get the brush past it from the top. So I decided to try brushing from the bottom up toward the roof. The first pass knocked loose a ton of buildup I'd been missing for years. Has anyone else tried switching directions on a tricky flue?
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faitha4018d ago
Switched to pulling from the bottom up on a really old flue with a bad jagged turn and it made a huge difference. The buildup had packed in tight over the years and coming from below broke it loose in a way top brushing never could. Definitely worth a try on any flue that's giving you trouble from the usual direction.
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oliver81117d ago
Wow, hold on! Are you serious? Pulling from the bottom up actually worked on a flue with a jagged turn like that? I've always been told by everyone to only sweep from the top, but honestly hearing this makes me rethink everything. That buildup sounds like it was basically cemented in there after all those years. Top brushing just slides over the tight spots, but coming from below must have forced the brush right into the cracks and dislodged it. I've got a flue at home that's been a nightmare for years with a weird bend, and I'm kind of shocked nobody ever told me to try this approach before. Might have to give it a shot this weekend because nothing else has worked so far.
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