Fire Pits - A Cozy Patio Accessory

Warm yourself by a flickering fire outdoors.

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These days, more people are choosing to entertain at home rather than going out and a great way to add a delightful experience to your outdoor entertaining is by having a patio fire pit. If you love the outdoors, you can easily turn your patio into an oasis of comfort and visual appeal with an open fire.

You can build your own fire pit, or take advantage of the wide variety of styles and methods that are available now. Your fire pit can be as simple as a decorative fire ring or as elaborate as an outdoor fireplace complete with chimney or anything in between. You even have choices regarding the fuel used. Do you love the crackle and smell of wood? Do you prefer the comfort and ease of natural gas or propane? How about making your fire pit do double duty? Then charcoal is the answer. You can cook over your fire and enjoy the glow of embers at the same time.

Before you buy an outdoor fire pit ring take some time to consider where and when you will use it. This will help you narrow your search for the right one.

Outdoor fire pits come in as many styles as you can possibly imagine, but they tend to fall into three major categories:

FIRE PITS AND FIRE TABLES

These can be bowls or square containers which stand off the ground on short legs, which are portable fire pits. They can also be incorporated as a part of an outdoor table, like a propane fire pit table. They can even become a built-in patio feature, like a brick fire pit.

So you want to build an outdoor fire, but your homeowners association and local fire marshal would frown on a large flaming hole in the middle of your backyard? No worries- there are lots of manufactured patio fire pits on the market for you to choose from. One very handy type is a fire pit table, which serves a dual purpose as a fire pit and an outdoor table.

A patio fire pit table is an outdoor table with an outdoor fire pit in the center. It can serve several purposes and be used for any type of occasion, whether a fire is called for or not. On hot summer nights, ice can be piled in the outdoor fire pit to keep drinks and food cold.

Materials
Patio fire pit tables can be made of a variety of useful and beautiful materials:
 
*Aluminum fire pit
* Cast Iron fire pit
* Copper fire pit
* Granite fire pit
* Stainless steel fire pit
* Steel fire pit
* Stone fire pit

Aside from being fire-proof, outdoor fire pit tables made of these materials are designed to be attractive and durable enough for years of use. What type of material you choose for your patio fire pit table is entirely up to you. Pick one that suits your decor and taste.

FIRE PIT RINGS

Fire pit rings are a type of outdoor fire pit that lets you keep your fire more down-to-earth - literally! A fire pit ring is a type of outdoor fire pit which surrounds a fire that you built on the ground or on a platform just above the ground.

Whether it is for camping or for your backyard, outdoor fire pit rings can provide hours of entertainment. They are an ideal place to gather family and friends to enjoy the great outdoors.

Before you buy an outdoor fire pit ring take some time to consider where and when you will use it. This will help you narrow your search for the right one.

You can find fire pit rings that are suitable for camping for under $100. For a little extra, you could purchase one that features a detachable cooking grid. That way, your fire pit ring serves double duty and you don't have to haul in a grill or hunt for rocks of the same size to form your ring around your fire. Been there, done that and it isn't fun.

For your convenience, you might consider fire pit rings that are fueled by natural gas or propane. These types of fuel sources let you warm things up quickly and easily.

Be sure to carefully evaluate the safety features as well as how easy it is to use. Some features to look for may include an electric ignition and the ability to adjust the flame.

CHIMINEAS

Chimineas are outdoor fire pits which add elegance and grandeur to backyards and patios. They look like old-fashioned stoves with a long chimney top and come in a variety of styles You can find models with contemporary clean lines all the way to cast iron chimineas with ornate detailing.

An outdoor chiminea on your patio extends the usefulness of you outdoor living space earlier in the spring and later in the fall.

Outdoor chimineas are made of a number of materials including clay chimineas, copper chimineas, cast iron chimineas and cast aluminum chimineas, but some of these are better than others. While a clay chiminea might be incredibly attractive they tend not to be very durable. Furthermore, a clay chiminea requires a lot of constant care and are difficult to move into storage at the end of the season without breaking them. You might consider buying a cast aluminum or a cast iron chiminea. With some minor maintenance, these outdoor chimineas will last much longer. A whole is cut out of the round bottom portions, through which you view the fire and add fuel. Also, outdoor chimineas have a short chimney that directs the smoke up and away from you and your guests.

Remember, despite their appearance, outdoor chimineas are for outdoor use only and should never be used for burning wood indoors.

If you won't use your outdoor chiminea during the cold winter months, it's best to store it in your garage or shed, or cover it.

FUEL CHOICES

The different types of fuel used in outdoor fire pits are charcoal fire pits, natural gas fire pits, propane fire pits, and wood burning fire pits.

Charcoal Fire Pits
Charcoal will give off an intense, even heat, but little or no flame. Fittingly, charcoal is the fuel used in charcoal fire pits whose primary function is cooking and grilling. Charcoal is typically available in either briquette or lump form, lump charcoal being pure charcoal that contains none of the artificial binders that give briquettes their shape.

Wood-Burning Fire Pits
Wood is the most common fuel used in fire pits. It's inexpensive, readily available, and best for achieving a traditional bonfire-type flame. Starting and keeping a wood fire burning takes some skill but once you have it going the flame is very warm and comforting.
 
Natural Gas Fire Pits
Working on the same premise as indoor fireplaces, gas fire pits that are fueled by natural gas are connected directly to your home's gas line. Gas fire pits ignite quickly, easily, and dependably with just a flick of a switch and burn safely for hours with little to no maintenance. Installation and connection of gas lines should only be performed by a certified technician or your local gas company.

Propane Fire Pits
Similar to natural gas fire pits, propane fire pits offer quick and easy lighting and a flame that will burn safely for hours.

Propane fire pits use the same type of tank that fuels your propane barbecue grill. Propane tanks can be refilled at many gas stations and hardware stores. Keeping a second tank handy is a good idea in the event that the first one runs out in the middle of your evening.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Fire Pit Table Safety
Some manufacturers suggest you do not use the table and fire pit functions at the same time. Others recommend using the outdoor fire pit table for entertaining and cooking foods like hot dogs and marshmallows. Whether or not you should use your outdoor fire pit table for serving and cooking at the same time will depend upon the size and type of outdoor fire pit table you choose.

Camp Fire Ring Safety
It never hurts to refresh the dos and don'ts of working with a camp fire ring. Here are some helpful safety reminders.

Follow assembly instructions carefully for your camp fire ring. Make sure that anyone that plans to use the camp fire ring understands how to properly assemble it as well as how to light a fire in it.

If you have a camp fire ring that has a detachable grill make sure that it also is properly installed.

Use the wood that is recommended for your camp fire ring. Most recommend the use of seasoned hardwood as opposed to soft woods like pine or cedar that are more likely to throw sparks.

Do not use your camp fire ring to burn leaves or trash.

Always keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water close by your camp fire ring when in use.

Avoid using gasoline, kerosene, alcohol and any other flammable fluid to light the fire in your camp fire ring.

Don't leave a fire unattended and never let children use the camp fire ring unsupervised.

Remember to take the same precautions you would with any other fire. Common sense combined with these camp fire ring safety tips can prevent unnecessary injuries and accidents.

Chiminea Safety

Position your outdoor chiminea a safe distance from anything combustible, and remember the smoke will rise through the chimney, so be aware what is above it. After you have it positioned, it is important to insulate the bowl so the fire is not directly against the surface. Add sand or pea stone to the bowl until it is about 4 inches below the lower lip of the mouth. Next, place two bricks on their side about 6 inches apart. The bricks will keep the wood elevated. You can use patio block or pavers from your local garden supply for a hearth pad.

The first fire you set in your outdoor chiminea should be small in order to season the material. You can burn any type of wood normally burned in an indoor fireplace.

There are many things to consider before you decide on what type of outdoor fire pit will work best for you. After that, you will need to decide on your fuel source. You know what you like and what will fit in with your decor. There are more choices than you can imagine, so have fun on your quest.