To undertake chimney cleaning you need cleaning brushes. For you to buy the right brushes you need to consider a number of factors that include:
Material used in making the chimney cleaning brushes
Most of the chimney brushes are made from metal wire or polypropylene (poly). For you to make the decision on the right brushes you should go for, you should consider the type of chimney that you have. If you have the traditional masonry chimney you should go for the metal wire brush as it will easily scrub off the creosote and soot that might have built-up in your unit. If your chimney has a metal plating you should avoid a metal wire brush as it will damage the chimney.
Polypropylene chimney sweeping brushes are designed for use in the liner or metal-coated chimneys. You can also use them in prefabricated chimneys and old masonry chimneys. If your chimney has many bends, you should go for prefabricated poly brushes that are usually less rigid thus do a better job.
Size and shape of the chimney sweeping brushes
Chimney brushes come in a wide range of shapes such as square, oval, circle and rectangle. You should choose the one that will easily fit your chimney and give you perfect results. When it comes to size, standard brushes come in sizes ranging from 5-12 inches. When making the purchase, ensure that the brushes you buy are no more than 0.5 inches wider than the flue diameter. Avoid a brush that is too small as it will be ineffective in getting rid of the accumulated creosote. Also, avoid a brush that is too large as it will hamper proper cleaning. For ideal results, ensure that the brush size is equal to the size of the flue.
Accessories in the chimney cleaning brush
The cleaning brush you buy should have a number of accessories that make it easy for you to use the chimney. To make it easy for you to clean even long chimneys, the brush should have additional rods. The rods can be bendable or stiff depending on the nature of the chimney you are looking to clean.
Conclusion
These are some of the factors you should consider when buying the cleaning brushes. You can clean the chimney on your own or hire a chimney contractor to help you out. When hiring the contractor, ensure that he/she is the most qualified. The contractor should be highly experienced and certified to work in your local area.
