Wood burning fire pits. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are durable, built to last a life time. Some will last a few seasons at most.
In this post we share tips on how to choose a high quality fire pit that will entertain your family and friends for years to come.
Here’s what you need to know when choosing your forever fire pit.
Choosing a Wood Burning Fire Pit
For Your Home
Containing a fire for heat, cooking, and enjoyment is as old as humanity’s discovery of fire nearly 2 million years ago.
The smell, sight, and sound of a crackling fire is like nothing else. Whether in a wood burning fireplace or stove, or outdoors around a camp fire. Nothing beats the experience of a real wood fire.
Know your Local Regulations
Before you begin your hunt though check with local authorities regarding regulations. Some locales have regulations on placement or restrictions on burning wood.
If regulations don’t allow burning wood you are not out of luck completely. You still have the option of a gas fire table or gas fire pit bowl!
Once you are certain you’re good to burn, let’s take a look at a few common types of fire pit.
Styles of Wood Burning Fire Pit
Fire pits come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular ones are listed below:
- Octagonal
- Pyramid
- Fire Pit Ring
- Recycled Propane Tank Style
Make sure you choose a fire pit that is durably constructed. Cast iron is the preferred material as it will stand up to heat and repeated use.
Do not spend money on a flimsy box-store fire pit as you will be replacing it year after year.
The Iron Embers Pyramid Fire Pit featured in the video below is built to last. It is a great example of a fire pit that is so striking that it looks great even without a fire.
Determining Location
One of the major considerations in placing your fire pit is the distance to combustable materials. Ten feet from structures is a good rule of thumb. However, it’s wise to consult the manual or a sales professional to find out about any particular pit.
An area with some amount of wind protection will help avoid problems with smoke and scattered ash.
Think about how many chairs or benches you’d like to place around the fire. Make sure it’s in a convenient location where you’ll be happy to sit for hours.
Determining your Style
Next you’ll want to consider a size and shape that works well with the design and layout of your back yard.
The right fire pit can become a stunning focal point whether it’s in use or not!
Size is also an important factor. Larger fire pits can take larger pieces of wood. You can get a huge fire going in a 4′ wide Cottager fire pit, or a 5′ tall pyramid pit.
Cooking Over your Wood Burning Fire Pit
Is cooking over the fire is something you’d like to do? Some fire pits, such as the cottager series have cooking grill options available.
Wood Burning Fire Pit Maintenance & Safety
Move your ash! Ashes are acidic so it is important to shovel them out regularly. This will prevent long-term damage to your fire pit. It is best to collect ashes they day after using the pit, but make sure there are no smouldering embers. Use a metal ash bucket to collect the ashes and dispose of them safely.
Keep the area surrounding the fire pit free from yard debris, a diameter of 10′ is a good rule of thumb.
If there are any trees that may potentially overhang the fire keep them pruned.
Use good wood. Well dried, split wood is recommended. Do not burn pressure treated wood or any kind of garbage. These can release dangerous fumes.
On that note, make sure not to use any accelerants either.
It is best to let the fire burn out naturally. You’ll want to keep water nearby for emergency situations. But do not douse the fire with water to extinguish it. This can cause the fire pit to crack due to the rapid change in temperature.
Conclusion
Your fire pit will become a wonderful gathering place for family and friends.
With a high-quality fire pit, built to last, you can keep them entertained for years to come!
