We were getting a bad creosote smell from our fire place every year when there would be any humidity in the air. I made sure my chimney cap is nice and tight and that I would clean out fire place well. I stuck my hand up on top of smoke shelf and there was about a 5 gal pale worth of chit up there and when I stuck my hand towards the end of smoke shelf there’s a big hole and I can feel damp insulation in the hole. I want to put a wood stove insert with a fan so that I can actually get some efficiency to the fire place. Can I just cut the old steel out with a angle grinder or sawzall without removing the brick? I’ll post some pics I appreciate the advice in advance. Thanks.
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240689-9af9473b80a509e0c41c3039a03cdcc2.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240690-2542be91d27e4522450752fb64189990.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240691-00bc806c0c95c0c8a97af4656feb49c1.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240692-ac3cbbd8444e7333183fa8407eb35356.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240694-da1a437130c33c1b116112a6a2ddcf97.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240695-4c223ab6ca4ca202f96ef2e09540cae1.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240689-9af9473b80a509e0c41c3039a03cdcc2.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240690-2542be91d27e4522450752fb64189990.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240691-00bc806c0c95c0c8a97af4656feb49c1.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240692-ac3cbbd8444e7333183fa8407eb35356.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240694-da1a437130c33c1b116112a6a2ddcf97.jpg)
![Hole in smoke shelf Hole in smoke shelf](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/240/240695-4c223ab6ca4ca202f96ef2e09540cae1.jpg)
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