Fireplace/Questions

SubjectDate AskedExpert
fireplace vents1/5/2012john
  Q: I saw an earlier post about an old wood burning fireplace with two vents on each side to provide ...
  A: I myself live on long island and these fireplaces seem very common. Blocking or closing off the ...
How to cut wood stove pipe8/20/2011john
  Q: I'm considering replacing the stove pipe coming from the back of my wood stove. The length of the ...
  A: yes 24 gauge is the most common and its the only one id use. if using unsealed pipe try this its ...
Converting two sided wood burning masonary fireplace7/16/2011john
  Q: It is me again, Joe. Finally I am getting around to sending some pictures your way. Thanks for ...
  A: I'm sorry, I should've been more specific. I need a photo of inside the fireplace. More specifically ...
Converting two sided wood burning fireplace6/30/2011john
  Q: My house was built in 1979, there is a huge two sided wood burning masonry fireplace right in the ...
  A: Growing up on Long Island, I've seen alot of these types of fireplaces. Not actually seeing the ...
Wood burning fireplace with vents6/26/2011john
  Q: Our house was built in 1977 and has a wood-burning fireplace with 4 vents, 2 on each side. Can we ...
  A: Anything will do. if you take the vents off and put insulation behind them and replace them, this ...
Wood burning fireplace with vents6/25/2011john
  Q: Our house was built in 1977 and has a wood-burning fireplace with 4 vents, 2 on each side. Can we ...
  A: Those vents are for letting air circulate around the firebox and the heat of the fire heats the air ...
Log Pattern2/5/2011john
  Q: I need a diagram showing how to stack lava rock logs in a Sure Heat Manufactured fireplace. It uses ...
  A: i found the website for the manufacturer of your stove but a model number would be more helpful. ...
4 vent 1970' fireplace1/13/2011john
  Q: I also have built in iron lined fireplace 1970' with 4 vents to the side (top and bottom). It is a ...
  A: the insert is, in my opinion, the most efficient way to heat your home. i hate the doors with the ...
Majestic G336 parts12/17/2010john
  Q: I am purchasing a new Majestic model G336 gas fireplace from a builder friend of mine that he never ...
  A: i did some digging in my files and found the users manual for your fireplace including the parts for ...
DIY wood burning insert vent question12/13/2010john
  Q: I purchased a wood burning insert recently and will be installing it in a fireplace in our 1950's ...
  A: unfortunately these are a pain to do. the damper itself will come out but you need to be ready to ...
DIY wood burning insert vent question12/12/2010john
  Q: I purchased a wood burning insert recently and will be installing it in a fireplace in our 1950's ...
  A: i've been putting alot of these inserts in lately and its always the same. rarely does the liner fit ...
Pre-fab insert replacement12/8/2010john
  Q: Hey! A google search of my model pre-fab brought me here. Its a Superior KR-38-3. This is my ...
  A: it is a single unit. im not sure what they were thinking when they had it built but you may have to ...
hot wall with masonry fireplace and gas logs11/23/2010john
  Q: I would like some direction on a possible problem with my fireplace. I found that the wall in my ...
  A: ive heard of cement that can take high temperatures but not of a cement that can insulate a wall ...
fire stops after 2 minutes10/22/2010john
  Q: The fire starts right away but goes out after a minute or 2. it is a majestic product about 15 ...
  A: You probably have a millivolt control system, which generates a small amount of electricity to ...
install second fireplace using existing chimney10/19/2010john
  Q: Home was built in 2004. It has a functional fireplace insert on the first floor. The chimeney ...
  A: this is really hard to answer without actually seeing it first hand, but from experience i'd have to ...
chimney9/24/2010john
  Q: We have a build-in stove in our basement, and recently had it inspected. We were told that there ...
  A: this is a really tough question to answer online like this.the only responsible thing to do is tell ...
Demolishing Facade for conversion to larger gas upgrade9/13/2010john
  Q: I presently have a wood burning fireplace and since the gas conversion i selected is larger than my ...
  A: are you looking for the proper way to install the unit or a round about figure to re-build your ...
Superior kr-38-3 wood burning fire place8/10/2010john
  Q: We have a Superior kr-38-3 model wood burning fireplace (10 yrs old) that we want to replace. What ...
  A: inserts are ideally for a masonry wood burning fireplace. if you have a pre-fab fireplace (a ...
70's fireplace with 4 vents in wall around it8/5/2010john
  Q: We have a built in metal pre-fab type wood-burning fireplace in a home built in 1979 and it has two ...
  A: those vents are a really bad way of heating your room. air circulates around the box, gets warm and ...
COnverting a gas fireplace to a woodburning one7/12/2010john
  Q: I am looking to purchase a used fireplace. I can get a really nice gas one with the hearth and ...
  A: i have seen these units used as wood burning fireplaces. they usually make 2 or 3" holes on the ...
Gas fireplace vent problems6/26/2010john
  Q: John, I have a glass enclosed, gas fireplace on the first level of my home that vents to the ...
  A: because its working when the glass front is open leads me to think its not getting enough air are ...
Fireplace smell5/13/2010john
  Q: I have a 50-year-old masonry fireplace without a flue damper in which I have frequent fires during ...
  A: do you have an attic fan that exhausts the hot air out the attic? if so its probably the culprit, ...
Fireplace Leaks1/17/2010john
  Q: Have water leaking from inside top of fireplace-opening onto bed of fireplace and also a little ...
  A: alot of the time the water comes from the "flags" of the chimney (the parts of the chimney outside ...
Making a base for a corner wood stove1/3/2010john
  Q: I would like to build a corner base about 6 inches high in the corner of my 24x22 foot side entry ...
  A: cinder blocks with cement boards on top for the floor would be more than good enough as long as its ...
GAS FIREPLACE12/16/2009john
  Q: We have a gas fireplace with ceramic logs. This is our second year with it. After turning it on this ...
  A: honestly no, this would be in the realm of a plumber when it comes to the gas lines and what not ...
Fumes Associated with Vented Gas Log Fireplace12/8/2009john
  Q: John We recently purchased a home with a vented gas log fireplace installed in one of our ...
  A: yes the smell your getting isnt natural gas its the fumes from the gas after its been burned(which ...
soot in fireplace11/30/2009john
  Q: we have moved into a home with a fireplace, and it is visibly covered in soot,inside the ...
  A: first off i would like to apologize for the long wait, the website wasnt responding. as far as the ...
Fireplace wood to Direct Vent Gas or Electric11/29/2009john
  Q: Our home built 1997 has a Tempo Flush Face TFC 36-3 prefab fireplace which has never been used. It ...
  A: first off i apologize for the long wait the website wasnt working for me. as far as the question is ...
crack inside of fireplace11/25/2009john
  Q: My question is how to fix a crack in the back of the fireplace. Is there anything that I can do it ...
  A: hy brenda, im going to assume you mean a crack in the firebrick on the back wall. let me say right ...
Methods to prep wall to install mantel/hearth11/21/2009john
  Q: I recently had my limestone facing of my fireplace removed. The limestone had been concreted into ...
  A: i cant really give you a good answer on this. i really dont like the whole brick thing the ...
fireplace draft11/17/2009john
  Q: I have a prefab fireplace of the 1970's era. There is a slight draft that is always present, ...
  A: let me say first that i receive this type of question more than any other i think, both online and ...
replacing hearth refractory11/15/2009john
  Q: I am trying to replace my hearth refractory and cannot get my doors off. How do I get the doors off ...
  A: there are so many types of doors on so many different kinds of fireplaces that i just cannot answer ...
Installing an insert10/31/2009john
  Q: I am installing an insert into an existing masonry fireplace that was built in 1969. The fireplace ...
  A: there really is no way to disassemble the damper without doing any damage to the firebox itself. ...
Fireplace Glass10/25/2009john
  Q: A shoe with a rubber sole was held against our hot gas fireplace glass. We now have burnt rubber on ...
  A: im sorry to say theres no easy way to fix this problem. the best way is to use a razorblade and ...
fireplace inserts10/17/2009john
  Q: When installing a fireplace insert,is it required to run the pipe up to the top of the chimney or ...
  A: it is, in alomost all situations necessary to install at least 3-4 feet of stainless steel lining up ...
slate back and slips in log burner fireplace10/16/2009john
  Q: Fitted out an inset fireplace with a slate back and side (back piece was 1M square) - log burner was ...
  A: the cracking was most likely caused by sudden temperature changes of the rear slate either from ...
ventless fireplace/wind issues10/15/2009john
  Q: My home sits on a hill and when the wind blows from a certain direction and hits the house, I can ...
  A: this is one of those questions where theres too many variables to just answer through the computer ...
slate back and slips in log burner fireplace10/15/2009john
  Q: Fitted out an inset fireplace with a slate back and side (back piece was 1M square) - log burner was ...
  A: now the only thing that comes to mind is the chimney along side the house or cutting through the ...
Majestic Model G336 Gas Fireplace10/13/2009john
  Q: The pilot light on my gas fire place is working, but the burner will not ignite. What should I be ...
  A: this is one of those questions where it would irresponsible of me to give any advice on since this ...
prefabricated gas fireplace10/13/2009john
  Q: We would like to replace the glass doors of what we are assuming is a prefabricated fireplace (as ...
  A: yes you are right it is a prefab fireplace. now as far as finding the make and model of this ...

Page:   1 | 2  |  Next      All

Fireplace

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


john

Top Expert on this page

Expertise

My name is John. I'm located on Long Island and have been in the chimney business for 20 years. I have extensive knowledge in all aspects of chimney maintenance and repair. Cleanings, crowns, brickwork, linings, and all types of chimney problems and conditions. As seen on CBS news' Christmas special, "what to do in a worst case scenario"

Experience

all experience is hands on. Knowledge is extensive throughout the chimney building, maintenance, and any repair processes

Education/Credentials
20 years on hands experience

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.