Need help cleaning my chimney

[New_Burner]

I have an outside masonary chimney with a 6 inch stainless steel liner. The chimney is two years old and needs its first cleaning. However, the chimney is about 30 ft high and resides next to a 9/12 pitch roof. I just climbed up there this morning, chimney brush in hand and safety harness on. I'm not one to be afraid of heights, but that roof is just too steep for proper footing trying to clean a chimney. I climbed down without finishing the job.

I thought I would try cleaning from inside going through the cleanout in the basement but because the cleanout goes through the foundation and then a 90 degree angle and straight up, the rods won't go in and up without breaking.

My question is is there a better way of cleaning that chimney? Are there more flexible rods available?

I hate to pay someone to do this every year.....

 

[Oldmainer]

Hello New_Burner...a good extension ladder will solve your problem. You can get one for what two cleanings will run you by a sweep. Franklin

 

[LLigetfa]

If you can reach the chimney while standing on the roof, you have it made. Just lay the ladder at the same angle as the roof. My roof is 12/12 and my ladder isn't long enough so I borrowed my neighbor's ladder last year. I really should buy a longer ladder.

 

[savageactor7]

Yup ^ what LLigetfa did. If you haven't cleaned it in 2 years take a balled of chain tied to a rope and make a couple of passes. From the bottom clean out mirror it first...if it's perfectly round or rectangular you may not have to dick with the chain. That means you were burning seasoned wood...many benefits in doing that...

...don't forget to tie yourself off. There's also ladder hooks, pretty sure you can get them at Lowes.

 

[New_Burner]

here's a pic of the house. The roof over deck makes things harder too.

 

[Oldmainer]

Hello New_Burner...I would install a 2 by 4 cleat a foot in from the porch roof edge...and seal it with roofing cement so that it wouldn't leak...then use an extension ladder to clean the chimney. Franklin

 

[LLigetfa]

Those ladder hooks are something I could use but I can't find them around here.

It doesn't look like the porch roof sticks out beyond the plane of the the main roof but it doesn't look like a 40 foot ladder would reach at that angle. A 40 footer might reach from the gable end where you can set it at a much steeper angle. Use a ladder standoff that's wide enough to catch the sides of the chimney. Once you get up there, tie a rope around the chimney too.

 

[LLigetfa]

If you park a pickup on that side and set the ladder in the bed of it, it will give you a few extra feet of height and give you something solid to tie off the ladder base to.

It also looks like you could find yourself a comfortable spot between the chimney and the peak that you can wedge yourself into. Consider mounting a permanent Roof Anchor at the ridge. Google Permanent Roof Anchor.

 

[BrotherBart]

Find a good chimney sweep.

 

[cmonSTART]

ladder hooks are a life saver.

 

[Slow1]

Find a good chimney sweep.

And be sure to see how he solves the problem - may learn a new trick you can use after that.

 

[crazy_dan]

you need one of these things buy or rent it is your choice.
http://www.onesourceequipment.com/equipment/Genie/TMZ50.htm

I rent one when I paint my house or need to get up high they are the cats meow.
The rental is $200 a day here so just calling a sweep may be cheaper and easier.

 

[Hogwildz]

Build yourself a chicken ladder.
Been a while, but from roofing for a living for many years, that looks steeper than a 9/12.
I used to be able to eye a roof and dam near guess the pitch.

 

[LLigetfa]

Been a while, but from roofing for a living for many years, that looks steeper than a 9/12.

The garage is probably 9/12 but the house looks to be 12/12.

 

[fbelec]

beautiful house.
slow 1 may not be so slow. i think you nailed it. go to chimney cleaning school and watch the guy that you hired to see how he tackles it

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

i agree with the sweep idea.. That is one hell of a roof at one hell of a hight. I would get a pro to do it forever. The $200 /year would be better then one ride to the hospital or morgue. by the looks of that house, a sweep every 4 or 5 cords should not put you in bankruptcy court.

 

[Hogwildz]

You could always build a curb on the backside of the roof and install a roof hatch

 

[fbelec]

You could always build a curb on the backside of the roof and install a roof hatch

always thinkin. who needs a ladder