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Velvet Digest

How do I know what size chimney brush I need?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on April 20, 2026

Measure the inside of your chimney and match that size to a brush designed for your flue. The brush should be 1/2" – 1 inch larger than the flue. An oversize brush will not improve cleaning and could become lodged in the chimney. An undersized brush will not provide the pressure on the walls for proper cleaning.

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Also question is, how do you measure a flue?

1 – Measure Your Chimney Flue

  1. Measure inside the chimney SIDE TO SIDE & FRONT TO BACK at the narrowest part of the flue (usually about 600mm above the opening).
  2. FINALLY measure to the narrowest part of the flue from the top of the fireplace opening.

can I clean my own chimney? In many cases, you can clean the chimney yourself and save a few hundred dollars. Removing ordinary chimney soot is pretty simple. But if you have heavy creosote buildup, you'll have to call in a pro. Otherwise, hire a certified chimney sweep.

Correspondingly, how many chimney cleaning rods do I need?

Each kit comes with 8 rods (1.25m each) which combine to effectively clean up to 10 meters (33 feet) up your chimney. The rods are flexible and strong and are easy to connect together.

What happens if you don't clean your chimney?

If you don't clean your chimney properly it can cause a hazardous smoke and this smoke can fill inside you house and this can cause you several problems like severe suffocation. Because of usage of the chimney the soot and rust the chimney cap can also face corrosion.

Related Question Answers

How can I tell if my chimney needs cleaning?

The following signs indicate a chimney in need of a cleaning:
  1. Burned wood odors coming from the fireplace when it's not being used.
  2. Fires that seem to burn poorly or that dump a bunch of smoke into the room.
  3. A black damper. Since it sits right above the firebox, the damper is often the easiest thing to see and reach.

How do you clean a chimney without a brush?

Use a plastic sheet or newspaper to cover the opening of your fireplace so as to prevent from settling on items inside your home. Take the brush and rods and climb on the roof. If you have a chimney cap, remove it by unscrewing. Attach the rod to the brush and in a downward motion, sweep the inside of the chimney.

How do I know if my chimney is safe to use?

5 Easy Steps to Make Sure Your Fireplace Is Safe
  1. #1 Examine the Firebox. Look for any cracks, gaps, or signs of wear in the lining of the firebox (the interior of the fireplace).
  2. #2 Look for Telltale Smoke Stains.
  3. #3 Make Sure Your Grate Is the Right Size.
  4. #4 Check the Chimney.
  5. #5 Double-Check Your Fire Extinguisher.

Can you clean a chimney from the bottom?

A better option is to "sweep" from the bottom up using a rotary chimney cleaning system. The Sooteater is a spinning chimney whip that removes soot and creosote build-up using small plastic lines (whips) attached to flexible rods that are fed up from the base of the chimney.

How often should a chimney be cleaned?

How Often Should I get my Chimney Cleaned? This depends a lot on how much you use your fireplace or stove. The National Fire Protection Association says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances.

What is a fireplace cleanout door?

The chimney cleanout door is the back door of a chimney where the rubbish is taken out. This piece may be behind the fireplace or it could be located outside the house.

What is a standard flue size?

A "modular 12"x12" flue" is what we now just call a 12"x12" flue. As I said, standard flues were designed to fit with standard brick. For example, a 13"x13" flue can be wrapped with eight standard brick per course to build a chimney that is 21"x21".

Does a larger flue draw better?

Obviously, taller is better because a taller chimney provides a greater accumulated pressure differential due to the taller column of warm air inside the flue, each cubic foot of which is lighter than a cubic foot of cooler ambient air. Add them up. A 20 foot tall chimney draws twice as well as a ten foot tall chimney.

What size of flue liner do I need?

The general rule is as follows: For a stove of up to 20kW a minimum of 6” diameter flue is needed. You can use a 5” diameter flue liner if you have a DEFRA approved stove and the manufacturer clearly states this is compatible.

How high should chimney cap be above flue?

There must be at least 5 inches of clearance between the top of your tallest flue and the lid (or roof) of the chimney cap. Select a chimney cap with a screen height 5 inches above your tallest flue (at least 5 inches taller than the blue dotted line.)

Does my chimney need a cap?

A chimney cap prevents water from entering the chimney. Moisture can enter the flue anytime it rains, without a chimney cap. This can cause water to get inside the attic or house as it runs down the brickwork. It is best to choose a chimney cap with the mesh siding to prevent critter from entering your chimney.

Can you reduce flue size?

In no circumstance should you ever reduce the diameter of your flue system. The diameters quoted in the Building Regulations are minimum diameters only. If your stove outlet is greater than 6” then your flue system is going to be greater than 6”

What do chimney sweeps do with the soot?

The chimney sweep sweeps and cleans chimneys, smoke ducts, flue pipes and fireplaces in order to prevent soot fires and gas emissions. The chimney sweep also has special skills regarding fire prevention work and they work closely with the fire department.

What is the standard size of a chimney cap?

Simply measure the exterior dimensions of the extending chimney flue and bolt a chimney cap to the top of this flue. The most common sizes in inches are: 8x8, 8x13, 13x13, 8x17, and13x18.

How do you measure the height of a chimney?

Stack Height Calculation Stack height is calculated using following formula H = 14 (Q) 0. 3 H is height of Chimney Q = Quantity of fuel (kg/hr) x sulphur content (%) x 2 100 The sulphur content in the bagasse is negligible (around 0.1 %) as compared to Indian coal (maximum considered of 0.5%).

What is black stove pipe made of?

Single Wall Black Stove Pipes Our Single Wall Black Stove Pipe is manufactured from heavy duty 22 gauge cold rolled steel (the thickest in the industry!) and ensures a perfectly round pipe to pipe fit with smooth welded seams for easy installation.