Crumbling fire bricks

thehappybutterfly

I noticed that the fire bricks in my ancient Hunter Hawk stove are crumbling. The left hand one seems to have a chunk missing. Is this a major problem and should the bricks be replaced? I've attached a photo but I don't know how clear it'll be.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89945464@N04/8175295392/

Any advice would be appreciated!

muckybutt

Your photo is set to private so cant see anything !

Fire bricks are needed if they are fitted, without them you stand the risk of warping the metal.
Either get direct replacements, repair with fire cement or replace with vermiculite sheet cut to size.

thehappybutterfly

<<wanders off to fix Flikr settings>>

thehappybutterfly

<<wanders back>> - fixed!

Anyone should be able to see it now.

Thanks Muckybutt!

muckybutt

Ahhh thats better It looks like vermiculite board anyhow, google vermiculite board or look on ebay. Very easy to cut with a saw.

Btw have you removed the baffle plate recently ? looks like theres a build up of crud on there that could do with being shifted.

thehappybutterfly

how dare you call my baffle plate cruddy! Is that the metal plate at the top/back? Does it have to be removed for cleaning or can it be scraped in situ?

thehappybutterfly

Replacing the vermiculite - can the old stuff just be chipped away then new board cemented on with stove cement? We're short on cash so if it's something we can do ourselves we'll give it a try.

muckybutt

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

how dare you call my baffle plate cruddy! Is that the metal plate at the top/back? Does it have to be removed for cleaning or can it be scraped in situ?

it is the metal plate inside yes, it should be periodically removed and cleaned as you do get a lot of ash and "crud" on top of them which can reduce the air flow and partially block the flue. I normally recommend doing it at least once a month. You should just be able to push it upwards and towards you, that should release the back of it from the stove allowing all the dust to come off the top of it.

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Replacing the vermiculite - can the old stuff just be chipped away then new board cemented on with stove cement? We're short on cash so if it's something we can do ourselves we'll give it a try.

The sides shouldnt be stuck in place to allow for replacement, they should just lift / slide out.

Easy enough to replace yourself, should take a competant diyer say half an hour to clean out cut new bricks and replace.

thehappybutterfly

great muckybutt, thanks for that!

spinningsheep

just added firebricks to my inset stove, where previously was just the cast iron stove body and I can now get a 10 hour burn from one small shovel of Blaze smokeless coal:j. Got some off cuts of vermicullite board from local stove shop for £10 and i still have some left over, excellent results.