Can we talk about the push for all chimney sweeps to get drone certified

Last week in Boise, a supplier tried to sell me a $3,000 drone kit, saying it's the future of inspections. I disagree. Three years ago, I started using a high-quality inspection camera on a 30-foot pole, and it's never failed me. Last month, I found a cracked flue tile in an old farmhouse chimney that a drone would have missed because the angle was too tight. You need to feel the brick, listen for the brush, and see the soot up close. A screen doesn't give you the full picture. Everyone acts like tech is always better, but my hands-on method finds problems drones fly right over. What's a repair you caught that tech might have missed?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel_martin9d ago

You ever think your own methods are the problem? That tight angle you mentioned, a modern drone with a sideways camera could have mapped that whole flue in 3D. Your pole camera shows one spot, a drone builds a full model. I've seen guys miss huge sections of spalling because their arm got tired holding a pole. Tech isn't about replacing the feel, it's about seeing everything first so you know exactly where to put your hands. Sticking to the old way just because it works sometimes means missing the big picture.

ray1369d ago

Exactly. Gets tiring hearing the same pushback on new tools. Seen too many jobs where a quick pole check missed major issues in the back corners. A full 3D model changes the whole conversation with the client. Shows them exactly what's wrong, not just a blurry spot. Saves arguments later.

theagibson9d ago

Hold up, you're acting like drones are magic. They're expensive, they need training to fly in tight spaces, and a simple pole cam gets the job done fast. Sometimes the old way is just more practical for the day to day grind.