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Chimney & Fireplaces/Pulling out an old firebox

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Expert: - 4/4/2009


Question

Firebox thing not sure
We have a house built in 1979 with a brick fireplace. Inside the part where you would put the wood, you have a black box made of metal.  I am not sure what you call this. It is surrounded by empty space and insulation. The fireplace brick is not actually connected to the wall, and at the top it is starting to fall out/over. We want to pull this black metal box out and tear down the bricks and then have drywall put up, totally eliminating the fireplace whatsoever. Is this dangerous or not? Also, what else would we have to have done to make sure that everything was OK? There is a tube going up through a chimney. Here is a pic. I already pulled out the electrical part with the miniature fans (at the bottom) and threw it away. Thank you!!

Answer
Mary,

Removing the insert wood stove and removing the fireplace is not dangerous. That being said, I would consult a professional to determine that the chimney system doesn't support any of your house structure. If saving it is the desire, use the links at the bottom of my home page and find an inspector that performs NFPA-211 level II inspections. www.brooks-hearth.com. Hope this helps.

Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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