One of the most ancient joys of life is gathering friends and family around a fire to share stories, laughter, food and drink. The warmth and light of a fire is a symbol of hope and security in the dark hours of the night. In light of that, an outdoor fire pit might be a great addition to your patio or backyard area.
Safety Tips
The most important safety tip is to avoid placing the fire pit near flammable materials. Do not place it underneath a low roof, below tree branches or near dry grass. Keep the fire between 10 feet to 25 feet away from chairs, buildings and vegetation.
The bottom of the fire bowl should always rest on a non-flammable surface, such as concrete or stone. You might also consider getting a spark guard screen to prevent sparks from flying into nearby vegetation when the night air is full of breezes.
Fire Pit Designs
The simplest type of fire pit design is called a fire ring. This is just a large ring made from metal which forms a boundary for an ordinary wood fire. It does not have an enclosed bottom.
Outdoor fire pits can have a round, square, hexagonal or linear shape. A fire bowl is shaped like a large bowl, but might even be available in the shape of a pot or a short column. A fire pit table has a fire in the middle with a flat surface area around it.
Outdoor fire pits can be made from metal, brick, stone or cement. Brick, stone and cement are often used when building your own fire pit for burning wood logs. Fire bowls are usually made from metals such as steel, cast iron, bronze or copper. Fire pit tables can include decorative materials such as steel, slate tiles, granite, marble and wood.
Fuel Sources
There are a few options when it comes to fuel for an outdoor fire pit. The simplest fuel source is either pellet fuel, wood logs or coal briquettes for a real rustic fire. However, this also creates smoke and is only suitable for a true outdoor or backyard setting. Never use a wood burning fire bowl on a wooden patio deck!
Propane is probably the cleanest fuel source for fire pits. It is safe enough to use on a patio or underneath a gazebo. A propane fire pit table will usually have a space underneath where the propane tank can be hidden from view. Smoke will not get into your eyes when you use propane as a fuel source, but never use a propane fire pit indoors due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The source of ignition is also something to consider. The simplest way is to strike a match and light up the wood or gas flame. Nevertheless, if you want to avoid the possibility of burnt fingers, you might want to look for an outdoor gas fire pit which has push button ignition.
Wood Pellet Fire Pit
Wood pellet fuel is usually made from compressed sawdust and other bits of wood. We know of only one outdoor fire pit, that is made in the USA, for burning wood pellets: the Flame Genie.
The Flame Genie fire pit has an interesting ventilation system which sucks in fresh air through holes near its bottom. The air is heated as it flows through the sides of the fire bowl until it exits near the top inside the fire pit. This ventilation system helps the Flame Genie to burn wood pellets more efficiently, thereby reducing excess smoke and ash. However, adding extra pellets to the fire might take some practice. If you add too much, the flame might go out and cause lots of smoke. You have to relight the fire if this happens.
Please note that this wood pellet fire pit is not recommended for burning wood logs or for grilling food. Unfortunately, wood pellets do not produce hours of flame and heat. Pellet fuel burns up fairly quickly. Therefore, the Flame Genie is only suitable for making a quick fire that burns at its best for about half an hour, unless you constantly want to feed it wood pellets, one cupful at a time.
The Flame Genie provides a bright smokeless fire until the first load of wood pellets have burned up, but it does not produce hot coals and embers for that real campfire feeling. It seems to work great for a quick fire, but is not suitable for a long night under the stars (check price on Amazon).
Wood Burning Fire Pit
We like the look of the Landmann USA 28905 Super Sky fire pit. Its 36-inch diameter steel fire bowl has cut out patterns of stars and crescent moons. This fits in perfectly with a night spent around a wood log fire underneath the real stars and moon.
A full cover spark guard and fire poker are included as accessories. You can stir the fire with the poker and then cover it with the spark guard screen to keep the sparks from flying too far into the night. The fire bowl is surrounded by a circular ring, which makes it easier for two persons to grab and move. This ring means that the total width is 40 inches.
You can make a big wood log fire in this fire pit. Remember to protect it from rusting in the rain with a water-resistant cover. Remove the ash now and then. It does not come with a log grate, so the ash can fall to the bottom and not clog up the hot coals.
Wood Burning Cast Iron Fire Bowl
We prefer a simple, clean, sturdy product design that is functional rather than flashy. Fire bowls do not get much more minimalist than the FF90 by Esschert Design USA. It has the bowl, a separate base (attach it with the included screws) and nothing else! Unfortunately, this cast iron fire bowl is not shipped with any accessories.
The FF90 fire bowl is 11 inches high and has a 30-inch diameter bowl which will accommodate ordinary size wood logs. The bowl and base are made from thick cast iron, so it weighs about 80 pounds. This is definitely not a flimsy sheet metal fire pit, it is heavy duty!
The fire bowl has a small hole in its bottom to allow rain water to drain out. Ash will clog the hole, so clean the bowl regularly. Wet ash will cause unnecessary rust. You might want to buy a log grate to improve air circulation among the burning logs because the small hole in the bottom does not provide any ventilation. A spark guard screen and fire poker might also be on your wish list.
The Esschert Design FF90 wood fire bowl is thick, heavy, sturdy and will last for many years. Therefore, it might be worth paying a few dollars extra for it when compared to other cheaper wood burning fire bowls (check price on Amazon).
Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit
Sitting around a campfire at night provides warmth and light. However, a campfire might sometimes be illegal due to a burn ban being enforced in a particular area. There might be a way to enjoy a campfire without breaking the burn ban. A portable propane fire pit does not burn wood and therefore does not produce choking smoke or flying sparks. You might be able to use it during a burn ban if it is certified by either the CSA or UL.
The Outland Firebowl is a popular portable fire pit that uses propane as a fuel source. It can be connected to a standard 20 lb propane tank. One tank will provide you and your friends with a safe fire source for about 7 or 8 hours. This might sound expensive, but buying and burning wood at a camping ground has also become expensive. Also, the propane fire bowl does not produce sparks, smoke or ash. This reduces the risk of a forest fire.
The Outland Firebowl has a 19-inch diameter. It is approved by the CSA and you might be able to use it during a burn ban. This gas fire pit produces up to 58000 BTU. It provides a lot of heat when compared to an outdoor patio heater.
This outdoor propane gas fire pit has stainless steel gas burners. A chrome knob controls the size of the flame. It can also be adapted to use natural gas as a fuel source. A natural gas conversion kit, that is CSA approved, is available as a separate purchase.
The Outland Firebowl portable propane fire pit provides a clean, smokeless fire for your outdoor gatherings or camping trips (check price on Amazon).
Conclusion
A fire pit is usually a welcome addition to your outdoor space. It can both look cool and be a hot product at the same time. You can use it for keeping warm during chilly evenings or for toasting marshmallows to crispy perfection. We hope you find the right fire bowl for your outdoor patio or backyard!