Pro tip: A trick for cleaning those tight flue tiles in old brick chimneys

I was working on a 1930s house in Cincinnati last week with those narrow 8x8 clay flue liners. My standard brush just wasn't getting the corners clean. I tried wrapping a strip of old carpet around the brush head, securing it with a hose clamp. The extra bulk and texture scrubbed the corners perfectly without damaging the tile. What's your go-to method for those tricky old flues?

3 comments

3 Comments

adams.cameron9d ago

Honestly, is it worth that much extra work? Those old flues have lasted this long with basic cleaning. I'd just run the standard brush and call it good enough.

julia_carter706d ago

Saw a post on a chimney forum about how those old flues can have hidden cracks that basic cleaning misses. The extra work sucks but catching a problem early beats a house fire.

nancyramirez10d ago

Ever have a brush that's just a hair too small for the flue? I keep a few old wire brushes with the bristles bent outwards on purpose. They look pretty beat up, but that springy tension is perfect for getting into the corners of those old square liners. You have to go slow to avoid kicking up too much dust, but it gets a really good scrape.