Just discovered a trick for cleaning a tight offset flue in a 1920s house

I had a job on Maple Street with a really sharp offset that my standard rods couldn't navigate. I was about to suggest a costly liner install, but I tried using a section of old, flexible dryer vent hose taped to the end of my brush. It bent around the corner perfectly and got the job done in under an hour. Is this a smart fix for a tough spot, or is it a hack that could cause more problems down the line?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma721mo ago

That's brilliant, I used a pool noodle piece once for the same thing.

victor_davis174d ago

Pool noodles are a solid hack, @emma72, but they can tear up on old brick or rough edges. The split loom trick is gold for tight spots because it slides better. You ever try wrapping the end with a bit of electrical tape to keep it from catching? Makes a world of difference on those stubborn runs.

the_mason1mo ago

My old boss showed me a trick with a length of that plastic wire loom tubing. We had a 45 degree offset in a pre-war building on Elm Avenue that was impossible. The stuff is stiff enough to push but bends just right. I keep a ten foot coil in the truck now for exactly that kind of jam.