Chimney Cleaning Tip if Your Brush is Too Small...

[WES999]

I cleaned the chimney yesterday, I have a Rutland 6" poly brush. I am sure I am not the only person with this problem.

It is really too small to do a good job on the class A chimney(it seems OK on the double wall stove pipe). So what I did was, purchase a piece of cut to fit air filter at HD, this material is similar in consistency to Scotch Brite. I wound a strip of the material around the brush and fastened it with 2 zip ties. It worked very well, the filter provided just the right amount of friction to clean the class A thoroughly. :coolsmile:

(broken link removed to http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Heating-Venting-Cooling-Air-Filters-Fiber/h_d1/N-5yc1vZaqfw/R-100178722/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)

 

[kolyur]

Nice idea... how are the zip ties used to keep the material on the brush? I'd be concerned that under a lot of friction it could get pushed off and left down in the pipe.

 

[WES999]

The zip ties are not shown in the pic, I just put them through the material to hold the ends together.
The bristles of the brush hold the material pretty well, seems unlikely to fall off.

 

[raybonz]

Clever idea! Even if it did fall off you could probably push it down and retrieve it..

Ray

 

[jimbom]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

 

[begreen]

Good tip Wes! I like it.

 

[jocam]

I'd like Wes to clean my chimney. My brush is too tight and my hands are sore from snipping it down.

 

[Highbeam]

I have the same brush and noticed the same loose fit. I figured that it is only a loose fit because the chimney is nearly clean all the time. It won't be loose if your chimney really needs a cleaning. I try and side load the brush and do lots of stroking but really it does seem that I could benefit from a bigger brush too. Not sure I would go as far as you did though.