Expert: James Ball - 12/27/2008

Question
I actually have 2 questions.  I have a wood fireplace built with the house in 1978.  There is a small vent in the floor of the fireplace near the front.  It can be opened and closed.  Is it for fresh air to burn?  It is full of debris which I am cleaning out, but I was wondering where it leads to.  I don't see any vent in the back of the chimney (which is in the garage) or the basement under it.  
Also, by flue lets a lot of cold air through even when it is closed.  If it gets down to 20 below zero (as it does here in MN) the glass doors on the fireplace actually frost up and if it is windy outside the ashes will swirl around in the fireplace.  Is this normal?  We thought about getting a gas insert.  Will that stop the leak with it's own flue or not.


Answer
Hello Greg, 1st yes it sounds like a fresh air intake, there should be a "dryer vent" type vent some where on the out side of the house, and yes clean it out with the hose of a wet dry vac (be sure you have not had a fire in the last week)
2nd,  do you have a cap on top? do you close fresh air intake? I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have, they might be able to get you a wind deflection cap.
James