Spent 4 hours on a blocked flue that turned out to be a bird nest packed behind the smoke shelf

Felix Rodriguez · 2026-10-31T06:50:04.044725+00:00

Had a job over in Galena last month on an old brick ranch and the flue was pulling zero draft no matter what I ran down it. Tried my standard 6 inch poly brush, then a chain whip, then a weighted drop head, and every tool came back clean while the smoke still rolled into the living room. Ended up going on the roof with a flashlight and a mirror and the real problem was a starling nest wedged tight behind the smoke shelf, totally out of reach of the brush. Took 4 hours total for what should've been a 45 minute sweep. What's your go to move for stuff jammed back there, do you pull the damper or just go up top with a rod and a hook?

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Spent 4 hours on a blocked flue that turned out to be a bird nest packed behind the smoke shelf | Chimney Sweeps - Chatter Central