Unpopular opinion: I was cleaning flues wrong for my first year in business

Honestly, I was using a standard brush and rod setup on every job, thinking speed was key. Last week in a 1920s brick home in Tacoma, the owner pointed out I'd missed a huge creosote ledge near the top. He said, 'My last sweep always used a camera first, you just went straight in.' That was the tip off. I bought a cheap inspection camera the next day and my first look inside was a real eye opener. How many of you actually scope every chimney before you start brushing?

3 comments

3 Comments

barbaraw165d ago

That "good brush and rod setup" failed me on a brand new chimney with a factory defect.

kelly.jenny9d ago

Yeah, I get the push for cameras, but honestly I still go by feel and experience. A good brush and rod setup tells me a lot through the resistance, and I've found ledges that way too. For me, scoping every single time would slow my day down way too much. What do you do on a straightforward, newer build?

willow_garcia9d ago

My last "straightforward new build" had a cleanout glued shut behind the drywall. Now I scope everything, even if it makes me look paranoid.