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Chimney brushes: match the bristles to your flue and the size to its inside

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-17.

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Quick answer

Pick the bristle by the flue: Rutland and Midwest Hearth make wire brushes for masonry chimneys and poly brushes for metal flues and liners, which Midwest Hearth says helps prevent scratching the steel pipe. Then measure the inside of the flue and buy the same size brush, and add a rod kit long enough to reach, such as Midwest Hearth's 18 foot kit of six 3 foot fiberglass rods. Pellet stove vents need a small poly vent brush instead. Midwest Hearth says chimneys should be cleaned at least once a year, and the U.S. Fire Administration advises yearly cleaning and inspection by a professional.

Four chimney cleaning tools compared

Tool	Use it for	Sizes
Rutland round wire brush	Masonry chimneys	6 to 10 in
Midwest Hearth round poly brush	Metal flues, stove pipe	6, 7, 8 in
Midwest Hearth fiberglass rods	Reaching through the flue	Six 3 ft rods
Rutland pellet vent brush	Pellet stove vents	3 or 4 in

From Rutland and Midwest Hearth product pages, checked October 2026. Rutland's pellet vent brush comes with a 10 or 20 foot handle. Midwest Hearth says its rods are compatible with its own brushes and other popular brands; check the thread on both parts before you buy.

Wire or poly: match the brush to your flue

The single most important choice is the bristle, and it depends on what the inside of your chimney is made of.

• Masonry flue: use a wire brush. Rutland says its round wire brush uses oil tempered spring wire to clean soot, creosote and other buildup from masonry chimneys. Midwest Hearth says its tempered steel wire brushes are designed for masonry chimney flues, not metal flues.
• Metal flue, liner or stove pipe: use a poly brush. Rutland says to use a poly brush for chimneys with metal liners, and Midwest Hearth says its polypropylene brushes are designed for metal chimney flues to help prevent scratching and marring of the steel pipe.

If you are not sure which you have, check your stove or liner paperwork, or ask a chimney professional, before you order.

Measure the flue, then pick the size

Both makers give the same rule: measure the inside dimension of the flue and order the same size brush.

• Round flues: Rutland sells its round wire brush in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 inch sizes, and Midwest Hearth sells its round poly brush in 6, 7 and 8 inch sizes.
• Square and rectangular flues: both makers also sell square and rectangular wire brushes for masonry chimneys. Measure both sides of the opening.
• Threads: Rutland brushes have a male 1/4 inch NPT threaded connector for rods and pull rings. Midwest Hearth brushes have 1/4 inch male pipe threads and the company lists its fittings as 1/4 inch NPSM.

Rods: length and how they flex

A brush needs rods long enough to reach through the full flue from where you work.

• Midwest Hearth's fiberglass kit has six 3 foot rods for 18 feet in total, in heavy gauge .350 diameter fiberglass. It is made for manual brushing only and is not for use with power tools.
• Rutland sells an 18 foot kit of six 36 inch fiberglass rods and individual 4 foot and 6 foot rods. It says its fiberglass rods handle slight offsets but not sharp corners, bend approximately 45 degrees and are not for spinning.
• For drill driven sweeping, Midwest Hearth sells a separate 24 foot rotary system that it says is for bottom up use only and fits chimneys from 5 inches to 16 by 16 inches.

How to sweep safely

Rutland's directions start with the fire: make sure it is completely out and the chimney is cold along its whole length before you begin. Then:

• Wear eye protection, gloves and an approved dust mask. Rutland warns that wire can injure eyes and puncture skin.
• Cover the fireplace or stove opening and everything in the work area, since soot and corrosive debris can cause damage.
• Clean from the top down or the bottom up with extension rods, working the brush up and down several times.
• Be aware of electrical and fire hazards, and take safety precautions if you work on the roof.

Rutland's product pages also carry a California Proposition 65 warning that soot is known to the State of California to cause cancer, another reason for the mask.

Pellet stove vents need their own brush

Pellet stove vents are much narrower than chimney flues, so they need their own small brush. Rutland's pellet vent brush with handle comes in 3 and 4 inch brush sizes with 10 or 20 foot handles, uses 0.020 inch poly filament and, Rutland says, will not scratch or damage metal pipe. It is for light cleaning only; for heavier buildup Rutland points to its pellet stove brush with a heavy duty ball tip, sold in 3, 4 and 5 inch sizes with separate flexible rods.

Rutland's directions: consult your stove's manual first, measure the inside of the vent pipe, shut the stove down and unplug it, cover the work area, work the brush back and forth several times, check elbows and T connections for debris, then reassemble and vacuum up the residue.

When to call a professional

Midwest Hearth says chimneys should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often if you use your fireplace frequently. Rutland highly recommends an annual inspection and cleaning by a certified chimney technician. The U.S. Fire Administration says heating fires were the second leading cause of home fires in 2021, and it advises having heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.

A DIY brush does not replace that yearly inspection.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Should I use a wire or poly chimney brush?

Wire for masonry chimneys, poly for metal flues and liners. Midwest Hearth says poly helps prevent scratching steel pipe.

How do I know what size chimney brush to buy?

Measure the inside dimension of the flue and buy the same size brush, both Rutland and Midwest Hearth say.

How often should a chimney be cleaned?

Midwest Hearth says at least once a year, more often with frequent use. The U.S. Fire Administration advises yearly professional cleaning and inspection.

Can I use a drill with chimney rods?

Only with rods made for it. Midwest Hearth's fiberglass rods are for manual brushing only, and Rutland says its fiberglass rods are not for spinning.

How do I clean a pellet stove vent?

Use a 3 or 4 inch poly vent brush. Rutland says to shut the stove down, unplug it and follow your stove's manual.

Sources

• Chimney Sweep Round Wire Cleaning Brush (rutland.com), Rutland Products
• Chimney Sweep Pellet Stove Vent Brush with Handle (rutland.com), Rutland Products
• Fiberglass Chimney Brush Extension Rod Kit (rutland.com), Rutland Products
• Poly Chimney Cleaning Brush, Round (midwesthearth.com), Midwest Hearth
• Wire Chimney Cleaning Brush, Round (midwesthearth.com), Midwest Hearth
• Fiberglass Chimney Rod Kit (18-Foot) (midwesthearth.com), Midwest Hearth
• Heating Fire Safety, U.S. Fire Administration (maker page: www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating/)

Sources checked 2026-10-17.