Expert: James Ball - 11/9/2010

Question
We recently moved into our home. It is an older house with a wood burning fireplace. We use the fireplace for our source of heat. My question is this: the metal part inside of the fireplace has several holes in it, including a few on the bottom. The hot coals and embers are falling through and we don't want our home to catch on fire. How do we go about replacing or repairing or replacing this? Is there something we can go to say Home Depot for? If there is what is this piece called. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hello Shannon, nor sure if you have a PreFab fire box or a masonry with an ash dump door. if you can send  me a picture or describe it to me I might be able to point you in the right direction or 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 should be able to help.
Also a fireplace should not be used 24/7 they are for the most part decretive if you are looking to heat you should install a hearth stove or insert, properly
Hope this helps
James