Cleaning a tall chimney

[bsimon]

How do I clean a chimney that projects 8' above a pitched roof?

The sweep wants about $270 to clean it, top down. They say the Lopi inserts can't be done from the bottom up. Seems to me like it could be done bottom-up, if I could get a rod that would make the bend in the firebox -OR- have short enough sections to get into the stovepipe from the firebox. I have a rod designed for cleaning pellet stoves that can make the bend, but isn't stiff enough to push the brush up the stovepipe.

In the pic, the gutter is about 11' off the ground; when standing on the roof above the chimney, the caps top out above my head. The stove is in the middle run.

Any ideas?

 

[Yagminas Masonry and Wood-heat]

I'd put a saw-horse or some similar contraption behind the chimney and hop right up on top. Is there a liner on that insert?

 

[DeePee]

You could get a SootEater. I opted for 50' of 1/2" PEX water hose and some tinkering around to attach the brush.

 

[DAKSY]

Put a 6 or 8 ft stepladder against the upper side of the chimney & strap it in place with a motorcycle tie-down strap,
not the ratcheting type, but the type that has a quick-release mechanism on the clamping mechanism...
If you feel unsafe on the ladder, use a second MC strap to secure yourself to the chimney...
Better safe...

 

[bsimon]

Thanks for the replies so far. Sooteater might be the way to go. I like the strap & ladder idea too; but its a little challenging because the roof pitches away on both the north & south sides. I could probably rig one to keep the base from sliding down & a second higher to keep the ladder on the chimney. Would have to do it when the wife is away, I think.

 

[atvdave]

I like my sooteater... works great, with little effort.

http://www.sooteater.com/

PS... but I do mine from the top down, you would have to do yours from the bottom up, unless you could get a ladder or something to work from on the roof.

 

[Wet1]

You could get a SootEater. I opted for 50' of 1/2" PEX water hose and some tinkering around to attach the brush.

Sounds interesting. Would you mind sharing some pictures of your homemade version?