Fire Pit Basics: Where to Start?

When you want the beauty, warmth, and charm of a fire pit or fire ring for your home or backyard living space, there are several decisions to consider before making your purchase.

The first consideration is to choose the method for lighting your new unit. The manual lighting method is an easy and inexpensive choice. Manual lighting involves turning a valve to begin the flow of gas while placing a lit match or grill lighter to the burner. If you're looking for a hands-off approach, electronic ignition is the ultimate in worry-free convenience. Electronic ignition requires an electrical source in your home to be wired to the fire pit or fire ring unit. Once the setup is complete, simply light the ring by the use of an on/off switch, remote control, or timer.

You will also need to choose a location for your new unit. Fire pits and fire rings can be installed on any non-flammable surface such as firebrick, sheet metal, stone, or concrete. Depending on your landscape design you can install your fire pit on your patio, pool deck, or in an outdoor space such as a yard or garden. Where at your home would you most enjoy the warm glow of a fire?

Next you will want to choose the material to use around the fire ring itself. You can choose from a variety of beautiful materials that compliment the aesthetic of your home or garden; such as stone, firebrick, concrete, and more! As long as the material that surrounds and protects your fire ring is non-combustible, you're on your way to relaxing around the one-of-a-kind appeal of a custom made fire pit. Enjoy the opportunity to be creative while designing your unit to perfectly accentuate your home.

Fire Logs-To Vent or Not To Vent

What does it mean to have vented or vent-free gas logs? Vented logs use a chimney (damper stays open) to allow an outlet for heat and the byproducts of combustion to escape. Vent-Free (damper stays closed) means there is no chimney (or vent pipe) used in the operation of the appliance, so the heat stays in your living room. A vent-free application is 100% fuel efficient and serves as the principle heat source for the room it operates in. As an added bonus, you can know you'll stay toasty warm if the power goes out some cold winter evening.

Is vent-free safe? These systems have been used safely for over 35 years in the United States. All of our vent-free gas logs have been tested and approved as vent-free room heaters. These appliances are made to burn at a very hot temperature, so the amount of combustion byproducts is much lower than vented gas log systems.

Vented gas log systems are made to look like a natural wood burning fire; and they act like one as well. Vented gas logs burn with a yellow flame, which closely resembles the flames of a natural wood burning fire. This kind of fire produces soot, and a higher amount of combustion byproducts - just like a real wood burning fire. Therefore, a ventilation system (keeping your damper open) is necessary. While much of the heat escapes through the chimney, a good deal of heat is transferred to your house; vented gas log systems are still a smart, environmentally sound supplementary heating method as well as a beautiful decorative addition. You can control the flames and embers by the valve key; talk about decorating efficiently!

Be sure to check local codes before the installation of your appliance. We recommended to our customers that all installations be performed by qualified service technicians.

All vent-free appliances are equipped with an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) system which will automatically shut off the appliance in the event that the oxygen level in the room drops below the American Gas Association (AGA) allowance. These units operate within industry indoor air quality standards and are design certified by the AGA.

Measuring your Fireplace for Gas Logs

When searching for the right size of gas fireplace logs, your fireplace should be measured carefully. Unlike outdoor fire pits, fire logs that merely fit into the cavity of your gas fireplace won't neccessarily function properly, and some gas log applications won't work at all if your fireplace is sized at an incorrect ratio. Save yourself some time and measure your fireplace first, before you set your heart on an any particular gas logs application.

Due to the operation of different units and their own unique features (pilot lights, remote controls, etc.) there are many different formulas for the necessary space and air flow requirements inside the cavity of your fireplace. Be sure you check the manufacturer's specification sheets of your gas fireplace model for the requirements for the space you will need to operate them.

Generally, you will need four separate measurements:

* Height of your fireplace cavity from top to bottom
* Depth of your fireplace cavity, (back to front)
* Width at the front of the fireplace cavity opening (left to right)
* Width at the back of the fireplace cavity, at the back wall (left to right)
* If you choose a vent-free application, you will also need to know how high your mantle is from the top of your fireplace cavity**

All measurements should be taken from inside the fireplace (don't leave the end of the measuring tape outside of the cavity). For depth and width dimensions, measure from the floor of your fireplace. Height dimensions should be taken 6"-8" inside the cavity, near the center of the chimney if you have one. This will be the approximate location of your gas logs. Once you have your measurements written down, consult your fireplace specification sheet for details on the best sizes of logs for optimum functionality.

**If your mantle is combustible you will need a fireplace hood.

Changing from Natural Gas to Propane Gas

The good news is, it's easier to convert to LP (or liquid petroleum, aka propane gas) from natural gas than to change from natural gas to a propane conversion. Basically, natural gas runs at a pressure of about 5.5" water column, while propane gas runs at twice that pressure; so the orifice must be made smaller.

We strongly urge our customers to contact a qualified professional in matters of re-plumbing a gas powered appliance of any kind; including gas grills, fire pits, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces. The orifice size will differ with each manufacturer; and no manufacturer makes public the exact orifice size needed to power the appliance in either natural gas or propane. Exchange valves for conversion purposes are rarely if ever available, due to the liability issue. For most conversion applications, you will need to purchase a new appliance that is warrantied for that type of fuel.

Custom Designed Fire Pits

Did you know? Gas Products Company's specialty is custom orders for any outdoor application from stately eternal flames to rustic outdoor fire pits. Fire brick creates the shell of this beautiful brick outdoor fire pit (right); created by Gas Products Company in Montana. It is composed of a 24" stainless steel fire ring kit, 24" midnight campfire logs, and natural lava rock.

To build a fire pit can be a complex process that requires craftsmanship and always yields a beautiful result. We understand that no two custom orders are alike! Interested in discussing options for the outdoor fire pit you've always imagined? Call us today toll-free at 1-800-476-4790. Or, if you're local to the Atlanta area, you can call us locally at (770) 482-1123.