Just passed 500 sweeps last month and honestly I think most of you are overcomplicating this job

I hit 500 chimney sweeps in 3 years last month. Not a huge milestone to some but it got me thinking. Everyone on here talks about fancy brushes and special vacuums and all this gear. I do fine with a basic rod setup and a shop vac from 2019. Had a guy tell me I was cutting corners. I cleaned my 500th with the same equipment I used on my first. If you know the physics of the flue and have decent eyes you dont need all the extras. How many sweeps you at and what do you actually use day to day?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathanking29d ago

Got a buddy who’s been doing sweeps since the 90s and he swore I needed a HEPA vacuum and a carbon fiber rod kit. I bought into it for my first year. But after my 300th sweep I started noticing my old shop vac with a cheap filter and the standard rods I started with were doing the exact same job. Last week I pulled a massive creosote pile from a 12 foot flue with my 2019 setup and the homeowner was impressed. Your point about knowing the physics is spot on. If you understand draft and how the stack breathes, you don't need the boutique gear. I'm at 512 now and still using my starter kit.

pipergonzalez29d ago

512 sweeps with starter gear says more than any fancy catalog ever will.