Random Thoughts on Ecobricks

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wkpoor

Minister of Fire
Oct 30, 2008
1,854
Amanda, OH
Bought a ton of Ecobricks yesterday. Have been thinking about the real cost. When you figure how much fossil fuel its takes from raw material to finished product to market and then to my house one has to wonder if all that could have been used to heat a dwelling without transforming it. Firewood isn't transformed its just labor and a little transportation cost. Either way I'm using them as an energy pill for the fire and just ad a couple during reloads.
The other side of the equation is if you truly figured up all the cost involved with processing firewood and waiting for it to season. The stacking and storing and so on they start to make more sense. Like I said random thoughts.
 
Be curious to know what you think as you continue to burn. DH and I are caught this season as we moved in November and hadn't planned to heat with wood so only had a cord or so for the fireplace (not the best wood). So we're thinking of limping off the rest of the season with me going and buying Bio Bricks / Envi Bricks / Liberty Blocks whatever I can find, about 10 packs at a time, while burning through the bit of wood we've got that is at less than 20% MC. So far I've found that one or two Envi Bricks added to 2-3 smaller splits gives a good hot fire, but they do burn quickly. I can't turn down the air too far due to the wood. Wondering if I should just try loading 4-6 bricks into the stove, lighting it up and cutting back the air to see how it lasts...I feel like mixing them with wood is a waste of the cost of the bricks as they burn faster that way...just more musings I guess! :)
 
Went through a tough period with no firewood and no money.
Ended up burning used veggie oil in the stove.
Random thought;
I wonder if I wouldn't have been better off filtering the oil and making fries.
Some to eat, and burn the bigger ones.
Pass the salt please.
Kenny
 
I tried them last yr but can' remember what I thought. This year I decided to give them another try but this time they are in an EPA like stove. My first night I put in 3 bricks and 2 medium splits. Came down in the morning 6hrs later to a 400 degree stove top. That pretty much put me on the hook. Now once I have a really good dry supply of firewood I might ween myself off these but I'm like much of the midwest that is in my boat unless you have storage under roof. We got 70+ inches of rain this year with it raining every few days all year long so there wasn't really any way to dry wood this past year. I plan to have under roof storage this year. It rained so much I planted 2 acres of sweet corn on July 1st and had the best crop ever that was ready a week early. Basically all summer the dirt never was dry. I couldn't even get in to cultivate.
 
I think they are great to mix with a few splits to keep the heat coming for a long burn. I also like them with my less than ideal wood to get the stove nice and hot. I dont think Id want to burn them exclusively since we heat with the stove, but we plan on buying a pallet over the summer to have around next season even though we should have several cord of wood css'd last summer ready.
 
With a couple medium splits and an Idaho Energy log I have lots of coals after 11-12 hours and a 300 degree stove top. I'm always surprised how much of the intact energy log is still around during the reload. It might be only 15% but the log holds together well throughout the entire burn. I primarily use them for cold starts and overnight burns. I use solely fir during the daytime burns.
 
The ultimate cost is the reason why I have hard time justifying a pellet stove for the really cold days upstairs... I just can't do it. And yes, I know pellets are made from Industrial waste products.

I have pretty much an unlimited wood supply (150 acres of sugar maple for syrup) through a good friend of mine, and I have people who call me when they either need a tree removed or have one fall down.
 
I bought a starter pack a few weeks back for $50. 13 packs of bricks.

I used 2 in each load (in place of 1 N/S split) Not only was I able to close the air further on the Primary. I was able to do it sooner. I have been thinking of buying a ton for next year myself.

Some love them. Some hate them.
 
Treacherous said:
With a couple medium splits and an Idaho Energy log I have lots of coals after 11-12 hours and a 300 degree stove top. I'm always surprised how much of the intact energy log is still around during the reload. It might be only 15% but the log holds together well throughout the entire burn. I primarily use them for cold starts and overnight burns. I use solely fir during the daytime burns.

I get similar results with Idaho Energy Logs
 
They are great, but they cost actual taxes paid cash. Firewood doesn't. I used then one year when I was working out of town, great for the wife to easily, quickly get a cold stove blazing.

I will buy them again for the same reason.

As far as I know, bio-bricks are also made from industrial waste wood.
 
The bricks I bought Sat are called EZbricks. They come 6 to a pk instead 8 like the Eco bricks. Seem to burn the same
 
wkpoor said:
The bricks I bought Sat are called EZbricks. They come 6 to a pk instead 8 like the Eco bricks. Seem to burn the same

That starter pack I got. The guy gave me 50/50 (Eco/EZ) He burned just the bricks exclusively in his Lopi Insert and said he prefers the EZ Bricks (6 to a Pack).

After using them, I couldn't really tell the difference. But I was mixing with wood (2 bricks per load) I could see if you only used them, that you would be able to see some difference. But I couldnt. Made the stove operation almost to easy. IMO

I believe it increased my overall burn time also. Shutting down sooner and shutting down more (primary) allowed for a lot more coals and a slightly higher stove top in the A.M.. I used to front to back on the top layer of a load. In place of one split. So it was above the doghouse air on the 30 and close to the secondary tubes.
 
I'm wondering who burns these bricks as a block per the directions? If you do, how many at a time and how has it worked out. Please include the stove if it is not already in your signature.
 
I burn BioBricks exclusively right now, while my wood seasons for next year, as a block per the directions. I usually put in about 12 at a time. Any more and I get close to overfiring the stove. Keeps the stovetop between 600 - 800 for a few hours.
 
Love the Eco Bricks - Mix them with mostly seasoned Ash and they're perfect for solving my problem of having too big a stove (VC Vigilant) in my space.

When I want to keep the main liviing area comfy when it's about 25 to 45F I start the fire with two bricks and a handful of smaller splits and add one or two bricks as needed. Gives me much more control over the heat output over using only splits.

Littlalex
 
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