Chimney brush buying guide

Anyone who has the privilege of owning a working fireplace will tell you that an efficient and safe chimney requires regular care. In order to keep your chimney in top condition, there's only one solution: to use the right type of chimney brush to clean out your chimney.

A chimney brush is used to clean soot, ash and dust build-up from chimneys. If you fail to clear this excess material, it will start to accumulate and form a black residue called creosote inside the chimney flue. Over time, this layer of creosote will not only prevent the smoke from escaping correctly, it may also start a fire inside the chimney. So it goes without saying that caring for your chimney is not a task that should be taken lightly!

Chimney brushes feature a very straightforward design: they basically consist of a stiff or flexible brush that is mounted on the end of a chimney sweeping rod. The rod will also vary in flexibility depending on the type of flue or chimney you have and can be extended by screwing additional rods together. By moving the chimney brush and rod into the flue in a back-and-forth motion, you should encourage the brush to come into contact with the walls of the flue to get them spick and span once again.

While chimney brushes look like very basic tools, it's not always easy to find the right model! In fact, chimney brushes vary widely and should be chosen to match the layout, material and dimensions of your chimney. But don't worry: we'll talk you through everything you need to know to make the right choice!

Determining the flue material  

This is your first step in selecting the right type of chimney brush. In short, there are two main types of chimney flues.

Traditional chimney flues

Traditional chimney flues are most commonly made of brick or concrete. Very common in old buildings, these flues are square or rectangular in shape and need to be cleaned with a hard chimney brush made of steel or stainless steel.

Pre-fabricated flues

Modern pre-fabricated flues are more efficient and safer than traditional flues. They are generally round or oval in shape and are made up of interlocking metal pipes. A more flexible chimney brush, made of plastic or nylon, is required to clean these chimney flues. This type of flue is easier to clean but it's important to try to avoid scratching the flue or loosening its connections! Wood burners usually require a twin wall flue (a double-layered insulated stainless steel flue); this type of flue should also be cleaned using a nylon chimney brush.

After you have determined your flue type, you'll need to think about the following factors:

• The shape of the flue determines the shape of brush you need. Choose from round, oval, square, and rectangular models;

• The diameter of the flue will dictate the size of chimney brush you need. The most common diameters are 80, 125, 150, 200 or even 250 mm. If in doubt, go with a slightly larger diameter and cut your brush down to size with a pair of pliers! Bear in mind that your brush will need to be slightly bigger (by about half an inch) than the size of your flue.

• The length of the flue determines the length or number of chimney sweeping rods you'll need to use with the brush. Add an extra two metres to the length of your flue to make the brush easier to handle.

You'll also have to give some thought to the type of rod you use. Chimney sweeping rods may be made of a flexible material, such as plastic, or rigid metal. Your rod should match the layout of your flue. For instance, if the flue has several elbow joints, you will require a flexible rod. The thickness of the rod and its degree of flexibility will also affect its ability to manoeuvre around these types of joints; these factors should be clearly indicated by the manufacturers.

Since chimney sweeping rods are threaded at the end, it is very easy to equip them with any additional accessories you might need (provided that the thread of the accessories matches your rod size). The following components may come in handy:

• Bottle brushes or tube brushes play the same role as any traditional sweeper but are designed to deal with more specific scenarios such as narrow flues;

• Guide wheels can be fitted to the end of the rod to help lead it along the flue; this is particularly useful for long flues;

• A ring can be used to attach a rope to the rod. This is handy if you are working with another person.

Finally, you can always go with a chimney sweeping kit that includes all the equipment you need without having to worry about parts being compatible!

What is a chimney sweep log?

A chimney sweeping log is designed to be clean the walls of your chimney flue as it burns. However, it's important to note that this type of product should only be used before manual cleaning to make your job easier; it should never be used as an alternative to proper chimney sweeping.

Chimney sweeping and home insurance

It's worth mentioning that in the case of a fire, your insurance company may request a receipt from a professional chimney sweeping company. It's therefore very important to do your research before you decide to tackle your own chimney!

To learn more about different heating solutions to keep your home nice and cosy, check out the following guides.

• Bioethanol fireplace buying guide

• Electric fireplace buying guide

• Instantaneous water heater buying guide

• Space heater buying guide