Different Types of Flue Brushes

A flue brush is actually a tool that is typically used for cleaning a flue or chimney, and is attached to a flue rod. Selecting the right type often requires you to have knowledge about the various kinds available in the market and also depends on dimensions of the chimney. The width of the brush should be slightly more than the diameter of the chimney.

The various types of flue brushes available for industrial chimney cleaning are as follows:

Woodstock: These have a wooden stock in the centre to which bristles of polypropylene are attached, and the stock is connected to a joint made with brass. Woodstock brushes come in a variety of colours and are made in diameters ranging from 10 centimetres to 40 centimetres.
Plastic Stock: In these, the centre of the brush is made from plastic. Therefore, they are light and can be easily used for cleaning chimneys that emit smoke from combustion of coal or wood. They are also manufactured in many different colours.
Rectangular Brushes: They are ideal for use in chimneys or flues having a rectangular shape and can reach the areas that cannot be accessed by round brushes.
Flat Metal Filament Brushes: They are made by attaching hundreds of wires made from flat spring steel. The wires may be zinc plated or galvanised to provide protection from corrosion. They are excellent options for removing creosote and tar deposits from clay or brick chimneys. However, they should not be used in cleaning metal chimneys as they can scratch the inner surface of the flue forming cavities where creosote and tar will accumulate.
Pellet Stove Brushes: Pellet stove brushes have fibre bristles that work best for removing soot and heavy build-up of lint in vents of dryers. They are made available in a range of sizes and shapes suitable for different types of flues.
Power Brushes: These are specially designed for cleaning flues that have a diameter less than 200 millimetre. A power brush acts in the same way as a whip while rotating at a great speed. The head of the whip contains nylon which helps in sweeping the interior of a chimney.
Square Oil Tempered: These brushes have a metal centre and the bristles are made with wires that are metal tempered. Their design makes them ideal for fitting into the edges of square flues for cleaning heavy accumulation of tar and creosote from wood combustion systems. The bristles being hard tend to retain their shape even after frequent use.