We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Machinery

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Chimney Tools?

By Michelle Haskins
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,659
Share

There are a number of chimney tools available to help in cleaning a chimney. Keeping the chimney clean is very important since a build up of carbon materials, called creosote, can collect on the interior walls. At extremely high temperatures, this build up can ignite, resulting in a chimney fire. To prevent this, a variety of brushes and other tools are used.

A flue brush is one of the most common chimney tools for removing creosote deposits. They may be made of stainless steel, oil tempered steel, or thermoplastic, such as polypropylene. They may be oval or rectangular, and can also be found in various sizes and lengths.

Polypropylene brushes have softer bristles than some other chimney tools, and can be used on several types of chimneys. The soft brush will not scratch the interior of a metal chimney, and is less likely to damage a chimney liner. The thin bristles offer good flexibility, but are less effective at scraping than a wire brush.

Wire brushes are often more effective than plastic for scraping the interior walls. These brushes may be round or flat, although the flat brush is becoming the more common among chimney tools since it is better able to scrape against the walls. Wire hand brushes are chimney tools that can be used for a variety of tasks. They can be used to clean the chimney caps, the smoke chamber, and the firebox. They can also be used for cleaning ash and soot from the fireplace.

Chimney rods are used to push the brushes through the flue. They attach to the brushes, and several rods can be connected to provide the length necessary. Different rods can be used for different tasks.

If scraping creosote, a rattan rod would be most useful, since it is very strong and tough. Polypropylene rods are flexible, but cannot withstand prolonged use. Fiberglass rods are the most popular, since they come in a variety of degrees of flexibility.

Another useful chimney cleaning tool is the rotary steel cable tool. It is attached to a special metal rod which is connected to an electric drill. When turned on, the cable spins inside the chimney, breaking up any deposits. This is very effective in cleaning some of the heavier deposits of creosote that may exist.

Chemicals can be used in addition to chimney tools but are generally intended to be used after the chimney has been cleaned. There are some products available that can be used to help remove hardened creosote. Most manufacturers recommend allowing the product to dry for three to five days prior to scarping. Whenever a chemical is used, it is recommended that all manufacturers instructions be followed.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-chimney-tools.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.