The Cons Of Ethanol Fire Pits
The purpose you want your fire pit to serve will heavily dictate whether an ethanol fire pit is the right option for you.
Not a Primary Source of Heat
Ethanol fire pits are not meant to be a primary source of heat. Instead, they are more meant to supplement it. You would need to have a massive ethanol burner in order to heat a room adequately. The BTU output of ethanol burners is on the lower end, which means that they have low heat radiation. It is best to just use ethanol burners as a supplemental source of heat and enjoyment.
I Want To Purchase A Gas Fire Pit Whats Next
Now that you have a better understanding of the pros and cons of wood-burning and gas fire pits, you can make a more informed decision on the fire pit best suited for your outdoor living space.
Outeriors has a variety of propane and natural gas concrete fire pit designs and accessories by Dekko to help you enjoy more time in your backyard throughout the year.
If youd like to go beyond a fire pit and create an outdoor kitchen or upgrade your outdoor living space in other ways, request a free consultation with us today. You can also visit our showroom in Vaughan to learn more.
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Why You Shouldnt Burn Wood In A Gas Fire Pit
One of the best things about firewood is that the heat it generates is much higher compared to that generated by your typical gas.
While your average gas, such as propane, consists of around 24,000 BTUs per litre, a single cord of firewood consists of a whopping 25 million BTUs.
While this is great if youre looking to heat up space efficiently, it isnt so great if youre looking to burn wood on a gas fire pit.
And if exposed, you could risk cracking it.
Not only will the crack damage the appearance of the fire pit, but it could also lead to a safety hazard.
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Benefits Of A Gas Fire Pit Vs Wood Fire Pit
When deciding on the type of fire pit that best fits your outdoor room, it is important to consider all the options. With safety, convenience, and looks in mind, gas fire pits are a user-friendly solution for your backyard or patio.
Gas fire pits are faster to light than wood-burning options perfect for instant warmth on chilly days. Thanks to the push button ignition, they quickly turn on and off to save time and energy. Gas fire pits are a simple solution for areas that prohibit burning wood, yet they still promote safety as UL listed products. Without the constant worry of feeding wood into the fire, gas fire pits are easier to control for consistent heat and eliminate unpredictable, flying sparks for increased safety. Additionally, they run on liquid propane gas or natural gas, which is clean burning. The smell of a wood-burning campfire and crackling sounds of the logs burning can be attractive, but sometimes the extra smoke can be unpredictable. Because gas fire pit tables are clean burning, they are also great for those with allergies or smoke sensitivities for the perfect smokeless fire pit option.
Ready to find your perfect gas fire pit table? Check out our wide selection of gas fire pits and fire pit tables.
What Is Wood Burning Fire Pit
A wood burning fire pit has an aesthetic design or vibe with a great capability of producing warmth while human gatherings.
A wood burning fire pit is like encouragement for humans. You can make a wood burning fire pit by digging your backyard which is called traditionally or you can buy it premade which is constructed by precast concrete, metal, combination of metal and stone.
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Check Your Local Laws
If you didnt already check your local laws about fire pits when you added your wood-burning unit, nows the time to do it before you invest in converting your wood fire pit to gas. Are fire pits legal in your municipality? There may be rules about fire pit size, the distance your fire needs to be from structures or requirements regarding on-site fire extinguishers.
The Pros Of Ethanol Fire Pits
The pros of an ethanol fire pit can be a lengthy list, so we have simplified it down to these key points in the summary below. Since it can be customized in many different shapes, sizes, and finishes, there are many benefits to having an ethanol fire pit.
Environmentally-friendly
One of the most prevalent benefits of an ethanol fire pit is that they are one of the most environmentally friendly solutions. Ethanol is a renewable resource and its created from plant by-products. These by-products come from the harvesting of crops like sugarcane, corn and even grapes.
Low Maintenance
Another redeeming feature of ethanol fire pits is that they are extremely low maintenance. Since most ethanol fire pits are made of stainless steel and dont have any big moving parts, their cleaning and maintenance are minimal when compared to other fire pits like gas or wood.
No Venting Required
When ethanol fire pits are lit, bioethanol fuel doesnt emit any smoke or harmful toxins. This being said, ethanol fire pits do not require any costly ventilation systems to be implemented into your home. You can leave the chimney, vent and flue in the past.
Affordable
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Choosing Right Fuel For Your Fire
Whether it is a fire pit, fire place, fire bowl, any fire feature is sure to become a focal point and central gathering place of your landscape design.
Outdoor fire features are generally divided into two categories based on the type of fuel that they use: natural gas and wood. We have also included propane fire tables as an another choice to consider.
Authentic wood burning backyard campfire.
Best Imitation Wood Gas Fire Pit
Though weve already looked at one fire pit with a rustic wood look, we really like the style of the Casainc WFEHFP-05-A Fire Pit Table.
Rather than try to mimic natural wood, Casaincs designers opted for a more stylized approach. This round pit is 28 inches in diameter, with its stainless steel burners wrapped inside sleek black composite material sculpted to look like a hollowed-out tree stump.
The battery-powered electric ignition sparks the 30,000 Btu fire to life, and the whole fire pit weighs in at 44 pounds. Note that it runs off an external tank, so you may want to consider a tank cabinet. It comes with lava rocks and a PVC cover.
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What Is The Best Fire Pit Option
Weve compared your options head to head and weighed the pros and cons of each fuel type. So whats the best option for you to buy?
Each fuel type has its advantages and disadvantages, and the best option for you wont necessarily be the best option for someone else. Here are our general recommendations:
Choose wood if you value heat output above all else or if a reliable gas supply is tough to come by in your area.
Choose gas if you want a safer, more controllable fire pit option with more customizable options.
Other Fire Pit Considerations
While its an important consideration, deciding between wood vs. gas is only one of many decisions that will need to be made in regard to a new fire pit. Others include the design of the fire pit , what seating around it will be like, and even where within the landscape design it will be situated. Each of these decisions can impact the overall use and enjoyment of the fire pit so its important to guide the client toward what will work best for their property.
For instance, if the client is choosing a wood-burning fire pit, youll want to consider the primary direction that the wind blows on that property in determining where youll situate the fire pit. It also needs to flow well within the landscape design as a whole. Oftentimes, a fire pit works well in a bump-out section of the patio so that it doesnt impede traffic flow.
In terms of seating, youll want to talk to clients about whether they plan to bring in furniture or if they might be interested in built-in seating. Building a rounded retaining wall around a circular fire pit can add a cozy seating area.
As with any project, Berzins says it boils down to a balance of what the client wants as well as whats possible on their site. At the end of the day, the goal is always to leave the client happy with their results.
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Bali Outdoors Wood Burning Fire Pit
Bali wood burning fire pit is one of the best portable fire pits you ever find. This fire pit offers you a multifunctional design with a sturdy steel construction.
This wood burning fire pit is portable and multifunctional. You can cook and can enjoy its warmth while needed. You also can easily move it however you want. This fire pit is very easy to assemble but sometimes the legs of the pit can break during assembly. So you need to be more careful when you assemble it and you can enjoy its service for a long time.
Ask The Outdoor Living Professionals
Best Fire Hearth & Patio specializes in outdoor living products, such as fire pits and tables, patio furniture, and grills.
Visit our Albany showroom to view the latest fire pits from top brands in the industry, such as Outdoor GreatRoom and Telescope.
Our trained staff will help you find the outdoor heating solution thats right for you.
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Can You Run A Propane Fireplace All Night
Propane Fires are becoming more popular as the colder months approaching. Many people think that propane fires are a great option for a fireplace in the winter because they dont require any fuel other than propane and can be run all night long.
However, there are some things to consider before starting a propane fire. One is that propane fires produce dangerous heat which can damage your property if left unattended. Additionally, if youre running apropane fire in an enclosed space like a garage or shed, make sure the door is closed properly and keep your children away from the fire.
Do Gas Fire Pits Keep You Warm
Even the smallest gas fire pit can produce flames that are upto 2 feet high! Hence, it is safe to say that gas fire pits do the job of keeping you warm. However, it won’t get super hot with a gas fire pit. The amount of heat generated will depend on the burn media that you choose. The larger the burner the more warmth youll get.
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How Much Does Converting Your Wood Fire Pit To Gas Cost
A typical propane line will cost between $1,000 and $1,500. An average natural gas line costs between $3,000 and $4,000.
Installation crews will need to dig trenches out to your pit for the gas lines, as well as for electricity. Why electricity? Gas-powered units have electric igniters, much like a gas stove. Expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 for the electrical.
If your wood-burning fire pit is in the middle of your patio, crews will need to tear up part of the patio to run the lines. The cost of that varies widely, depending on how much of the patio needs to be removed and what material it is.
And youll need a conversion kit, which includes everything you need to switch over, including the burner, igniter and pan. Kits cost from $2,500 to $3,000.
How long to accomplish all this? Between two and four days.
How Easy Is It To Start And Extinguish Fires
The ease of use of a fire pit ends up being a major factor when choosing what type to buy.
One of the biggest drawbacks of wood-burning fire pits is the amount of time and effort it can take to light them. Sometimes, even more time is needed to put them out!
To fully extinguish a wood fire in a pit, the best practice is to allow the wood to fully burn down to ashes. Follow that up by pouring at least a couple of buckets of water over the pit area. When no sign of burning embers is left and no sizzling sound from the water can be heard any longer, the fire should be safely out.
Or you could just push a button to start and stop your outdoor fire.
Heres one area where the convenience of a propane or natural gas fire pit stands out. Gas fire pits come with a variety of ways to get a fire started easily. The quickest method is via a remote ignition system that starts the fire with the flick of a wall switch or press of a remote control button. Push button ignition systems are another type. Some inexpensive gas fire pits can be started the old-fashioned way with a match or lighter stick.
Turning off an outdoor fire with a gas fire pit is just as easy as starting it. With the press of a button or by shutting off the pits gas supply valve, the fire is safely extinguished.
Natural gas and propane fire pits offer the convenience of instant ignition systems.
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What Types Of Ignitions Are There For Fire Pits
Fire pit ignition systems range from simple ones using a match to complex ones using electronics and an app. At one end of the spectrum are match-lit fire pits, with which you start the gas and light a match to get it started, and that’s it. The next step up is a spark ignition system, which features a battery-operated sparker, so you just push a button to get the flame going. Moving up another notch is a flame-sensing fire pit, which has a spark ignition but also a flame sensor that can stop gas flow once flames die down for extra safety. At the far end of the spectrum are electronic ignition kits, which also are flame-sensing, and have an automated ignition process that can be controlled with a timer, a switch, a remote, or a phone app. These are the most expensive, and often require you to have electricity at your fire pit.
How Wood Burning Fire Pit Works
Wood burning fire pits can be many shaped if you buy ready made or you can also make it manually by your needs.
To properly start a fire in a fire pit you need to provide dry tenders and kindlings, best quality firewood, something like a match or lighter to start your fire and water in case of emergency.
Firstly you have to gather tender materials at the center of the fire pit. Then, straight from your tender pile in the middle of the fire pit, assemble a TP-like frame made of your sticks, keeping the sticks and twigs together, but leaving some gaps for air flow and illumination. Next, find a gap between your TP in your ignition and illuminate the Tinder pile with the fire starter of your choice.
When the kindling starts to burn, you can then begin placing your firewood in the fire pit. You also can use some firewood alternatives like organic briquettes. Thats how a wood burning fire pit works.
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Are Propane Fire Tables Safe
Propane fire tables are safe, as long as you take appropriate precautions. Restrict your choice of propane fire tables to units that have been approved or certified by a reputable third party such as Underwriters Laboratory or American National Standards Institute .
Place your propane fire table on a level surface. To ensure adequate ventilation, never use a propane fire table indoors or under a roof, canopy, or awning.
Ensure the area above the propane fire table is clear of any foliage or hanging branches. Keep the shutoff valve clear of obstructions for quick and easy access in the event of a conflagration.
Do Propane Fire Pits Need Ventilation
Two factors you should consider when deciding if a propane fire pit needs ventilation are the type of fuel used and the size of the fire pit.The type of fuel used in a Propane Fire Pit can affect the type of air flow needed to keep the flames from getting too high. If your Propane Fire Pit uses charcoal or wood burning fuels, it will require more airflow than if it uses gasoline or oil-based fuels.
The size of a Propane Fire Pit also affects how often you need to remove oxygen from the gas in order to prevent it from becoming too hot. A bigger fire pit will require more ventilation than a smaller one, so make sure you have enough space when designing yourpit.
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Fuel And Environmental Effects Of Wood Vs Gas Fire Pits
Woodfire pits burn dry wood, whereas gas fire pits burn propane gas or natural gas.
In both cases, you will need somewhere to store the fuel. In the case of wood, you will need somewhere that stays dry, away from the house .
Ordering the wood , stacking it in storage, and carrying it to the fire pit throughout the year adds to the labor involved with a wood fire pit. Whats more, cutting firewood can be dangerous.
In the case of propane gas, you may need a storage tank, which can be anything from 15 to 100 gallons. This tank will not add to the aesthetics of your yard, and you may want to look into ways of disguising it with creative landscaping.
Or, you may decide to have a plumber run a natural gas line from your house. Doing so adds to the overall cost and the need to get legal approval.
Wood is a renewable resource, whereas gas is not. However, gas is the more environmentally-friendly choice, as it burns cleaner and puts fewer emissions into the atmosphere.
Gas fire pits produce about 99% fewer emissions than wood-burning ones.
Because gas burns cleaner, it is also a better option for anyone with asthma, as the particles from burning wood can cause trouble. Creosote on wood, being a tar substance, can also produce harmful chemicals when burned.