Expert: James Ball - 9/22/2010

Question
We need to replace a wood burning fire box that has a 27 foot chimney consisting of a pipe within a pipe.  Our current pipes are 10 (inner) and 15 (outer)inches in diameter.  The replacement fire boxes I am finding have chimneys with pipe diameters of 8 and 10 inches. Will this reduced chimney diameter and air gap affect the size of fire I can make?

Answer
Hello Steve, it sounds like you have a "Pre Fab" fireplace and system if so then the whole system (pipe and firebox) has to be replaces as it is a System and you can not piece it together. check with your local wood stove store and 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