Here is what Selkirk has to say about it in their inst. Contact a professional certified chimney sweep for chimney cleaning services and advice if you have any doubts about your ability to clean your chimney system or if the task is too large. To visually inspect the chimney, remove the Rain Cap by simply using the twist- lock feature. Care should be taken not to disengage any lower chimney sections. This will permit the insertion of a flashlight for inspection and a properly sized plastic chimney cleaning brush. A metal brush may scratch the liner and lead to premature corrosion.
At the company I work for our production dpt uses much stainless steel (316l). I've been told that normal steel will easily cause corrosion of ss. The are very, very serious about keeping normal steel and tools used for normal steel away from the ss and ss dedicated tools. Maybe that's also the issue here?
This is fine Chris and I too know of people that do the same. But it is sort of like an example of, say, a pilot. One time he does something with an airplane that he knows he should not have done. However, all turned out just fine. The second time this situation might come up it would be easier to disregard good thinking and do that thing again. Maybe he gets away with it. It could go on and on or maybe the next time his time would be up. Point is, most of us do things at times there perhaps is not the very best way and we get along okay. But, what if..... As I said, spending $15 and possibly saving a problem in the future seems trivial as far as the dollars. After all, SS is not cheap and I doubt the price will go down. For those who wish to use steel, it is their choice. However, I think perhaps it is usually best to recommend what most professionals suggest using.
Ok. I reread your post. Amazing how SS stands up to so much abuse in other conditions, but I hadn't fully considered the corrosive action of combusted byproducts from burning wood... Wasn't trying to be antagonistic, just rationalizing from an uneducated perspective. When we bought our house, it came with a terra cotta lined block chimney, which we can't afford to replace- I keep an eye on it throughout the heating season. I use a poly brush on it, 'cause that's what my dad gave me!
I lined my chimney about 5 years ago with a double wall SS and just followed the manufacters advise and bought poly.....has worked just fine so I can't think of any good reason one would want to use anything else.
