That one customer's comment about my brush made me stop and think

Tbh, I used to push the stiffest poly brush I could find on every job. Last fall I had a customer in Tacoma watch me scrape her firebox and she said, "You're gonna scratch the liner, aren't you?" I laughed it off, but she was right to call me out. I switched to a softer nylon brush for routine sweeps and kept the stiff one only for heavy creosote buildup. Now I check the liner type before I even unload the truck, and I've had way fewer callbacks about rattling or chipping. What do you all use for older clay tile vs stainless liners? I'm still figuring out if one brush can do both without damage.

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nancy_owens9d ago

Wait, are you actually checking the liner type before you pick the brush, or just the pipe diameter? Because I've seen guys pull up to a job, see a stainless liner, and still grab whatever brush is on top of the pile like it doesn't matter. The scratch thing is real, but I'm more curious if you're also looking at how the liner is installed, like if it's got a rough seam or a tight bend. Old clay tile can be just as fragile if it's already cracked, and a stiff brush will make that way worse before you even touch the creosote. So what's your actual rule of thumb now, or are you still just going with the soft brush for everything and hoping for the best?