Removing SS chimney cap from ground?

[RISurfer20]

Does anyone have a technique to remove the chimney cap of a prefab chimney from the ground? My chimney is 24' and I don't feel like getting on the roof to clean. The cap pops right out if pulled straight up and out. I figure I may attempt to build a reacher/grabber out of pvc pipe and lift the cap off. Only trouble I may have is putting the cap back on. I cleaned the chimney this past weekend from the bottom but I would like to clean the cap even though it does not look bad from the ground and does not have a spark arrestor. Has anyone attempted this?

 

[RISurfer20]

Below is a pic of my cap. I do see some creosote along the outside edges. Think I should clean the edges and grooves. Center of the cap is clean with no blockage.

 

[moondoggy]

trained squirrels.....
you go through a crap load of shelled nuts in training, but in the end you'll be able to send them out for splits.

 

[RISurfer20]

Ha. Good idea. I'll try the squirrels. At least they will be out of the gutters.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

How much wood do you burn per year? If it is only a couple of cords, I'd skip cleaning the cap, then every two or three years I'd hire a professional sweep and tell him to be sure to clean the cap.

 

[RISurfer20]

I burn 5 to 6 cords per year. Clean twice per year in January and at he end of the season. Previously the cap has not looked bad, but I figure I should clean it. Chimney itself is super clean. I just don't feel like getting on the roof with a pitch of 12.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

That's a lot more wood than I have ever gone through, two cords would be a heavy burn year. When I was more dependent on burning for general heating I also used about a ton+ of anthracite (hard) coal. I guess that's the equivalent of at least one more cord of hardwood heat-wise.

I hear you on the roof. The chimney cleaner was up on my roof yesterday, he went up twice, and he was very careful when moving down the slope. It is possible to get up on my garage roof with a short ladder, one story, and step from the peak of that roof onto the lower edge of the roof over my two story house. I don't know the slop, but it look to be too much to me, and as said, even the "pro" looked worried (best way for him to be).

 

[grizzly2]

My roof has a 12/12 pitch, and my chimney cap looks just like yours. I inspect the cap with binoculars, and when I see any buildup on the louvers I clean it. I was burning about 9 face cords per year (3 full cords). I need to clean the cap about every other year but only because I burn a low fire at night and when at work. I use a piece of metal rod bent "L" shape and radiator clamped to the end of a long wooden pole. I rest the pole on the eaves to steady it, then pic the crusty soot out of the louvers, and give the cap a little tap with the pole. Cleans up good.
:coolgrin:

 

[RISurfer20]

Thanks Grizzly. I'll give that a try.