Tried a motorized sweep vs. manual rods on a heavy creosote job last month, and the difference was brutal.

The motor setup cleared that 2-foot buildup in half the time but it vibrated so hard the client said their chandelier was shaking. Has anyone else had issues with those things loosening up old masonry joints?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryantorres23d ago

The_nathan nailed it with that point about older homes. Last year I was helping a buddy clear a chimney from the 1920s and his motorized setup rattled loose a whole section of the crown. We spent the rest of the afternoon patching it with refractory cement instead of actually finishing the job. Hand rods took longer but we didn't have to explain to the homeowner why their 100 year old masonry now looks like a patchwork quilt. Your mileage may vary but on anything pre-1950 I'm grabbing the manual rods every time. That vibration just hits different when the mortar is already brittle.

the_nathan23d ago

That vibration is a real problem on older homes. Those motors can definitely loosen up mortar that's already weak. I'd take more time with rods over risking damage to someone's masonry.

patricia55823d ago

Watched a buddy's drill vibrate a whole chimney crown loose last summer. He's back to hand rods and never borrowing power tools again.