Okay, so the other day I noticed the firebricks in my wood burner were looking pretty rough. Cracks, crumbling, the whole nine yards. Time for a change, I figured. I’m no expert, but how hard could it be, right? Famous last words.
First things first, I waited for the stove to cool down completely. Safety first, you know? Then, I grabbed my trusty shop vac and sucked out all the loose ash and debris from inside. It is a dirty job, that is for sure. Once that’s done, I took a good look at the old bricks. Most of them were just sitting there, but a couple were kinda wedged in.
I gently tapped the loose ones with a small hammer and pulled them out. Easy peasy. For the stubborn ones, I used a chisel and tapped around the edges until they loosened up. It took a little finesse, but I didn’t want to break anything. One by one, they all came out.
Measure Twice, Buy Once
With the old bricks out, I measured the space inside the firebox. I also measured the old bricks, just to be double sure. My memory is not that good. Then I took a trip to the local hardware store. I found replacement firebricks that were the right size. I bought a few extra, because, you never know.
Back home, I laid out the new bricks on the floor, kind of like a puzzle, figuring out the best way to arrange them in the firebox. Once I had a plan, I started putting them in the stove.
The bottom layer was simple, just laying them flat. The sides were a bit trickier. I had to cut a few bricks to fit snugly against the back and sides. I scored the bricks with a chisel and then snapped them along the line. Not perfect, but it did work, and my hands were still in one piece.
After a few hours of dusty work, I finally got all the new bricks in place. They fit pretty well, I have to say. I stood back and admired my handiwork. Not bad for a beginner. Then I cleaned up the mess I made.
I let everything air out for a day, just to be safe. Then, I built a small fire to test it out. It drafted well, and the new bricks seemed to be holding up just fine. Success! Now my wood burner is ready for the winter. And I have got a new skill under my belt. Not too shabby, right?
