Fire pits are an appealing and versatile addition to your backyard. They are useful for outdoor heating during cooler evenings when you want to spend some time outside. Your choice of a fire pit, however, is something to be arrived at after careful consideration. Gas vs wood fire pit. Which one will you choose?
There are many options for fire pits, but the kind of fuel to burn is one of the first and most important considerations. What’s the ideal fuel for your fire pit? Some of the considerations will appeal to your personal preferences, while some will have financial and practical implications.
Regardless, keep reading to learn the differences, and then you can make an informed decision.
Gas vs Wood Fire Pit: Factors to Consider
Safety
Fires pose a significant risk just by their presence – even carefully-contained ones.
Any fuel type can become unsafe if not carefully watched, but the embers generated when you burn wood can float away and start fires close by. You should be particularly careful if you live in dry conditions. Ensure that the fire pit is surrounded by non-combustible surfaces like brick and concrete. Falling logs are also a safety concern, so keep away young children and pets while the fire burns.
Gas fire pits burn natural gas or propane as fuel, but the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning are greatly reduced because the fires burn outdoors. An outdoor gas pit carries a minuscule risk of explosion, as well as the risks of improperly installed gas lines and leakage. Ensure your gas fire pit is installed by qualified technicians following all industry best practices and safety standards.
Fuel Efficiency
Gas is a cleaner and more efficient source of energy than wood, with much fewer physical emissions or pollution coming afterward. If you’re thinking about green energy, then the gas pit is the one for you.
Wood produces soot and ashes after burning, but you can use ash from your fire pit as composting material to improve the soil quality in your garden. Unfortunately, the output that gives wood its characteristic “wood-burning” aroma is also the one that pollutes the environment.
Wood is a renewable source of energy which is good, but so is natural gas (compared with LPG gas). Because gas burns cleaner, it is ideal for people with respiratory issues like asthma. Particles from wood can be a nuisance for such people.
Supply and Storage
Gas fire pits burn liquid propane or natural gas, which is held in compact cylinders or supplied through gas lines. You will still have storage tanks for the gas – suppliers usually give 15-100 gallon tanks. Consider a landscaping plan to conceal the gas tank.
Woodfire pits must also include adequate storage space for your logs, and hence will be larger than gas fire pits. You need to keep the storage place dry, and it has to be away from the house because wood can attract termites.
For both gas and wood fire pits, you need to have a reliable fuel supplier to ensure you don’t have to store too much-unused fuel around the house. Ensure for whichever option you have easy access to the fuel supply.
Ease of Use
Gas fire pits are easier to get going than wood fire pits – you simply need to press a button to start and stop the fire. Gas fires don’t leave smoky odors on your clothes, but they lack the distinct aroma associated with wood fires.
For wood pits, however, you have to know how to build a fire. Using fuels like lighter fluid can make it easier, but this isn’t without its risks. you also have to keep adding logs to keep the fire going, and when the fire goes out, it takes a while for the logs to grow cold – which translates to wasted fuel.
Installation
Gas pits are a harder installation: you need gas lines to be installed, and this must be done professionally and it takes more time. Gas lines must be installed properly away from commonly-used areas of the yard. Once the initial installation is completed, though, you won’t have to worry about restocking as much as you do with wood.
Wood pits can be installed DIY if you’re handy around the house, but you should have a professional install it for safety reasons. Even then, the installation is easier. Wood brings the work of ordering, stacking, seasoning/treating, and carrying wood to burn all-year-round.
Conclusion
By now, you’ve probably made up your mind depending on what factors are most important to you. If you need better guidance, you can talk to local fire pit experts who can inspect your home and make the best recommendations depending on your unique needs. Regardless of your choice, make sure your fire pit is bought and installed by reputable brands and technicians so that you never have to worry about your family’s safety.
