The arrangement of two fireplaces on different levels, including the use of a cleanout door adjoining the basement fireplace, has become quite popular with the trend toward basement recreation rooms.
Often, the chimney used for the living room fireplace is also used for the one in the basement, but here, many mistakes are made as to ventilation of both fireplaces through the same flue, or the unnecessary elimination of an ashpit for the living room fireplace.
Each fireplace should have a separate flue. If it becomes necessary to slope the flue, it should not exceed the rate of seven inches of slope per foot of rise and should take off from the center of the smoke chamber, with the entire slope taking place above the chamber.
The ashpit for the "upstairs" fireplace can be located right next to the basement fireplace, which if properly constructed, will give the basement fireplace the appearance of having an adjacent oven. And if proper care is taken when removing the ashes, having the ashpit in the basement recreation room presents no problem.
