Refractory supplies

[Doggggboy]

Any suggestions on a good Canadian refractory material supplier?
My pool heater kept giving a high flue temp fault and coughing out white dust whenever I tried to start it.
I took it apart and found that the top of the heat exchanger's refractory brick was broken in half and had plugged most of the fins with material.
Vacuumed and blew it clean and put the broken brick back in place. Works fine now but I'm guessing it should be replaced anyways.
Don't feel like spending 180 bucks on a factory one. The brick is quite light and fibrous and about 2 inches thick.
Not even sure what is properly called.

 

[Ironman]

Alliance Refractories Ltd
16689-113 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Business: (780) 413-6111
Business 2: (780) 413-9415
Web: http://alliancerefractories.com/index.html

I would use a castable material to replace the brick

 

[Doggggboy]

Alliance Refractories Ltd
16689-113 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Business: (780) 413-6111
Business 2: (780) 413-9415
Web: http://alliancerefractories.com/index.html

I would use a castable material to replace the brick

Thanks. The original stuff is almost like a fibrous board that is quite easily damaged with a finger or a vacuum.
It is in an area that shouldn't need a lot of strength. I'm guessing was either broken when being assembled or when being transported.
The part looks a bit like a toilet seat with a hole for the burner, a sensor and a sight glass.
Number 3 on the parts diagram.

 

[quitereal]

Ive ordered from here before but not sure these are wide enough
https://canadianforge.com/products/insulating-fire-brick

 

[Doggggboy]

Ive ordered from here before but not sure these are wide enough
https://canadianforge.com/products/insulating-fire-brick

Thanks but those wouldn't be big enough.
I have emailed Jandy to ask what material the blocks are made from.

 

[kevin.decelles]

Is the material simply ceramic blanket?

 

[Doggggboy]

Is the material simply ceramic blanket?

I don't think so. I have zero experience with refractory material, for the most part.
It is rigid, but quite friable. I have felt fire brick and this is much softer, more like an old style foam coffee cup but more fibrous, almost like rigid felt.

 

[BRIAN D]

If I may chime in, the "brick" that basically has distintergrated on you could be cast as one of the other fellows above has suggested or, using what I use for indurtial steam/ hot water boilers is an insulating wool. When we are performing our summer maintenance when the refractory on the boilers inner door is beyond the usual wash coat and cracked to the point where chunks are falling out, another solution for the customer is we weld "pins" the kind like are used for insulation and face the door with the " blanket" covering it with wire mesh. In writing this Im thinking that this plate on your pool heater may not be brick lined so to speak but a single casted refractory Im more than likely wrong as im not familliar with the jandy pool heaters. If you have a buddy who has a buddy or if you have acess to a mechanical supply house( sorry im not familliar with suppliers out west) they may be able to get you fixed up. The casting option is not a hard endeavour by any means and is doable on a weekend.... ive made my own foundry out of a 30lbs propane tank casting the lid and main furnace with success and melt the usual, brass alum copper and cast iron.... The blanket may not help in this situation but I thought i would pass along some of my experience...
wishing you sucess..
Regards,
Brian

 

[johnnielsen]

Any suggestions on a good Canadian refractory material supplier?
My pool heater kept giving a high flue temp fault and coughing out white dust whenever I tried to start it.
I took it apart and found that the top of the heat exchanger's refractory brick was broken in half and had plugged most of the fins with material.
Vacuumed and blew it clean and put the broken brick back in place. Works fine now but I'm guessing it should be replaced anyways.
Don't feel like spending 180 bucks on a factory one. The brick is quite light and fibrous and about 2 inches thick.
Not even sure what is properly called.

You could also use a refractory mortar to reassemble your broken insulator and also use it in a watered down form to seal the crumbly surface. Here is one: https://www.amazon.ca/Castable-Refr...table+refractory+cement&qid=1724374225&sr=8-6

 

[ducdon]

Home Hardware stocks refractory brick in a couple of sizes? I use it on my welding table and in our BBQ. It's light and up to Gas torch temperatures.