Hit 50,000 pounds of soot removed this month and it got me thinking

That's 50,000 pounds from my crew alone in 6 years. Some guys say you should only clean to firebox specs, others say go full flue top to bottom. Which side do you fall on for standard residential jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

lily706d ago

Honestly, taking it to full flue every time sounds like overkill on a lot of homes I've seen. A standard clean to firebox specs with a good visual check is usually enough unless there's a known issue or a wood burner that's been neglected for years. Charging extra for a top-to-bottom job on a gas unit that's barely used is more about padding the bill than safety. Your mileage may vary, but I'd stick with the specs unless the customer asks for more.

ericj456d ago

Devil's advocate here. Full flue top to bottom is OVERKILL for 99% of standard jobs. You're charging customers for work that won't make their system run any better - that's just extra money out of their pocket. Firebox specs exist for a reason, and anything past that is just pushing expensive cleanings on people who don't know any better.

the_jennifer6d ago

Honestly, that take is just wrong. A full flue cleanup finds hidden issues like blockages or cracked tiles long before they cause real problems. You're not ripping people off by being thorough, you're saving their home from a fire or carbon monoxide leak down the road. Skimping on safety for a lower price is the real overkill here.