Thread: Chimney brush advice wanted

Heres an idea make sure the fire is cold then catch a whole bunch of sparrows. Remove the baffle or open the damper so you can see light at the top. Put sparrows in the fire and close the door, the fluttering of their little wings as they fly to freedom up the chimney will leave it spotless. Or at least thats the theory.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Heres an idea make sure the fire is cold then catch a whole bunch of sparrows. Remove the baffle or open the damper so you can see light at the top. Put sparrows in the fire and close the door, the fluttering of their little wings as they fly to freedom up the chimney will leave it spotless. Or at least thats the theory.

I think that theory is from the old days of big brick chimmneys?
Sparrows would be doing bloody well to fly virticaly up 6m of 5-6inch flue?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I think that theory is from the old days of big brick chimmneys?
Sparrows would be doing bloody well to fly virticaly up 6m of 5-6inch flue?

We had starlings build in the flue in our new place, the odd one would fall down into the fire box,normally theyd be dead but they scared the crap out of cook when she opened the door, two flew out. One made it out the door the other smacked into the window.

We clean our flues from the bottom for the same reason. Standard 150mm brush attached to a length of HDPE water pipe. Bends around into the flue ,works well. Only other option here is a cherry picker but $180 a time.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Heres an idea make sure the fire is cold then catch a whole bunch of sparrows. Remove the baffle or open the damper so you can see light at the top. Put sparrows in the fire and close the door, the fluttering of their little wings as they fly to freedom up the chimney will leave it spotless. Or at least thats the theory.

thats how you turn a sparrow into a blackbird