Chimney sweeping ....

[Mikey D]

Ok it's that time of year and I need to get the woodburner flu liner swept , it's been in two years so need to get it done , I've got some rods but no brush any idea what sort/diameter I need and any tips please , apart from turn em clockwise so it don't come unscrewed . Or am I best off paying to get Dick van dyke in ??

 

[OJCar]

What diameter is the flue?
This is the sort of brush I use on our unlined chimney
https://www.screwfix.com/p/bailey-chimney-brush/17210

BTW Don't forget a sheet over the fireplace ...

 

[julianf]

Most lined chimneys will be 6" dia, assuming the output of the appliance (the burner) is no greater than 6".

A modern install should have a plate somwhere, as per buildings regs sign off requirements.

If it's legacy, it could be anything really.

 

[MoreWellie]

Or am I best off paying to get Dick van dyke in ??

The only thing about getting the sweep in is that you get a certificate you can show to your insurance people if there is ever a chimney fire

Ridiculous really as we haven't had a fire since the chimney was last swept about 3 or 4 years ago but I bet the insurance conversation would be interesting if there was a birds nest or something that caught fire

or maybe if I forgot that I had stuffed a pillow up the chimney to stop the heat disappearing up there

 

[julianf]

Birds nest or pillow would just burn up and be gone. Wouldn't be an issue unless it managed to set fire to caked on tar from an improperly maintained stack.

 

[Mick Annick]

Of no help to the OP, but here chimneys have to be swept twice a year and a certificate obtained for insurance. Our guy goes up on the roof and drops a chain down with a brush on the end, a couple of shakes, vacuum out the wood burner and all is good.

 

[Mikey D]

It's 150 mm ish diameter , that brush you linked too is 16" Too big I'd think ? No

 

[roofman]

It's 150 mm ish diameter , that brush you linked too is 16" Too big I'd think ? No

They bend and "brush" the sides

 

[Robotstar5]

Birds nest or pillow would just burn up and be gone. Wouldn't be an issue unless it managed to set fire to caked on tar from an improperly maintained stack.

I remember seeing the fire brigade come out to chimney fires in the 60's

 

[bricol]

II just paid the man (well, two) who does it all day, every day. Turned up, attached suitable dust sheets, vacuum cleaner, shoved brush up, dragged it down (repeated as required), tidied up, left a dead orange peel, charged me something not too unreasonable, and ******** off, leaving the cream living room carpet still cream, handing me a certificate of cleaning as he went . . .

So while I could do it, it would have taken me longer, my cream carpet would no doubt not all be cream . . .

 

[Mikey D]

Only wipe clean tiles here Just ordered a rothenberger 16" brush worth a go for a tenner .
Did get a sweep in before the woodburner was fitted there was about 3 bin bags worth of birds nest !

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve got a kit like this

Flexible Chimney Sweep Set Flue Sweeping Brush & Rod Kit Soot Cleaning Rods | eBay

You can clean your stove by yourself. With this premium chimney sweep kit, you can effectively sweep away soot from the bottom up. No ladders are needed. The kit contains several rods that are easy to connect and detach.

www.ebay.co.uk

Works very well, the brushes get flung outwards by centrifugal force.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Was just looking at this one today.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chimney-Typhoon-Power-Sweeping-Metre/dp/B0792CYWZC/ref=asc_df_B0792CYWZC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375551596481&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4300417845443693433&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-818725467271&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76297946625&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375551596481&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4300417845443693433&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-818725467271

 

[pedrobedro]

I bought a set of rods and brush from Argos for about £10 a few years ago. That one on Amazon looks like the Vevor brush but dearer.

 

[gaz1]

Of no help to the OP, but here chimneys have to be swept twice a year and a certificate obtained for insurance. Our guy goes up on the roof and drops a chain down with a brush on the end, a couple of shakes, vacuum out the wood burner and all is good.

you cant do that with many chimneys in the uk more so with this style of chimney the damn chain gets stuck even lobbing a half brick down wouldnt come down them as many of them was done at below 45 degree angles



ive known the pine pole brushes get stuck in them many a time and the nylon ones are no better the older type should have an access panel in the loft area but ive known them to be blocked up as some class them as dangerous for flue gasses and allowing the chimney flames to come out of them if they fail

yeah they are right but many dont check them or even check for them existing in the property

 

[Gritineye]

Don't sweep with a plastic bush if the flue's still warm, the brush comes down as a limp mop, don't ask!

 

[Dilkris]

you cant do that with many chimneys in the uk more so with this style of chimney the damn chain gets stuck even lobbing a half brick down wouldnt come down them as many of them was done at below 45 degree angles

View attachment 362706

ive known the pine pole brushes get stuck in them many a time and the nylon ones are no better the older type should have an access panel in the loft area but ive known them to be blocked up as some class them as dangerous for flue gasses and allowing the chimney flames to come out of them if they fail

yeah they are right but many dont check them or even check for them existing in the property

That's an impressive post - well done.

 

[OJCar]

150mm is about 6" so I doubt you will get the 16" brush in.
If you do get it in you will have quite a time getting it out!

Try with just bare rods first to see if there are bends too tight for your rods.
Perhaps something on the end so the metal end won't risk damaging the liner.

The amount I can bring down with a bald brush (just the block in the middle ) is quite surprising some years.

Perhaps you would be better finding a small child to put up the lum first ...

 

[Migmac]

I got a six inch brush for our chimney and a set of small diameter rods. Can get by awkward bends easily. Was going to buy a viper but they are crazy expensive
Doing it yourself is easy

 

[gaz1]

That's an impressive post - well done.

these was the grates in the chimney flues of many houses