Hiring professional chimney sweeps is a good idea for cleaning and inspection of your chimney. Nevertheless, having a household chimney brush is good as well. In buying a chimney brush, there is need to first match the size and shape as closely as possible to that of the chimney or flue. This is simple with the presence of a wide variety of chimney brushes on sale. There are various options offered at the chimney and fireplace maintenance retailers including rectangular, square and round chimney brushes in all sizes.
Before choosing a chimney brush, first take measurements of the inside dimensions of your chimney. Be careful when making measurements from a roof. For a round chimney, measure the internal diameter and match that dimension to the diameter of a round brush.
It is a wise idea to purchase a chimney brush which is larger than the measurements of your chimney dimensions and trim it to fit your needs than buying one which is too large to make the cleaning job more difficult much as it adequately prevents creosote build-up. The same applies to a chimney brush which is too small which will not sufficiently reach all the sides of the chimney.
After you have finished determining the rightful size and shape for your chimney brush, then choose the material and size. “Homeowner” and “professional” are the two categories of chimney brushes.
For light maintenance, homeowner cleaning tools are highly recommended while for maximum efficiency and durability, professional chimney brushes are recommended.
For general chimney cleaning needs, wire bristle chimney brushes are recommended and the flat wire bristle style is recommended for its scraping capacity when the glaze from creosote accumulation is noticeable. One should not use any type of wire bristle for metal chimney flues.
Make a choice between the options of brushes with polypropylene bristles. For chimneys with turns or offsets, you may also want to consider purchasing flexible chimney brushes and chimney rods.
Because of the great importance of chimney cleaning and fireplace maintenance, if ever concerned or have questions about the same, always consultant with an expert.
In addition to chimney cleaning, this writer additionally frequently shares knowledge about chimney brush and metal roof.