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Pro tip: check the damper before you start sweeping
I was in an old farmhouse near Lancaster last week, up on the roof with my rods. Started pushing the brush down and hit solid resistance about three feet in. Thought it was a big nest. Spent twenty minutes trying to work it loose before I went inside to look up the flue with a mirror. The homeowner had closed the cast iron damper all the way and forgot to tell me. Felt like a total rookie. Anyone else have a simple thing waste a bunch of your time?
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irisw733mo ago
Hit solid resistance" is exactly why I always check the damper first now. I used to think it was a waste of time until I had the same thing happen.
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ninab953mo ago
Remember to check the flue too.
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evannelson1mo ago
You ever have one of those days where you're fighting with something and it turns out you just skipped the obvious step? My buddy spent an afternoon trying to figure out why his truck wouldn't start. Changed the battery, checked the alternator, even swapped out a fuse. Turns out the clutch safety switch was just dirty from all the dust on his ranch. A quick spray of contact cleaner and it fired right up. He still brings it up every time I see him. Point is, sometimes the simple stuff gets overlooked because you're thinking too far ahead. Glad you figured out the damper thing before it cost you more headache.
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