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Just realized I was overcleaning flues for years because of one comment
An older sweep named Gary watched me work a job in Portland last spring and said, "You're stripping the seasoning out of that liner." He explained how aggressive rodding with metal brushes was wearing down the stainless steel on a pellet stove vent I was servicing. I switched to nylon brushes and softer poly rods for lighter creosote after that chat. The liner stays smoother now and I get done about 15 minutes faster on average. Anyone else had to unlearn old habits because some seasoned pro called them out?
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lopez.brooke12d ago
Yeah I had a similar moment a few years back that really stuck with me. I was cleaning a really old wood stove and this guy who'd been doing it since the 80s just watched me for a minute and said "you're treating that like it's new, but it's not." He pointed out I was using way too much pressure on the brush and could crack the firebrick. I felt pretty stupid but honestly it changed how I work. Now I'm way more careful about reading the liner and the build-up before I even grab a brush. Funny how one little comment can make you rethink everything you thought you knew.
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spencer_moore3911d ago
lopez.brooke that's exactly the kind of thing that sticks with you, right? It's wild how one small correction from somebody who's been doing it longer can totally rewire your whole approach. I've noticed that pattern in a lot of areas too, not just work stuff. Like how people learn the hard way that heavy handed fixes usually just create more problems down the road, whether it's cleaning a stove or even just trying to force a stubborn jar lid open lol.
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