I have an up-draft boiler I made 4 years ago and always used honey cone 1inch thick panels to separate the fire chambers, they last 2 years then crack so this year I put in 1/4 inch steal panels they get bright red hot as you would expect but this thing heats better than it ever did? Why I don't know? they are same size as others but it takes less wood and less time to get water hot than it ever did? don't know how long they will last but will try them. Why would this make such a difference?