Today I wanted to try putting fire bricks in my wood stove. I’ve heard it can help keep the fire burning longer and hotter. So, I went out and bought a pack of fire bricks from the local hardware store. They were heavier than I expected!
First, I made sure the stove was completely cool. No hot ashes or anything. Safety first, you know? Then I opened the stove door and took a good look inside. It’s a pretty basic stove, nothing fancy.
I started by placing two bricks flat on the bottom of the stove. Then, I stood a couple more upright along the sides. It was kind of like building a little wall inside. I had to rearrange them a few times to get a snug fit, almost like a puzzle.
Here’s how I did it:
- Cleaned out the old ashes from the stove.
- Placed two bricks flat on the bottom.
- Stood up a brick on each side, leaning against the stove walls.
- Added another brick at the back, also standing up.
After I got all the bricks in place, I stepped back to admire my work. It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. I made sure there was still enough room for the wood and for good airflow.
Next, I built a small fire, just like I usually do. I used some kindling and a few small logs. I wanted to see how the bricks would affect the way the fire burned.
It took a little longer for the fire to catch, probably because the bricks needed to heat up. But once it got going, it seemed to burn more evenly. It felt like the heat was radiating out more consistently, too.
I kept an eye on the fire for the next few hours. It definitely seemed to last longer than usual. I didn’t have to add wood as often, which was nice. And the heat output was great. I think the bricks were really holding in the heat and releasing it slowly. They are heavy so it’s reasonable.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with this little experiment. It was easy to do, and it seems to have made a positive difference in how my wood stove works. I’ll definitely keep using the fire bricks. Might even add a couple more next time to see if it makes even more of a difference. I’ll have to see how it goes. If you have a wood stove, I recommend you give it a try, it’s really simple. But remember to let your stove cool down first!
