This morning I wanted to make a fire. Tossed a log in the fireplace. Plonk. A chunk of firebrick falls out. 😱

Plans cancelled. Took off the door plate to inspect. That brick had been missing a long time and only the final piece fell out, so not terrible but not great either considering its still the middle of a fucking 30 year winter.

Dug up my stash of refractory bricks, found one of the right size, scrubbed off the moss and put it in the oven to dry.

Luckily also had a pack of refractory mix. Did the most awkward bricklaying job ever, through a hole, brick to be inserted from the bottom hanging down, working lamp inside the burn chamber and using the selfie cam on my phone to see.

Seems to have worked, but my day is gone.

#DIY #Repair #Fireplace #MasonryHeater #Homestead

I shouldn't be surprised that a good kang is a bragging item! And _boy_ would I want one too! This looks seriously cosy! (Especially since the cost is 1/10th of a Swedish tile oven.)

火箭壁炉加热沙发和大火炕取暖 http://xhslink.com/o/5ay3ZKQRgcL
Copy and open Xiaohongshu to view the full post！

#kang #MasonryHeater #China #XHS