5 Ways to Enjoy Your Outdoor Fire Pit - Detweiler's Propane Gas Service (2024)

FAQs

5 Ways to Enjoy Your Outdoor Fire Pit - Detweiler's Propane Gas Service? ›

For the Fire Pit, a 20# propane tank will last approximately 4 to 4 ½ hours at a continuous burn at the maximum output. The tank will last approximately 8-9 hours at a moderate gas output. For the Fire Table, a 20# propane tank will last approximately 4 to 4 ½ hours at a continuous burn at the maximum output.

For the Fire Pit, a 20# propane tank will last approximately 4 to 4 ½ hours at a continuous burn at the maximum output. The tank will last approximately 8-9 hours at a moderate gas output. For the Fire Table, a 20# propane tank will last approximately 4 to 4 ½ hours at a continuous burn at the maximum output.

Airflow. Adequate airflow is crucial for efficient combustion. Fire pits with proper ventilation allow oxygen to reach the burning fuel, resulting in hotter and cleaner burns. Fire pits designed with a bottom airflow system can help regulate the fire's intensity and generate more heat.

Cons: Fuel storage: You'll need to store propane tanks and replace them periodically. Operating cost: Propane can be more expensive than natural gas in the long run. Limited flame size: Some propane fire pits may have smaller flames compared to wood-burning options.

If you are maxing out your flame level, a 20lb tank of propane will be used in about 4 hours. At a more moderate level, the propane will last around 8 hours. So, you'll need to consider how much flame output you'll use at a time. This could mean using your propane fire pit for shorter periods of time.

Start by adding comfortable seating to your fire pit area. You can opt for traditional outdoor chairs or get creative with pallets or logs. Make sure to add some cozy throw pillows and blankets to snuggle up in on chilly nights.

The metal fire pits are known for their durability and effective design when it comes to spreading heat. Concrete and stone are heavier, more permanent fire pit options. Glass and polyresin fire pits are highly decorative and make creative accent fire features on the patio or porch.

You'll want to place it more than 10 feet away from any flammable structures, such as your house, your neighbor's house, fences or sheds. Avoid placing it next to any trees or plants that could catch fire when you use your fire pit. There should also be plenty of clearance overhead.

First things first, let's address the burning question: do fire pits actually get hot underneath? In short, yes. The heat from both wood burning fire pits and a gas fire pit can be significant and it's especially important to manage this heat properly to avoid damage to your deck, patio, or lawn.

Which firepit gives off the most heat? ›

A wood-burning fire pit gives off the most heat. Adequately seasoned wood is easy to burn and produces a large, bright fire that gives off a lot of heat, even in a small fire pit designed to save precious outdoor space.

It is imperative to avoid overloading your fire pit. Thus, you should start with a small fire and add more wood gradually. Too much wood all at once can smother the flames. At the same time, you need to remove ashes from previous fires to maintain good airflow, which helps the new fire burn efficiently.

You can also hide it among the greenery or landscaping around your outside space. Or, you can place your fire pit on top of a rug, making a hole the width of the hose to snake it under the propane tank. If your fire pit is on a deck, you can make a small hole in your deck below the unit and run the hose underneath.

Unlike wood burning fires, gas fires do not give off sparks, or smoke that can build up behind screens, but they do give off carbon monoxide (CO), so they need proper ventilation. This means that you can easily have a gas fire safely on your patio, as long as you have plenty of fresh air coming through.

Best practices for ventilating a fire pit In order to create the safest, most functional ventilation system for your fire pit, install cross ventilation. To do this, place two vents on opposite sides of the fire pit to allow various exit points for heat and gas.

The short answer is that the typical 50,000 Btu firepit will burn for about seven hours on a 20-pound cylinder. For perspective, the same amount of propane will get you about 18 to 20 hours of grilling time.

As mentioned above, 20-pound propane tanks are used for modest tasks like cooking individual meals. As a rule of thumb, one tank of propane will typically last between 18-20 hours if you're grilling on a medium-sized grill. Whereas larger grills can burn through 20-pounds of propane in as little as 10 hours.

If you continuously use a 5 kg propane gas tank with an 11 kW gas fire pit, it should last approximately 12 hours. Similarly, using an 11 kg propane gas bottle with a 13 kW gas fire pit should last around 23 hours.

Propane Tank Sizes for Outdoor Fire Pits

To fuel your propane fire pit, select a 20 lb tank. At maximum output, your fire pit will burn for about 4-4.5 hours. At a more moderate output, this tank can supply your fire pit for 8-9 hours.