Blocking off the ash chute???

[MeLikeUmFire]

Gonna b putting in my insert next week. I have a masonary chimney. I have a ash chute in the floor of my masonary fireplace. Should I block this off somehow? There will be prob. 3" clearance between the chute grate and the bottom of the insert, so it will not be resting on top of it. Think any air infiltration issues??? There is a clean-out in the basement wall (insert is on 1st floor) for the chute.

 

[begreen]

Not a big deal most likely.

 

[nlittle]

I left mine open. I figure maybe the stove will take some of its air from the chute instead of my living room.

 

[cj-8_jim]

I closed mine off... I don't run the stove all the time. I was getting a very noticiable cold draft that was icing down the living room.

 

[SteveKG]

I have one in the floor of my fireplace, actually in front of the grate. It is an ash dump and also an outdoor air supply. I made a "door" or flap for it, hinged, so I can open it up to shovel in ashes and also to provide some combustion air. When the fire dies down, we close it. I made a rectangular frame to fit out of 1" angle iron, then the door is plate steel and the hinges are just regular ones welded on. Been working for over 25 yr.

 

[leakypuppy]

I ran BX cable down it for my fan plug and then stuffed it with Ceramic wool, I didn't like the idea of wires running across the hearth.