Expert: James Ball - 12/29/2010

Question
Hello...my home has a regular-size fireplace with chimney...the fireplace came with gas logs.  We have since removed the gas logs/propane tank and would like to switch back to wood.  There is about a 5x7 picture-size opening near the back of the fireplace on the bottom surface where the gas line came up from the basement.  It is currently covered with a removable piece of metal that has a flap opening in the middle...doesn't fit the greatest in the opening.  I have since just bent the gas line and stuffed it back down the opening now that the gas logs have been removed.

I want to start burning wood but my concern is that I don't want ashes, hot coals, etc. to end up going down the opening where the gas line came up through the bottom of the fireplace.  What is the best way to handle this?

Thanks

Answer
Hello Charles, you can replace that "ash dump door" in the floor and make sure the "ash trap door in the basement is also intact, I would also remove completely the gas line and 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.
Hope this helps
James