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Had a customer call me out on my brush technique last month
I've been sweeping chimneys for about 7 years now, always used the same up-and-down motion with my nylon brush. This one homeowner stood there watching me and said 'you're just pushing the soot around, not actually lifting it out.' He showed me a video of a guy using a slower twist-and-pull method that collects way more debris on the first pass. Tried it on my next three jobs and I'm getting maybe 30% less fallout inside the firebox now. Anyone else get told their basic technique was wrong and found a better way?
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anthony_wells21d ago
Switched to the twist and pull method about a year back after a stubborn homeowner showed me the same thing. Made a bigger difference than I expected, especially on the first pass.
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lisa_brown21d ago
That twist and pull trick is definitely underrated. How long did it take you to get comfortable with it, like were you fighting the urge to just yank it straight off for a few weeks? I find the grip is the hardest part for me, especially on those really crusty old fasteners that feel like they're cemented in place.
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