Unpopular opinion: wire brushes are better than plastic for clay flue liners

An old timer at a job in Vermont last month showed me how a wire brush cleans fine powder off clay liners without scratching them, as long as you go slow. He said he's used the same wire brush for 15 years and never had a liner crack or fail. Has anyone else tried switching back from plastic to wire on clay flues?

3 comments

3 Comments

milesbailey1mo ago

Honestly, tried that trick last winter and my old clay flue cleaned up just fine.

carter.casey1mo ago

I'll bet the flue tile condition makes a big difference though.

the_william1mo ago

Yeah wire brushes are all I use on clay liners honestly. The key is making sure your brush is worn in a bit so the bristles aren't too stiff or sharp. A brand new wire brush can leave tiny scratches if you're aggressive with it, but a used one with softened tips just glides over the clay and lifts the fine soot without marring the surface. I also always go with a brush that's slightly undersized for the flue, maybe 1/4 inch smaller than the liner. That way you're not jamming the bristles into the corners where glaze could chip. The old timer was right about speed too. Let the brush do the work with slow steady passes and you'll never have an issue. I've had the same set of wire brushes for about eight years now and they still clean just as good as day one.