Hello there..we have an interior chase (3 walls on inside of living room, the backside is an exterior wall)..currently there is an old Fuego unit that we can't stand living in this chase. It's drafty and not very efficient. Our question is..what the heck is behind this monster? Can we just tear it down and put a free standing stove with the pipe still going out the original hole in the ceiling (we have vaulted ceiling). We DO NOT want another zero clearance fireplace and we do not have room to 'bump out' space in front of this monster for a free stander. I want it gone, but have no clue what's behind it. Is it basically the 8 inch pipe that is surrounded by 2 by 4's?? Any insight would be great!
Removing an interior (fake brick) chase
- Thread starter sarahroe
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Welcome. If the chase is interior then what's behind it should be a conventional exterior wall. Use a new, double-wall connector pipe with that long run and a short class A chimney in a cathedral ceiling support box will top it off.
Ok..so are saying we should ditch the old 8 inch ss pipe that is in there? And go with a 6 inch? Most stoves we are looking at have a 6" opening. Thank you! And yes it is an interior wall, but I can't get an image in my head of what's going on around the main flue..there is no other way for air to get in right?
That would depend on whether the fireplace pipe is actually class A HT pipe. If it has the correct high temp rating, it may be reusable. However, normally it is not used for visible interior piping and as you've noted the stove will likely require 6" pipe. See what you've got. Look for a rating tag or brand on the pipe. I would sell it if in good condition.
Is there an outside air connection on the fireplace? That may be where the cold air is coming in, especially if the intake is on the windward side of the house. Or it could be poor ceiling of the exterior wall. Is there any sign of the chase on the outside of the house or is the siding continuous there?
Is there an outside air connection on the fireplace? That may be where the cold air is coming in, especially if the intake is on the windward side of the house. Or it could be poor ceiling of the exterior wall. Is there any sign of the chase on the outside of the house or is the siding continuous there?
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No you cannot see anything on the outside of the house..just straight up wall..I see no openings for any kind of air intake. I thought the air intake came from the top of the flue? My husband and I were looking at the pipe on the roof and it seems larger than 8 inches, but is it normal to have another layer at the outside opening? We can't get on roof right now b/c a) it's negative temps outside right now and b) it's a steel roof with a 35 foot drop to the ground! lol!
We've also noticed that the mortar on the edges of the wall is actually coming away from the (interior) wall and there is cold air leaking in through that too! Ug! I would start demolishing this thing now if it weren't freezing cold outside. I hate this Fuego.
![[Hearth.com] Removing an interior (fake brick) chase](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/125/125080-b32038eb88fa536ac6d10dcb98d26a0a.jpg?hash=01vxwyaT9R "[Hearth.com] Removing an interior (fake brick) chase")
Wow. I thought I had it bad. I bit the bullet and rebuilt the interior brick wall. It had several dehydrated bats that had found the air leaks 
I sold the 8" pipe for a good sum to a happy buyer.
I sold the 8" pipe for a good sum to a happy buyer.- Status
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