Adding firebricks

[Stelcom66]

Several years ago I bought a used Vermont Castings wood stove. It's large for my house - it was formerly owned by a relative. It works well, but I go through more wood than my previous smaller stove. The current wood stove does not have fire bricks. Would adding fire bricks be a practical way to reduce the amount of wood needed yet generally maintain the heat output? I would only put it in back, I like the width of the stove, I can fit 21, maybe 22" wide logs. Won't put them on the bottom since there's a grate where the ashes fall into a removeable tray below.

Since it would just be in back there may not be a significant reduction in volume. Or - maybe since the stove wasn't designed to have bricks it may not be a good idea anyway.

 

[begreen]

Reducing the depth in an E/W loader will put the wood closer to the glass, increasing the possibility of logs rolling against the glass.

 

[Stelcom66]

Yes that's true, And there is a significant amount of glass on the door.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

On my T5 I reduce the firebox volume with bricks along the bottom. I shovel my ash out with a metal dust pan. I don’t use the ash drawer and load my stove north/south.

Since you reduced the fuel charge, this will limit the hours between refills and can limit heat output.

 

[begreen]

Yes that's true, And there is a significant amount of glass on the door.

For this reason, I would be more inclined to put the bricks on the sides.

 

[Stelcom66]

For this reason, I would be more inclined to put the bricks on the sides.

This stove also has a side door which I use often, so the whole idea seems not to be a good one.