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Old timer warned me about using steel wool on chimneys...
Guy I met at a supply house in Portland told me to never use steel wool for cleaning creosote because it can rust and leave deposits that actually make buildup worse. I didn't listen and used it on a job last month, went back for a follow-up and the flue lining already had orange streaks everywhere. Any of you guys seen this happen before?
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james_ramirez16h ago
Good point about the metal fibers getting stuck.
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abby30813h ago
My cousin's a chimney sweep and he always says metal brushes are safer than steel wool for exactly that reason.
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karen_hart18h ago
Oh wow, I actually have to jump in here because that's a really good warning but I think the main problem with steel wool isn't just the rust! It's more that the tiny metal fibers can actually get stuck in the creosote and then when you burn a hot fire they can heat up and cause little sparks or even damage the liner from the inside out. I've seen it happen to a buddy of mine who cleaned his own chimney with steel wool and had tiny orange rust spots showing up within a few months just like you described. So yeah your old timer was right to warn you, but it's not just the rust deposits themselves that are the biggest worry. Honestly I stick to stiff nylon brushes or those special plastic scraper heads now and they work way better without any of this trouble.
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