When To Replace A Firebrick

Post Reply
 
User avatar
DennisH
Member
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon. Feb. 21, 2011 8:35 am
Location: Escanaba, MI
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Yukon-Eagle Klondike IV
Other Heating: Propane

Post by DennisH » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 9:04 am

At what point, in forum member's collective experience, does a firebrick need replaced? What degree of cracking or deterioration? I have one large firebrick on the back wall of my furnace that has a visible crack, from bottom center to right middle of brick, that is visible but there's no gap. More or less a moderate hairline crack. To my thinking a firebrick needs to be losing chunks before it is no longer serviceable. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 
coalfan
Member
Posts: 1829
Joined: Tue. Mar. 12, 2013 3:00 pm
Location: NW ohio
Hand Fed Coal Stove: ds circultor1500 \chubby coal stove
Coal Size/Type: nut/ pea ant.some bit.
Other Heating: kerosene\cold nat. gas

Post by coalfan » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 9:07 am

leave it alone and no problem there ,your r fine and good to hear from you .

 
User avatar
freetown fred
Member
Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 12:33 pm

Ditto on that!


 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 3:48 pm

A hairline crack isn't a big deal. Once it starts to open it should be replaced. Getting a chunk of brick in the grate is not going to make you happy.

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14658
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 4:24 pm

I pull all the bricks out at the end of the heating season. If one is broke I replace it, but I'm kinda fickle like that lol. Burning with a cracked brick is no problem unless it's falling apart.

 
User avatar
michaelanthony
Member
Posts: 4550
Joined: Sat. Nov. 22, 2008 10:42 pm
Location: millinocket,me.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vigilant 2310, gold marc box stove
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Gold Marc Independence
Baseburners & Antiques: Home Sparkle 12
Coal Size/Type: 'nut
Other Heating: Fujitsu mini split, FHA oil furnace

Post by michaelanthony » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 7:35 pm

If I don't have a new brick handy, I have furnace cement to keep 'em together. The way I look at it all bricks including new ones have cracks...where they come in contact with each other. ;)


 
User avatar
Sunny Boy
Member
Posts: 25553
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 1:40 pm
Location: Central NY
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Anthracite Industrial, domestic hot water heater
Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood range 208, # 6 base heater, 2 Modern Oak 118.
Coal Size/Type: Nuts !
Other Heating: Oil &electric plenum furnace

Post by Sunny Boy » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 8:11 pm

You can sometimes glue the breaks together to get another season out of a brick.

The 6 firebricks in my 1903 range are likely over 100 years old. There are several through-cracks in each.

I just dampened with water and then buttered both sides of each break with Hercules refractory cement (get it at Lowes or Home Depot). Then pressed the pieces back into place. That was two winters ago. The range runs about 9 months a year and all those broken bricks are still holding in place.

Paul

 
User avatar
wilder11354
Member
Posts: 1221
Joined: Sat. Jan. 29, 2011 10:48 pm
Location: Montrose, Pa.
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF260 Boiler
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93
Coal Size/Type: nut or pea, anthracite
Other Heating: crown oil boiler, backup.if needed

Post by wilder11354 » Thu. Dec. 07, 2017 9:23 pm

i pull all my bricks out end of heating season.. some will fall a part because of cracks... other will have smaller cracks. i usually replace all before next heating season..... save a few so so bricks just in case of a dig out and replace is needed in heating season.

Post Reply

Return to “Hand Fired Coal Stoves & Furnaces Using Anthracite”