Cracked panels and worn fireplace parts fixed in Bay Ridge

What holds up a factory-built chimney

Metal chimneys hang on supports and straps fastened to the house framing. Section R1005.5 says that where factory-built chimneys are supported by structural members such as joists and rafters, those members shall be designed to support the additional load.

Loose straps, missing fasteners and supports altered during other work let a chimney sag, which strains its joints. We check the supports we can reach and restore them with the maker's parts.

• Straps fastened to rafters or joists
• Supports above any offset
• Fasteners in place
• No sag at the joints

Ash removal from a factory-built firebox

Shoveling ash out of a factory-built firebox takes a little care, since the floor under the ash is refractory and hard scraping can chip it. One maker's manual asks for ashes to go into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, placed on a noncombustible floor or the ground away from combustibles until the cinders are cold.

Chipped floor panels near the front often trace back to ash removal. We replace damaged floor panels during a repair and suggest a gentler routine for the next season.

Air conditioning, fans and draft

One maker's warranty notes that it is not responsible for inadequate draft caused by air conditioning and heating systems, mechanical ventilation or construction conditions that create negative pressure in the room.

That note points to where many draft problems start. Before replacing any part for a draft complaint, we look at the fans, returns and air handling near the fireplace and explain what we find.

• Air conditioning returns
• Bath and kitchen exhaust fans
• Mechanical ventilation
• Tight construction

A cracked firebox floor panel

The floor panels of a factory-built firebox carry the grate, the fire and the ash, and they take the knocks from logs and tools. Cracks there often show before the side panels wear.

One maker divides the floor into bottom rear and bottom front panels, so a cracked front piece can sometimes be replaced alone. We check both before ordering.

• Bottom front panel
• Bottom rear panel
• Grate position over the floor
• Retainers along the edges