Posted: 10/27/2008 4:42:07 PM EDT
If a fireplace has a chimney, but has a gas log in it. Can you remove the gas log, and burn real wood in it?
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A lot of newer homes have cheap chimneys that are little more than a metal flue boxed in with plywood and a veneer of brick or even siding. If this is what you have the odds are it is not rated for the heat of a fireplace or wood stove.
If it has a masonry flue then you probably are probably ok, but I'd have is checkout to be certain. You need to make sure it is clean and without obstruction anyway. How old is the chimney? |
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If the fireplace isn't built to be wood fired, the concentrated high temperature will bleed through: Dangerous.
If the fireplace has poor clearances to combustible materials around it because it's designed for natural gas only: Dangerous. If the flue is less than 6" in diameter, is not double insulated, does not have the clearances required for a wood fire: Dangerous You really need someone to come look at it first. |
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Go here: www.csia.org
Enter your zip and call a sweep. If you have any questions about what they tell you, ask me. <–––––– CSIA certified Do not use it unless it is looked at and checked off on for wood. I would recommend a lvl 2 inspection with a video scan of the flue. This will tell you the most about the situation. DO NOT SKIMP! Houses take a while to rebuild. 
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Do not burn wood in your fireplace until you can confirm that the chimney/pipe is designed for it!!!
I have a fireplace that started out as a gas insert but it was built with a double lined chimney pipe certified for wood burning use. If you remove you gas insert and start burning wood logs with a chimney pipe that is not rated for it you most probably will end up with a house fire!!! |