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Old timer told me I was cleaning too fast. Changed my whole method.
During a job in Omaha a customer's dad watched me work. Said I was moving too quick and missing the fine creosote buildup near the throat. I slowed down, started using a smaller brush for the tight spots. 3 months later my callbacks dropped by almost half. He was right.
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the_rose16d ago
@miamitchell your uncle sounds like he was a legend with that stopwatch trick. Guess we all just gotta find what works for our own clumsy hands and hope for the best. I once tried the speed method and ended up knocking a bird's nest loose into a fireplace full of ashes, so maybe I'll stick with the slow and steady approach.
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victor_adams16d ago
That old timer in Omaha clearly knew his stuff. My own experience was different with a guy I worked with in Boston back in 2002. He swore by moving fast but making every pass count, said a slow hand just spreads soot around. We timed each other and I found my best results came when I forced myself to take one quick, deliberate pass then move on. Ended up with a 95% pass rate on inspections that year, and I only slowed down when I hit a rough patch of creosote. I think it really depends on the chimney build and the person.
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My uncle ran a chimney service in the 80s and he always said "speed kills your prep work." He'd tape a stopwatch to his toolbox and try to beat his own time but still hit every spot. Ended up being the only guy in three counties who could pass the chimney safety inspection blindfolded.
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