Debate: Wire brush vs. vacuum attachment for heavy creosote buildup?

I've been going back and forth on this for weeks. Had a job last Tuesday, chimney was caked with stage 3 creosote. Tried my shop vac with the soot attachment first. Took forever, still had chunks stuck. Switched to a wire brush on a drill. Faster but made a mess everywhere. Customer's rug got dust all over it. Which do you guys lean on for the thick stuff? Or is there a better way I'm missing?

2 comments

2 Comments

jones.mason3d ago

Took forever, still had chunks stuck" - sounds like you're fighting the wrong battle. Wire brush on a drill is for cleaning flues, not heavy creosote, you're just rearranging the mess instead of removing it.

wood.noah3d ago

Learned that one the hard way myself. @jones.mason last winter I spent a whole afternoon with a wire brush thinking I was hot stuff. Turned out I just smeared the creosote into a nice even coating. Next fire sounded like a freight train and smelled like a chemical plant. Had to call a pro anyway. Way cheaper to just pay a chimney sweep from the start.