So I just finished up replacing all the firebrick on the stove. I use Insulating Firebrick for a performance improvement on my 1750 rather than the standard dense firebrick. I know it is going to wear out every other year and Ill have to replace it, but it is worth it. There is a Industrial Furnace Fabrication group near me, that sells retail as well, that I pick up the IFB from. Usually a IFB split from a fireplace store runs $10-$30 a piece. I picked up a box of 12 for $25(that I will cut in half for a total of 24) Replace them every other year and I get a 15 percent improvement in burn time. Totally worth the $$ and Time invested. Anyone else doing something similar?
i still consider myself a noob, so i had never heard of this insulated firebrick. sounds like something i may need to look into.
Good idea on the IFB... I did notice that I must have cracked a brick will loading up last winter. It's in the back and is a really small crack. I'll probably replace it next year. I haven't done any modifications to my 1750 other than adding the fan. I really enjoy this stove.
I replaced my baffle bricks last year and noticed an immediate improvement in the stove's performance. I'm curious to hear how your stove performs w the new firebox brick this year. I should probably replace my bricks soon as well.
Read about people doing it but do sent look like something I would do unless you want to ship me some from that killer deal you got
I guess I don't understand the advantage of insulated firebrick? You want the heat to stay in the firebox?
Just look up refractory companies local to you, bet you can get about the same deal as I got You need temps of 1100+ in your firebox where the secondary air is injected to get the smoke to ignite. Using the insulated firebrick will keep more heat inside the firebox allowing you to keep the required conditions for secondary burn going longer and starting sooner at lower primary air settings. Once secondary burn is initiated the firebox will be even hotter, because my stove(and most) have the exhaust routed past the fire brick and directly in contact with the top of the stove you are still getting the heat out into the room, yes the exhaust is initially hotter, but because the primary air is able to be set lower this hotter air lingers longer in contact with the top of the stove transferring more heat to the room. By the time this slower moving exhaust reaches the chimney is will be the same temp or cooler than if you didn't have IFB and had to keep the primary air open more to keep secondary burn going. Cliff Notes: IFB keeps firebox warmer, allowing more heat to be transferred to the room, burning less wood, at lower primary air settings for longer burn times.
