-1

My new firebrick liner started cracking after just two cooks

I spent about $200 on a custom firebrick kit for my offset smoker, thinking it would help hold heat better. The bricks started to crack and flake apart during a long brisket smoke, and now I'm worried about bits getting into the food. Has anyone else had this happen with a new firebrick setup?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_andrew1d agoProlific Poster

Honestly, I read a whole thread on a smoker forum about this exact problem. The gist was that some firebrick just can't handle the direct heat from an offset, like @the_cameron hinted at with the moisture issue. You might need a different type of brick rated for higher temps.

rose_cooper6d ago

My buddy's new bricks did the exact same thing.

the_cameron6d ago

Yeah, that's a classic case of the bricks not being sealed right before winter. Moisture gets in, freezes, and then they just pop. I had to replace a whole section on my patio because of it. Make sure he uses a breathable sealer, not just any waterproofing stuff, or it traps the moisture inside. Letting them dry out completely before sealing is the key step most people rush.