Wood-burning fireplaces are warm, cozy and attractive, but they require proper maintenance, or the consequences could be quite severe. If you want to convert a gas fireplace to wood, you can usually do so by capping the gas line, checking the flue and removing the gas logs. If the fireplace is near flat surfaces such as window ledges or built-in furniture, cover these with newspapers and masking tape. I qualified for the free insulation, but the surveyor pointed out an asbestos flue pipe in the corner of the loft, and said that British Gas can't do any work there while it's still in place. The flue protects the chimney walls, so it is on the inside of the chimney tower. Regular maintenance also includes removing any debris, birds nests, etc., that may have accumulated in your flue. Key takeaways for fireplace removal Consider which parts of the fireplace you want removed, as well as any surroundings and framings. It’s highly recommended to install a flue liner to further protect the chimney and reduce the chances of a flue fire. Make sure the sweep you hire ($150 to $200) does more than pushing a brush. Question by Guest_91463322: Fireplace is in wall between two rooms. Odd placement and blocks flow of both rooms making them both very small. Flue & Chimney Cleaning Chemicals. https://turnerbaker.co.uk/articles/removing-a-chimney-stack-and-fireplace Terracotta and clay liners work with all fuel types and last for around 50 years. How to Remove Creosote From a Chimney Flue. Vacuum the hearth area weekly. This house has a non-functional fireplace. Dealing with a bird in a chimney or fireplace can be a stressful situation, not only for you but for the bird as well. Cleaning the flue is a simple matter of removing the cap and running a brush down to the insert. Check for creosote build-up or blockage. D Smoke chamber Here the smoke gathers before being passed into the flue. The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces . You should consult a professional for the sake of safety. The solution to getting creosote out of your chimney depends on the severity of the problem. E Smoke shelf Prevents downdraughts. Then using a reciprocating saw through the small gap I cut through the liner then removed the small philaphire Member. Sometimes, a cold flue will not draw smoke up. However, before crawling back through your attic, make sure you have cut the sealant at the storm collar and the flashing below. Flues and chimneys above 6m tall should generally be not less than 1/7th to 1/8th of the area of the fireplace opening, e.g. Or seeing a large beehive or the muffled buzzing sound of a hornet’s nest inside a chimney flue! Next Last. Fireplace odor is especially prominent when a dirty flue combines with moisture, making the smoky smell most noticeable during humid months and on rainy days. I had a survey from British Gas recently, who were offering to fit free insulation in the loft. We would like to remove the fireplace. Active 8 months ago. If you have a galvanized metal fireplace flue with corrosion or rust, rather than replacing the entire flue, you can repair it. Liquid, powder or sprays can be applied directly to a fire or to wood in your fireplace to break down creosote into ash, which can be then swept out with the help of a chimney sweep brush. The guard folds flat for compact storage when you want to light a fire. Chimneys & Fireplaces Does an asbestos flue pipe in the loft need to be removed? NOTE: If you are removing an open fire then there may be a “back boiler” present in the fireplace (see pic below). Terracotta flue liner prices are $2,000 to $3,500 to install. A fireplace damper must always be open all of the way when using any form of gas fireplace. The inside height of the smoke chamber from the fireplace throat to the beginning of the flue shall not be greater than the inside width of the fireplace opening. It can also close off the fireplace from the outside of the house, preventing air loss . Many tasks such as installing a new appliance, adding a hearth, as well as structural tasks such as removing chimney breasts, ... To exclude the entry of rain there’s a wide variety of caps, cowls, and hoods available to protect pots and flues. Whether it’s creosote, soot or some other type of debris in your chimney, any of this debris can cause a problem, as it could impede the escape of smoke from your fireplace. Whether your goal is to mask the smell, eliminate it or prevent it altogether, you have several options to extinguish fireplace odors. The exterior material on your home may determine which way you choose to remove the fireplace. The fireplace is currently fitted to an area of bricks. Another situation that can create a smoke problem can be that the fireplace flue must be primed, or pre-heated. You could try to remove creosote yourself, but for a thorough job, call a chimney sweep who’s certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Prefabricated fireplaces are metal boxes lined with firebrick panels and inserted into the wall with a metal liner or flue that comes out of the top to allow for ventilation. Removing the fireplace will create a great deal of rubble and dust, so it is best to take everything out of the room, including the carpet. The inside surface of the smoke chamber shall not be inclined more than 45 degrees (0.79 rad) from vertical when prefabricated smoke chamber linings are used or when the smoke chamber walls are rolled or sloped rather than corbeled. Sometimes, a chimney cap is helpful in preventing animals from making their nests inside a flue. Once you have done that, try and pull your flue pipe up, for most of us this will not work and you will need to go into the attic to pull it down. You can remove a prefab fireplace through the front or the back. We want to remove it and open up the wall between the two rooms for more space and better flow. 1 of 2 Go to page. The pipes often run up the sides of a chimney breast (hidden in boxing sometimes). How to remove chimney, fireplace yourself It's a big job, but you can remove chimney, fireplace yourself. If the liner connection at the insert flue collar is faulty, causing the liner to fail, the results can be very messy. The FIREPLACE OPENING is too large for size of FLUE, i.e. removing fireplace damper. Fireplace Cleaning: How to Remove Creosote. Remove the guard and fold it flat when you want to use the fireplace. At some point in the past the external chimney box was removed, the flue truncated, the gas logs and burner removed, and the gas pipe capped off. Check which type of fireplace you have – gas, electric, natural or coal – to determine the steps involved for removal. A chimney or flue damper doesn’t always need to always be open all the way when burning wood in your home. If the fireplace was originally gas, you may not be able to convert it to a wood-burning unit. Status Not open for further replies. What do people usually do with the big hole left? Over time, these forces cause the galvanized metal flue to rust. Fortunately, you can repair your galvanized metal flue yourself in as little as one afternoon. C Flue connector Connects the fireplace to the flue. Any deposits are cleaned from the firebox by removing the baffle. Inspect the firebox, flue, and chimney annually. What can homeowners do to treat a smelly fireplace? F Damper A pivoted sliding metal flap that regulates the amount of draught, preventing excessive variations. To remove the flue pipe, you may need to go back into your attic and disconnect the pipe at a joint. Thread starter philaphire; Start date Feb 8, 2007; Forums. The flue is likely held in place by some screws holding the flange. Once the fireplace is cool again, place the guard over the hole. A fireplace flue is meant to safely vent smoke outside. the volume and speed of the smoke passing up the flue is insufficient to clear the large volume of fumes building up in the oversize fireplace opening below. A wood-burning fireplace insert must be removed when your fireplace and chimney enclosure need cleaning. Of all the things people call needing our help with, few evoke the frantic excitement of stinging insects coming into the home through the fireplace. 1; 2; Next. Most wood-burning fireplace inserts are heavy and are … It will make a nasty paste out of the ashes. How to Get a Bird Out of a Fireplace or Chimney. This Regency fireplace insert fan has two squirrel cage fans in it that run off one motor. The reliability of an insert installation depends on a perfect installation. Go. How to remove flue from fireplace firebox with limited access? Never use an abrasive cleanser inside the fireplace. Galvanized metal flues receive stress from heat as well as weather elements creeping down the chimney. If your fireplace is wood-burning, it should only have a connection to the flue at the top of the unit. Gas Fireplace Venting. Stand it next to the fireplace or hide it underneath a piece of furniture so it’s not in the way. Installing a Regency i1100 Wood Burning Fireplace insert requires a permit from your local building authority. Ask Question Asked 8 months ago. Make sure all the embers have been extinguished for at least 12 hours. Prevent Bees and Wasps Coming In Fireplace. ... Having a chimney sweep remove the nest alleviates the problem. The flue is the part that directs the toxic gases from your fireplace to the atmosphere. Sheet polythene can be bought in large rolls to completely cover the floor and protect it while the work is going on. Do not use water to drown a fire unless there is an emergency. Viewed 66 times 1. Main Hearth Forums. Bill Burnett and Kevin Burnett . It's easier than removing a gas insert because it's not necessary to remove or disconnect gas lines. Clay flue liner materials only cost $6 to $15 per linear foot, but installation labor and removing the old clay tiles is expensive compared to steel. These are essentially metal vessels (copper or steel), about the size of a shoebox, that sit at the rear of any flames and are connected via two pipes to a cylinder (in immersion cupboard) upstairs.