Tried a rotary snake on a liner that looked fine and pulled out a bird nest the size of a beach ball
Heads up for anyone who skips the camera on a job where the flue looks clean from the top. I was at a place in Rochester on Tuesday, homeowner said it drafted fine, so I ran the rotary snake first instead of my usual brush and camera setup. About 4 feet down it jammed hard, and when I backed it out there was a full nest of twigs and grass wrapped around the head, probably 18 inches across. The liner had a small tear near the top I never would have found if I had only looked down the flue. Lesson for me is camera first, every time, even on the easy ones. Curious if you all snake or brush first when the draft seems okay but something feels off.