For a top venting IS: is it possible to clean the stack top down without disengaging the pipe from the stove? I.e., would the soot fall into an area that would be accessible with a vacuum hose? Thank you for thoughts.
If you could get a brush in from the top, yes you can take the lid off, cat, bypass sled out and get a shop vacuum in there. This operation is very easy to do. No tools required.
Yep, what JA600L said and if you have a shop vac, just leave it running with the hose pushed up into the collar a bit (stove assemblies removed as above) while you brush the flue from the roof. The vacuum captures most of what falls down the pipe and keeps the fine particles going down instead of up into your respiratory system.
