Country Comfort Model CC175 circa 1991 firebox issue

[solsticeunion]

Hello! First time post here. We bought our house last year and it came with a Country Comfort Model CC175 circa 1991 installed in the basement. It had a visual inspection by the chimney sweep last year who said it seemed well maintained and a unit capable of heating the house. We fired it up this winter and it all seemed in working order for the last three months.

The issue is one of the the firebox "bricks" (not sure correct term) that is made of metal has dislodged. We used a shop vac to clean the firebox and I think it may have pulled out some debris that was holding it in place. There is some kind of fire retardant insulation inside the metal, which seems fragile. It is a long rectangle on the right side of the firebox on the door handle side. There is a matching one on the opposite side. The other "bricks" are more standard brick shape. Pictures are included to show it mostly in place and fully removed, plus the material in and around it. Suggestions for repair?

1) Can we safely use a firebox mortar to hold the metal piece in place? It wedges in pretty snugly, but then pops loose.

2) If so, should there be more fire safe insulation against the stove wall? The brick is lined with a fire safe material that seems intact, but it looks like there were scraps of other fire safe materials stuffed in there too (some looks like the cording used on the door gasket?). Should that insulation be replaced or should that space be empty?

We have not been able to find anyone local who services wood stoves they have not installed. Thanks for your advice!

 

[mellow]

If you know anyone with a stick welder you can put it back in place correctly, furnace cement will fail with high temps over time.

I would just put it back as it is, interesting use of door gasket as filler, never seen the back of one before.

That stove doesn't owe anyone anything, 30 years old and still going.

 

[solsticeunion]

If you know anyone with a stick welder you can put it back in place correctly, furnace cement will fail with high temps over time.

I would just put it back as it is, interesting use of door gasket as filler, never seen the back of one before.

That stove doesn't owe anyone anything, 30 years old and still going.

Thank you! I'm sure you're right about the stove not owing anyone anything! I should probably leave it at that, but would still love to eek a little out of it before we decide it we want to get a new one...
Novice question then--do you think it could be welded with a propane torch or is that not high enough heat? I've only used a MIG electric welder but don't have access to one or a stick welder. I reconnected some pipes with a propane torch a while back. Wondering if just mortar might get us a few weeks to end the season then decide what to do?

 

[mellow]

For temporary you might be able to use a strong magnet if it has a lip to hold on to at the top.

List of Magnets That Can Withstand High Temperatures | Stanford Magnets

Al-Ni-Co magnets, ferrite magnets, Sm-Co magnets, and neodymium magnets are strong magnets with impressive high-temperature resistance.

www.stanfordmagnets.com

 

[joop]

put a couple of steel shims to hold it for now

 

[solsticeunion]

For temporary you might be able to use a strong magnet if it has a lip to hold on to at the top.

List of Magnets That Can Withstand High Temperatures | Stanford Magnets

Al-Ni-Co magnets, ferrite magnets, Sm-Co magnets, and neodymium magnets are strong magnets with impressive high-temperature resistance.

www.stanfordmagnets.com

Wow--great idea! I will look into this. Thank you!

 

[solsticeunion]

put a couple of steel shims to hold it for now

That is another great idea! Thank you. I'll see what I can find.

 

[solsticeunion]

Steel shims for the win! Brilliant. Thank you very much.

 

[joop]

what can i say, 👊 your welcome

 

[solsticeunion]

UPDATED QUESTIONS:

Stove ran great last year, but noticing wear to the metal firebricks. Haven't cleaned or fired it yet this season. We had a lot of humidity this summer and I see surface rust, but metal feels solid.

How best to clean?

Should gaps between the existing metal fire bricks be filled with refractory cement?

Can these metal fire bricks be replaced with masonry type fireplace bricks? The floor of the firebox has them but the walls have these metal ones with insulation behind.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

UPDATED QUESTIONS:

Stove ran great last year, but noticing wear to the metal firebricks. Haven't cleaned or fired it yet this season. We had a lot of humidity this summer and I see surface rust, but metal feels solid.

How best to clean?

Should gaps between the existing metal fire bricks be filled with refractory cement?

Can these metal fire bricks be replaced with masonry type fireplace bricks? The floor of the firebox has them but the walls have these metal ones with insulation behind.

View attachment 342360

The fire bricks are made out of clay or vermiculite or? But not metal. (AFAIK) Can you take another pic, not so zoomed in. Get the edges around the door opening. There are some big gaps between those bricks and they probably should be replaced. Fire bricks come in different sizes but 9"x4 1/2" is pretty standard. The thickness can vary so you need to get one out and measure it to see what size it is, unless your manual specifies their sizes.

Does look like it got damp in there. Did you by chance leave ash in there all of-season? If not you need to take a look around and figure out how moisture got in there. My stove is the same age and I don't have anything like that doing on inside mine. Do you have a cap on your chimney?

 

[solsticeunion]

The fire bricks are made out of clay or vermiculite or? But not metal. (AFAIK) Can you take another pic, not so zoomed in. Get the edges around the door opening. There are some big gaps between those bricks and they probably should be replaced. Fire bricks come in different sizes but 9"x4 1/2" is pretty standard. The thickness can vary so you need to get one out and measure it to see what size it is, unless your manual specifies their sizes.

Does look like it got damp in there. Did you by chance leave ash in there all of-season? If not you need to take a look around and figure out how moisture got in there. My stove is the same age and I don't have anything like that doing on inside mine. Do you have a cap on your chimney?

Thanks for your feedback! If you scroll up this thread there are more pics of the stove and even behind one of the metal bricks. I don't know if that's the correct term for them, but that's what lines the walls inside the firebox--only the floor is they clay-type brick. Never been able to find a manual for the stove--it came with the house we bought four years ago and the manufacturer is out of business.

We're having the chimney inspected and cleaned this week, it was empty all summer. We do have a chimney cap but there was a lot of humidity and fireplace odor this summer. Guess we should have inspected sooner.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Thanks for your feedback! If you scroll up this thread there are more pics of the stove and even behind one of the metal bricks. I don't know if that's the correct term for them, but that's what lines the walls inside the firebox--only the floor is they clay-type brick. Never been able to find a manual for the stove--it came with the house we bought four years ago and the manufacturer is out of business.

We're having the chimney inspected and cleaned this week, it was empty all summer. We do have a chimney cap but there was a lot of humidity and fireplace odor this summer. Guess we should have inspected sooner.

ok, well that's a new one on me. I learn something new everyday and sometimes learn more than one thing a day! I would use a wire brush or put a wire wheel on a drill or driver and clean it that way. I wouldn't hit them too hard as they'll probably just continue to rust. There isn't much sense to paint them as the paint would likely just burn off? Those gaps are getting pretty large. I defer to someone with more knowledge on that subject. clearly it would be best to fill those gaps somehow if those bricks are all metal/ steel.

 

[solsticeunion]

Ah, that seems to be the recurring theme on our stove--never seen that before! We keep learning too. I think we're going to look into replacing the metal ones with traditional firebricks. I'm sure it will be no trouble whatsoever--haha! Another project here we come...

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Ah, that seems to be the recurring theme on our stove--never seen that before! We keep learning too. I think we're going to look into replacing the metal ones with traditional firebricks. I'm sure it will be no trouble whatsoever--haha! Another project here we come...

I was actually going to say that. haha how hard could it be... Shouldn't be but I'm sure some will fight you. Make sure to order the correct thickness. Keep those old ones for a couple of weeks to make sure removing them doesn't affect the stove. I can't imagine that it would but then again, I've never seen metal firebricks.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I was actually going to say that. haha how hard could it be... Shouldn't be but I'm sure some will fight you. Make sure to order the correct thickness. Keep those old ones for a couple of weeks to make sure removing them doesn't affect the stove. I can't imagine that it would but then again, I've never seen metal firebricks.

Have you made any progress?

 

[solsticeunion]

No real progress! Still information gathering here. We've assessed there is a LOT of rust. The fir box shelf fire blanket (?) completely disintegrated too. The bricks are actually metal cradles lined with fire blanket material (scroll up in thread to original post). So, they are much longer than standard firebricks--about 14" long. Do you know if they make them longer? Assuming we can cut with the right blade if necessary. Wondering if we can eek out another season or if we should be looking to replace the whole stove. Also had crazy thought to makeshift fill gaps with fireproof material and cover with chimney cement. Not sure how to proceed. Any advice is welcome! Is your similar vintage stove firebox all brick lined?

 

[all night moe]

Dumb question, is a replacement stove in the budget? Even an older "smoke dragon" like a Fisher?

That stove looks like it's should be decommissioned.

 

[solsticeunion]

Dumb question, is a replacement stove in the budget? Even an older "smoke dragon" like a Fisher?

That stove looks like it's should be decommissioned.

I have no idea --what price range are we talking about? If you buy something old, who can install it? Most companies I contacted will only service and install what they sell. Open to information, please!

 

[all night moe]

I have no idea --what price range are we talking about? If you buy something old, who can install it? Most companies I contacted will only service and install what they sell. Open to information, please!

If you are capable physically, and with some help, stove installs are not complicated. New stoves can be expensive while some are a bit more budget priced.

Used stoves can be anywhere between. Depends what your looking at. That is up to you and what you find in your area. Looks like your stove would have a 6'' flue. You'll want to stay with that sized flue with any purchase. You don't want to buy one with an 8'' flue.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

No real progress! Still information gathering here. We've assessed there is a LOT of rust. The fir box shelf fire blanket (?) completely disintegrated too. The bricks are actually metal cradles lined with fire blanket material (scroll up in thread to original post). So, they are much longer than standard firebricks--about 14" long. Do you know if they make them longer? Assuming we can cut with the right blade if necessary. Wondering if we can eek out another season or if we should be looking to replace the whole stove. Also had crazy thought to makeshift fill gaps with fireproof material and cover with chimney cement. Not sure how to proceed. Any advice is welcome! Is your similar vintage stove firebox all brick lined?

View attachment 343278View attachment 343279View attachment 343280

I'm going to go back through your thread and see where you are at. Good points by @all night moe

My stove is very basic. The only technology is air intake washed glass and a secondary burn chamber that really doesn't do too much. But mine has standard fire bricks. They cover the entire floor but only 2/3rds of the sides.

I think you could stuff some rockwool or gasket material into the holes between the bricks and get by for now and then after the burn season is over you can figure out what to do for next season

 

[solsticeunion]

I'm going to go back through your thread and see where you are at. Good points by @all night moe

My stove is very basic. The only technology is air intake washed glass and a secondary burn chamber that really doesn't do too much. But mine has standard fire bricks. They cover the entire floor but only 2/3rds of the sides.

I think you could stuff some rockwool or gasket material into the holes between the bricks and get by for now and then after the burn season is over you can figure out what to do for next season

Thanks for your insight. I'm leaning toward this decision too, and only using it cautiously, occasionally this season. Each step leads to another. Recently got a copy of the "Wood Burner's Companion" and it has some good food for thought. We have a standard fireplace in our house too, but the wood stove brings a particular joy and warmth. I think we're hooked and gonna find a way to replace over the summer to keep going safely.