How to Remove a Fireplace Grate

A fireplace grate allows firewood to be stacked up without impeding air circulation. As the wood burns, the air flow below the fireplace grate improves the burning efficiency of the wood. As the wood burns, ash falls down below the grate. Over time this ash can build up enough to block the flow of air. When this happens, the fireplace grate needs to be removed so the fireplace ash can be cleaned out. Fireplace grates come in different dimensions and designs, but the removal process doesn't change much.

Allow the fireplace to cool down completely before attempting to remove the fireplace grate.

Put on a pair of gloves and invite your lifting assistant to do the same.

Lay down a piece of painter's plastic on the floor just outside the fireplace.

Open the doors of the fireplace, if it has them. Move anything out of the way that would impeded the removal of the fireplace grate.

Grab one end of the grate while your helper grabs the other. Slide the grate out toward the edge of the fireplace.

Brush the ashes off the grate with a fireplace ash brush. Lift the grate up and down to help shake off excess ash.

Lift the grate out of the fireplace and set it down on the painter's plastic. Wrap the plastic around the grate to keep ash from falling. Move the grate to wherever you need it to go.