| Case if the Smoking Window: Firebox Repair |
| Tim Hockenberry inspects and repairs a leaky chimney. |
From "Finders Fixers"
episode DFFX-104 |
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Joel Ranck loves relaxing in front of a nice roaring fire. But he can't use his fireplace because every time he lights it, smoke pours out of a nearby window frame and into his living room. Home inspector Tim Hockenberry helps Joel sift through the smoke with a flashlight test and a smoke test to try to pinpoint the cause and solve the mystery.
Firebox: Repairing a Hole in a Flue Liner Materials: drop cloth
gloves
dust mask
mortar
trowel 1. Before starting, lay down a drop cloth to protect the floor; the cloth also makes clean -up easy (figure A). 2. Mix the mortar. The mix should be thick but still workable, with a consistency similar to peanut butter. Allow the mixture time to rest and soak up all the water. Refer to the resources below for more info about mixing mortar (figure B).
Safety Tip: Mixing mortar creates a lot of dust, and cement can dry out your skin. Remember: always wear a dust mask, gloves and safety glasses when working with mortar.3. While the mortar is resting, prep the hole by scraping the area clean and removing any loose debris.
4. Fill the hole with the mortar, using the trowel to compact the mixture tightly. Allow the mortar to cure for at least 24 hours before testing it.
Repairing the Ash Dump1. Clear out the broken mortar and loose debris.
2. Spread the mortar evenly around the area, filling in the gaps. The ash dump should rest flush with the floor when it’s in the closed position (figure C). 3. When the ash dump is in place, tap it with the butt end of the trowel (figure D) and scrape off excess mortar; fill in any joints (figure E), making sure all surfaces clean (figure F).
Note: Depending on the mortar, it may help to dampen the old mortar to help it get a better grip with the new.
RESOURCES :
Quikrete
Website: www.quickrete.com
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