No matter which brush you choose, you should also purchase brush rods that will help you clean the chimney. Rods vary in length, and depending on the material, they can be either stiff or flexible. Examine your chimney and decide which type of rod will work best. I am Melissa from NorthlineExpress and in this video I will talk about the different types of rods and the situations that they work best for.
Each rod has a connector on the ends allowing for attachment of the brush and additional rods. Chimney rods can be “daisy chained” together for additional length. Use as many rods as you need to accommodate the length of your chimney. Rod ends will have either 1/4” NPT threads, 3/8” NPT thread, or a specialty end like the torque lock connections. It is important to make sure when you choose chimney brush rods that you are considering the fitting on you brush and selecting rods with the appropriate connection. If you cannot find a specific type of rod that fits directly to your brush there are adapters available that can allow that connection.
There are 3 main types of chimney brush rods fiberglass, nylon, and polypropylene. Fiberglass rods are going to be the stiffest of the 3 types. They should be used in flues that are pretty much a straight shot. They are good for straight flues with heavy creosote buildup requiring strength for pushing through the buildup.
Nylon Rods are super flexible. They are used in chimneys where there are tight bends present. These rods will bend around 90 degree bends or more. Due to the extreme flexibility and thin rod diameter they may become too flexible in long chimney runs. They are best used when the bend is at the end of chimney and can be used in combination with other style rods.
Polypropylene or ProFlex Poly Rods are designed to be flexible enough to go through sharp bends, offsets, breaches, or thimbles; their flush brass fittings stop flue tile hang-up. Although large in diameter these polypropylene rods are flexible and versatile. These rods are generally too flexible for scraper use.
Failure to properly clean your chimney can have some serious consequences. Overtime as creosote builds up on the interior of your chimney and passes through the three stages it becomes more and more detrimental to the structure and function of your chimney and also the safety of your home and family. I hope that you have found this information helpful, but if you still have questions about choosing chimney brush rods you can call us at 866-667-8454. At NorthlineExpress, home of the “Buy and Try” satisfaction guarantee, we are always happy to help.