Man, I needed to get some fire bricks for my wood-burning stove. So I headed over to the local Tractor Supply the other day. I figured it was time to replace the old ones since they were getting pretty worn out.
When I got there, I saw they had these Eco bricks on sale, which I’d heard good things about. They were going for $349 a pack, so I grabbed eight packs just to stock up. I still burn regular firewood too, but I like having these as an option.
I started by taking out all the old bricks from my stove. They were definitely showing their age – some were cracked, and others were just crumbling apart. It was a bit of a messy job, but I got them all out eventually.
After cleaning up the inside of the stove, I started putting in the new fire bricks. I got the standard size, 4-1/2 in. x 9 in., and they fit perfectly. I made sure to arrange them tightly together so there wouldn’t be any gaps.
- First, I laid down a layer of bricks on the bottom of the stove.
- Then, I worked on the sides, fitting the bricks snugly against each other.
- Finally, I placed the last few bricks along the back wall.
The whole process took me a couple of hours, but it wasn’t too bad. Once I was done, I admired my handiwork. The new fire bricks looked so much better than the old ones.
A Few Tips I Learned Along the Way
From what I’ve read, it seems like these fire bricks can handle high heat and thermal shock a lot better than regular bricks, the guys said they were made from some special refractory clay. Some of the old bricks had turned pink, which I guess means I might’ve been over-firing the stove sometimes. Oops! And I learned that how long they last depends on how much you use the stove, but under normal use, they should last for years. I am also going to be more careful now and not overload the stove.
Anyway, I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out. My stove is looking good and should be running more efficiently now. If you’re thinking about replacing your fire bricks, it’s definitely worth doing. Just make sure you get the right size and take your time with the installation. It’s not a super hard job, but it does require a bit of patience. And remember, there are plenty of places where you can get these bricks, so don’t be afraid to shop around!
