A 17-foot stovepipe runs between my wood stove and the top of my living room ceiling. From there, it passes through the attic and emerges on my 10-pitch roof, where it juts another 6 feet into the air. When I built this house and opted for wood heat, a high ceiling, and a 10-pitch roof, I did not take into consideration the fact that stovepipes must be periodically cleaned to prevent soot buildup and dangerous chimney fires. Although I am admittedly somewhat frugal, I value my limbs much more than my greenbacks, so the first time my stovepipe needed cleaning, I called professional chimney sweeps to do the work. My 10-pitch roofs, however, also intimidated the professionals, and after that first time, I couldn't get them to come back. I'd have to do the work myself.
