Giant fireplace any clue how this is made or how to remove

[Ontheroofs]

Been trying to figure out the flue is perfectly blocked about 10 feet up above the smoke chamber there is pic from inside looking up and one looking down the chimney. Had gas logs removed and was going to start heating with wood had a chimney sweep that had been doing chimney work since the 70s tell me he didn’t know in the spring. This area is completely inaccessible from inside and from roof. There is a large steel rod coming out at pretty much this exact same lever( picture attached) I was wondering if this might have been used to pivot this it seems to be the only thing that makes sense but put a small pair of pliers on it and it didn’t seem to budge. I have a large pipe wrench I can put on it I was just trying to figure out for myself before I get another chimney sweep to come out and clean it before use. Anybody out there seen this before I’d like to know for sure before I get tearing thing up. Thanks

 

[begreen]

It looks like the chimney may have been relined with a stainless liner and the damper possibly removed?

 

[all night moe]

It is hard to tell from the pics but does look like a liner from above. May well be worth the time and money to have a reputable chimney sweep look everything through. On the bright side, that a big beautiful fireplace. Once that thermal mass heats up, it'll keep heating. Not bad for your climate.

Another option is to put a free standing stove in that cavern. To me, a stove would fit that décor better than an insert.

 

[John Lehet]

Of course not your situation, but it reminds me of a story I read once. I think it might have been in David Lyle’s Book of Masonry Stoves, which I read in the 80s. The story is that in olden days masons would include a pane of glass blocking the flue as they built. The chimney wouldn’t work until the mason was paid in full. Once paid, the mason dropped a brick from the top and the chimney would magically function. Or maybe you need to drop a brick down through some glass.

 

[Ontheroofs]

It looks like the chimney may have been relined with a stainless liner and the damper possibly removed?

Do you think this rod that comes out the front is used to pivot the place that has the flue blocked it’s at the same exact height I’ve never seen a set up like that.

 

[begreen]

Maybe, though I'd just be guessing. This may take getting a camera above the damper slot to inspect.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

How far up is that rod from the hearth floor? Are there any marks on the rod or cuts in the rod where a handle could have been used to manipulate it? It really seems to be high up to have been a damper for the liner, but who knows.

Also, how was the previous owner venting the gas exhaust from the fire logs?

 

[begreen]

This looks like it may be a heatform style fireplace. If so, the blockage may be heat tubes up high that lead to the side vents. In that case, the flue is not a liner, but the original metal chimney.

 

[Ontheroofs]

How far up is that rod from the hearth floor? Are there any marks on the rod or cuts in the rod where a handle could have been used to manipulate it? It really seems to be high up to have been a damper for the liner, but who knows.

Also, how was the previous owner venting the gas exhaust from the fire logs?

They used ventless gas logs and the rod is about 10ft up right where the flue starts and is blocked off. It has a small hole through the side of the rod