What are the different types
of chimney rod brush?

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Plastic stock brushes

Plastic stock brushes with polypropylene bristles are used for brick chimneys and flues where coal and wood is being burned. The plastic stock brush is generally lighter and therefore easier to manoeuvre up a chimney.

Rectangular brushes

Not all chimney or flue brushes are round. Rectangular brushes are available for use in rectangular flues or chimneys. The same principle applies: choose a shape to match your flue and a size slightly larger than the flue to be cleaned.

Flat metal filament brushes

These brushes are made with hundreds of flat spring steel wires. The wires can be made from steel and be galvanised or zinc plated to protect them from corrosion. They are ideal for removing tar and creosote deposits from brick chimneys and clay flue liners.

A brush should typically be approximately 1.3cm (0.5″) larger in diameter than the chimney or flue it is to be used on and matched to the shape of the flue or chimney.

Flat metal filament brushes come in sizes ranging from 100 mm to 450 mm (4″ to 171/2″)  in diameter. The colours are attributed to the type of plating used i.e. galvanised or zinc plating.

Flat metal filament brushes come in a range of shapes and sizes to match your chimney or flue.

Pellet stove brushes

These brushes are specially designed for pellet stove flues and clothes dryer vents. Fibre brushes work best for soot removal and heavy lint build-up in dryer vents. Pellet stove brushes come in a range of shapes and sizes to match your flue. Remember to always choose a brush slightly larger than your flue.

Polypropylene and wire mix brushes

The polypropylene and wire mix brush has a mixture of both polypropylene and wire bristles and is very much a jack of all trades.

These brushes come in a range of sizes and shapes to match your chimney. The colour does not denote anything, it is purely a manufacturing choice.

Wonkee Donkee advises that a wire brush is used first to remove tar and creosote deposits followed by a polypropylene brush to remove any remaining soot and deposits.

Square oil tempered metal brushes

Square oil tempered brushes have bristles that are made from oil tempered wire and and are designed to fit right into the corners of square chimneys and flues.

They are particularly good for cleaning creosote and tar from wood burning heating systems.

The bristles are hard wearing and retain their shape even when they have been used quite vigorously. They are available in a range of sizes to suit the chimney being cleaned.

Power brushes

The power brush is designed to fit into the button lock joint system. This brush has been designed to clean flues from 100mm to 200mm (4 – 8″). Wider brushes are available and you can trim them to fit your individual chimney.

The brush acts like a whip as it rotates at great speed powered by a drill or similar power tool. The whip heads contain nylon which aid the sweeping of the chimney.

Metal chains

These tools are extremely effective at removing heavy deposits of tar and creosote, but they should only be used by professionals as they can cause major damage to a chimney if they are not used correctly.