Expert: James Ball - 2/13/2011

Question
Hi James
 I have a circa 1952 heatilator. Sometime in the 1970's I assume,
the previous owner wanted to modernize aka remuddle the unit.In doing so the vents were moved from the front of the unit to the back making them exit in the garage. when I purchased the home in the mid 1990's the inspections were all passed both by "home inspectors" and certified chimney sweep. Also the previous owner really never used the unit because the first time he did the damper was closed and the house filled with smoke thus scaring his wife into never using it again. So when we moved in the unit was in nearly new  condition, so we opened the damper and have had some great fires  since owning the home. So now here is where it gets a little scary this past Christmas as every Christmas my wife likes to decorate the mantle you know lights garland the whole nine yards,so as luck would have it there was an electric out let right smack in the center of the mantle to plug in the lights,lucky in more ways than one.One day while we had a fire going I went to plug the lights in only the find out the electric outlet was acting  as a major heat vent it was very hot at that point.Alarmed we naturally let the fire go out,then I removed the outlet only to find that the electric wire was only inches from the bare metal exterior of the damper box. So not wanting my house to burn down I took a pry bar to the whole mess and removed the mantle to see what I could find ,once again not good! The sides of the fire box where I assume the vents should have been attached were not! Also the 2x4 framing was quite close to the fire box ,and where said vents were not attached actually charred
So after thanking God for not having BURNED my family out of our beloved home any suggestions that won't require a remortgage to fix this mess. I am also a very capable do it your selfer. Having completed many major projects around this old home. Wide open for your help.

Answer
Hello Francis, you are one of the lucky ones, I would take many pictures to your local building department and ask them "what can I do" and they will guide you on what to do to fix it.  and have a very good mason take a look and pay for his advise, the front face may need to be removed and the metal removed and replaced with fire brick and re built as a real fireplace.
maybe an insert or wood stove instead of all this depending how bad it is.
keep in mind I have been a sweep for over 25 years and have never seen a properly built chimney
James