- Fires have always produced soot and ash which can collect in the chimney. If this collected soot and ash is not cleaned away, it can ignite causing a dangerous chimney fire. Today, the preferred method of cleaning a masonry chimney is a wire flue brush. That was not always the case, however.
In 17th and 18th century Britain, chimney sweeping became a popular profession. Because you must be very small to fit inside a chimney, orphan children were often recruited for this task. If the children became reluctant to climb the chimney, a small fire was lit under them to force them up the chimney. This is the likely origin of the phrase "to light a fire under you." - Joseph Glass is widely credited with inventing the first chimney cleaning equipment. He was an engineer from Bristol and saw the need to replace children with tools in chimney cleaning. Social activists fought against cruel treatment of children.
Glass' early chimney cleaning tools included canes and brushes that could be pushed up into the chimney from below. The canes were made of malacca while the brushes were made of whale bone. - Chimneys and flues are cleaned to remove creosote. Several methods have been used since Glass' introduction of canes and brushes. Burlap bags filled with tire chains and chicken wire rolled into a ball can be lowered into the chimney to clean it. These methods, however, are usually not abrasive enough to remove creosote from a masonry chimney.
Most experts agree that the best flue brush for a masonry chimney is a wire brush. Wire brushes are widely available commercially and come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate different chimneys. - Some people deliberately start a chimney fire in order to clean their chimney. This can be very dangerous. Chimney fires can spread to the entire house very quickly. Even when confined to the chimney, a chimney fire can cause damage or excessive wear to a chimney. The high temperature can cause the masonry chimney to expand and crack. Clean your masonry chimney with a wire brush and avoid these dangers.
- In addition to cleaning and maintaining your chimney, you can avoid many problems by proper management of your fire and fireplace. To cut down on creosote buildup, burn well-seasoned wood. Less creosote buildup means less cleaning. While a wire flue brush can remove the most stubborn creosote buildup from your masonry chimney, prevention is the real key.