A Beginner's Guide To Buying A Fire Pit
Fire pits can be used in your yard to keep warm, grill food, or add a decorative touch to your property. A plain-looking outdoor heater alleviates the chill in the night time air, but a fire pit offers all the coziness of a campfire with an attractive design. A fire pit can be permanent and built-in or portable, and you have a choice of many different styles, materials, and fuel types.
A fire produces a natural focal point for parties or outdoor meals on your patio. Your guests will love feeling the warmth of the flames while socializing and enjoying a barbeque or a few cool drinks.
If you’re interested in buying a fire pit, check your local city or county ordinances. Some municipalities ban all open fires while other require the flames be at least ten feet from your house or a neighbor’s property.
Types of Fire Pits
A table fire pit has a rim around it like a table. It holds food when you are grilling, but also allows you to rest your glass or plate on it while you are relaxing around the fire. A chiminea, or chimney-design, fire pit is one of the tallest outdoor fire structures you can buy. They may be made of metal or terra cotta. A grill-type fire pit comes with a grate for cooking or barbecuing, but you can use most fire pits for cooking by adding a grate separately.
Portable fire pits are usually made of lightweight copper or metal, though some are made of heavier material. You can easily move them anywhere on your patio, backyard, or deck. An outdoor fireplace resembles an indoor fireplace, and may be built-in and made of stone, or lightweight and portable.
You can build a permanent, in-ground stone or brick firepit yourself, or have a contractor build one. This works best if you have a large backyard and don’t plan to move for many years. You can buy a grill grate to place over the pit for cooking.
Fuels
Gas and wood are the most popular fuel choices. Burning real logs gives you a rustic, outdoorsy smell, and you’ll need to use kindling of different sizes to get the fire going. Natural gas is typically used to fuel built-in fire pits. A professional contractor normally connects the pit to the natural gas line in your house.
A fire pit powered by a propane tank is portable but more expensive to set up than many other fuel systems. Charcoal produces a smaller flame and a more controlled heat and may be suitable for smaller structures. If you’re concerned about the environment, Bio-Ethanol fuel burns clean and doesn’t throw off ash or embers.
Gel fuel burns clean and doesn’t produce smoke or a scent. You can use it with portable or permanent fire pits, but it’s usually used on smaller models. Gel-fueled logs look and feel like real logs, and conceal the gel inside.
Special Features
Some fire pits offer specific cooking functions. A pizza oven/firepit may resemble an old-fashioned cast iron oven or a domed, modern oven on top of a brick or tiled fire pit.
Add a spark screen to keep burning embers and sparks inside the pit. A wood grate permits maximum air flow to enhance combustion and keep your fire crackling. The grate is placed underneath the wood to circulate air.
You can buy themed fire pits and ones with unusual shapes to keep family and friends entertained. Quirky fire pits may be shaped like pottery, globes or have intricate metal designs. There are even concrete fire pits filled with wood chips and stones.
Tend your fire with accessories including fire pit pokers, adjustable grates, and log claw grabbers to grab firewood. Make enjoying meals easier with marshmallow skewers and outdoor drink holders. A fire pit cover keeps the stricture clean when it’s not in use, and a fire pit stand or pad keeps your deck safe in case of any accidents.
Fire Pit Safety
Follow fire pit safety rules before setting up and using your fire pit to keep your family and guests safe. Place your fire pit 25 feet away from your neighbor’s house, if possible, even though ten feet is the minimum distance indicated by most local ordinances. It’s best to be extra cautious in case there is a sudden wind gust or some other unforeseen problem. Check the direction of the wind before lighting the fire, and avoid putting anything flammable downwind of the pit.
Position your fire pit on concrete, patio blocks or any non-flammable surface, and never place it on grass without a barrier. Avoid placing it under low-hanging tree branches or on an uneven surface. Never leave the pit unattended, and make sure children and pets don’t get to close to it, even if it is covered. Keep water and a hose ( or a fire extinguisher) nearby in case of errant flames.
Materials
Most of the pit fire enclosure materials are made of some type of metal. Aluminum fire pits offer an affordable, resilient option for homeowners who find heavier materials too unwieldy. An aluminum fire pit won’t rust, warp, or attract heat from the fire. Copper fire pits are available in several shapes, with the bowl design being the most popular. The material develops a patina after several uses.
If you prefer an industrial look, a stainless steel fire pit can be built above ground or at ground-level. It comes in shiny or brushed finishes and is heat and weather resistant. A classic cast iron or iron model is either bowl or bucket-shaped. The bowl shape has a top screen to protect guests from sparks. Cast iron pits are great for cooking but choose one with a rust-resistant powder coating.
Glass fire pits come in various styles and colors. They tolerate high temperature without burning. Polyresin, faux-stone varieties are lightweight but durable.
