Am I the only one who thinks 8-inch flue brushes are overused for standard residential chimneys?

I see guys on here recommending 8-inch brushes for every 8x8 clay tile flue, but I've been sweeping chimneys in this area for 15 years and a 7-inch brush cleans just as well without jamming up on the corners, and I've had three customers this month alone call me back because an 8-inch brush cracked their chimney crown; has anyone else noticed the same trend with these oversize brushes damaging older liners?

2 comments

2 Comments

zara_miller16d ago

Huh, I've been using 8-inch brushes for years on standard flues and never had an issue with cracking crowns. Sounds like maybe those guys were just being rough with the brush or the liners were already weak.

evaperez15d ago

Oh great, another "I've been doing this 15 years" post. Congrats, you get a gold star I guess. Yeah, but have you considered that maybe those 8-inch brush fans just like a little excitement in their lives? Nothing spices up a Tuesday like cracking a crown and turning a simple sweep into a surprise masonry project for the homeowner. And sure, 7-inch brushes work fine, but then you'd have to admit you're wrong and start selling all those "professional grade" 8-inchers on Craigslist. Look, I'm not saying the 8-inch brush is the devil, but if you're blaming the guys using it, maybe check if your older flues are held together with good intentions and a prayer. Sometimes it's the chimney, not the tool.