Fire Pit Resurrection

[kbuhagiar]

Hello folks,

Our new-to-us home has a round fire pit in the backyard. It is in great shape cosmetically, but it apparently hasn't been used for many years, and I want to resurrect it. It has a direct connection to our propane tank, so I would like to install a gas burner, but I've never owned or maintained one before, so I am at a loss as to where to start.




Since these pictures were taken I've uncapped the pipe and confirmed the operation of the shutoff valve, which is located on the outside of the pit, just below the feed. The interior diameter measures approximately 32". I've seen other fire pits in operation, and would prefer (if possible) to have the burner element hidden under a layer of rock. I want to start with a clean slate, so I'm looking for pointers on how to reconstruct the interior for safe and efficient operation.

Any observations and information is greatly appreciated - thanks!

 

[mike93lx]

Is there any fresh air intake? Without that, it's never going to work well, which may be why it hadn't been used for so long

 

[cgrutt]

Pretty. I have seen a lot of firepits like that but never a gas one so not much help. I will say if you ever plan to burn wood I'd be careful with the bluestone likely to crack/flake may even pop with the heat. Don't think gas would get hot enough to cause problems though. You may want to consider lining interior with fire rated brick.

 

[rjacobs]

You can get various firepit burner heads from a few places... this is one of them:

Gas Fire Pit Burners: Round, Square & Linear Shapes

Browse the full selection of Gas Fire Pit Burners and more firepit elements from Firepits Direct.

www.firepitsdirect.com

Then you just need to figure out what rock you want in there and fill er up...

Doesnt look like it has a water drain... but maybe that bottom is just bare ground and not concrete... Make sure water can drain from it.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I'd just stick a Solo Stove in there lol

 

[kbuhagiar]

Is there any fresh air intake? Without that, it's never going to work well, which may be why it hadn't been used for so long

No fresh air intake. That could be a challenge if they are absolutely necessary...ideas?

Pretty. I have seen a lot of firepits like that but never a gas one so not much help. I will say if you ever plan to burn wood I'd be careful with the bluestone likely to crack/flake may even pop with the heat. Don't think gas would get hot enough to cause problems though. You may want to consider lining interior with fire rated brick.

Wood burning is severely restricted in our neck of the woods. It's going to be gas or nothing - or as my wife says, "A nice planter"

You can get various firepit burner heads from a few places... this is one of them:

Gas Fire Pit Burners: Round, Square & Linear Shapes

Browse the full selection of Gas Fire Pit Burners and more firepit elements from Firepits Direct.

www.firepitsdirect.com

Then you just need to figure out what rock you want in there and fill er up...

Doesnt look like it has a water drain... but maybe that bottom is just bare ground and not concrete... Make sure water can drain from it.

The bottom is either bare ground or gravel, but definitely not concrete. Water drainage is excellent, no problems there.

I's just stick a Solo Stove in there lol

Yeah, no.

 

[mike93lx]

No fresh air intake. That could be a challenge if they are absolutely necessary...ideas?

Drill a couple decent size holes down low, maybe through a grout line.

I had a similar size firepit that I built without air intake and it was terrible. But it was all drylaid, so I pulled it apart, removed one stone in the bottom later, reset them all with small gaps and it worked great thereafter

Unless you out the fire ring up high (maybe a good approach, like the fire tables you can buy at HD), I think you won't like it

 

[FredWanaker]

here the burn day laws treat a permanent firepit like that the same as a fireplace, meaning most of the winter you can't use it as they are too many no burn days. But portable units are not included in burn day rules. Natural gas is being phased out in many states under new attitudes, I might just have a mason clean it up and then use a small portable one inside it to be able to use it more often.

 

[bluedog225]

Seems like a small burner would intake itself around the sides. dunno

Maybe a couple of pieces if 1” iron pipe in an “L” shape stubbed up to the level of the gravel on the sides and feeding the burner.

 

[Dig Doug]

Dig out all that dirt rock & inspect make sure the ****** ( pipe is sound/solid )

you can but a SS ring in various sizes - I think am 18 or 20 inch would be the ticket! A 24 might heat up the Rock Cap to much and w/ hot / cool might pop the rocks loose over time.
adjust the ring height with pipe fittings in relation to the top rock ring, secure the ring

I use 3/4 inch Lava rock as a filler you can get in in bags then buy Bigger Rocks piled up above the ring to create the effect. You can lay some sand below the 3/4 lava or some fire bricks to help fill up or raise the ring up towards the top …. You don’t want it down low set Inside the pit. Makes for a boring fire . You want the flames up and out and dancing around all the big Lava rock

you can use glass beads instead of the lava rock

pic of my pit

NOTE-
We were trimming the queen palms in the back yard when the pic was taken

 

[Dig Doug]

This is what I use and every 5-6 years you need a new ring, There pros / cons to install & mount with holes up / down …. Mounted holes up water gets inside but flame is better…

you can also stack 2 rings on top of each other 6-8 inches apart you want the flames up high.

so the rocks get hot from the flame and that creates the heat. You sit close - no embers spit / pop or fly out, just a nice calming heat

 

[kbuhagiar]

Drill a couple decent size holes down low, maybe through a grout line.

I had a similar size firepit that I built without air intake and it was terrible. But it was all drylaid, so I pulled it apart, removed one stone in the bottom later, reset them all with small gaps and it worked great thereafter

Unless you out the fire ring up high (maybe a good approach, like the fire tables you can buy at HD), I think you won't like it

I've seen kits for setting a 'tray' higher up in the pit, definitely a possibility

 

[kbuhagiar]

here the burn day laws treat a permanent firepit like that the same as a fireplace, meaning most of the winter you can't use it as they are too many no burn days. But portable units are not included in burn day rules. Natural gas is being phased out in many states under new attitudes, I might just have a mason clean it up and then use a small portable one inside it to be able to use it more often.

I have propane gas, so there's that...

 

[kbuhagiar]

Dig out all that dirt rock & inspect make sure the ****** ( pipe is sound/solid )

you can but a SS ring in various sizes - I think am 18 or 20 inch would be the ticket! A 24 might heat up the Rock Cap to much and w/ hot / cool might pop the rocks loose over time.
adjust the ring height with pipe fittings in relation to the top rock ring, secure the ring

I use 3/4 inch Lava rock as a filler you can get in in bags then buy Bigger Rocks piled up above the ring to create the effect. You can lay some sand below the 3/4 lava or some fire bricks to help fill up or raise the ring up towards the top …. You don’t want it down low set Inside the pit. Makes for a boring fire . You want the flames up and out and dancing around all the big Lava rock

you can use glass beads instead of the lava rock

****** & cap were fused, but the ****** came off without too much difficulty. I replaced ****** & cap with new pieces.

I like your ideas, will look into that.

 

[kbuhagiar]

This is what I use and every 5-6 years you need a new ring, There pros / cons to install & mount with holes up / down …. Mounted holes up water gets inside but flame is better…

you can also stack 2 rings on top of each other 6-8 inches apart you want the flames up high.

so the rocks get hot from the flame and that creates the heat. You sit close - no embers spit / pop or fly out, just a nice calming heat

More great info, thanks!

 

[FredWanaker]

I have propane gas, so there's that...

they will come for it. Right now the next target is BBQs that use wood. New natural gas installations have already been banned in some cities and counties. Propane won't be far behind.

 

[zkdiesel]

here the burn day laws treat a permanent firepit like that the same as a fireplace, meaning most of the winter you can't use it as they are too many no burn days. But portable units are not included in burn day rules. Natural gas is being phased out in many states under new attitudes, I might just have a mason clean it up and then use a small portable one inside it to be able to use it more often.

Natural gas being phased out????! I wish I could even get natural gas

 

[Metal-Marc]

Buy a couple of fans and impress the neighbors.

 

[jeff lary]

they will come for it. Right now the next target is BBQs that use wood. New natural gas installations have already been banned in some cities and counties. Propane won't be far behind.

If you live in a place that tells you when you can have a fire in your fire pit, MOVE. much less a freaking Propane fire pit holy ****.

 

[mike93lx]

If you live in a place that tells you when you can have a fire in your fire pit, MOVE. much less a freaking Propane fire pit holy ****.

So you always pull permits?

Title 12, §9325: Open burning

legislature.maine.gov

 

[jeff lary]

So you always pull permits?

Title 12, §9325: Open burning

legislature.maine.gov

in Maine at least where i live you need no permit for a campfire in a fire pit.

 

[jeff lary]

I am sure you know more than I do about where I live please continue on...

 

[jeff lary]

Read B.


2. Permissible open burning without permit. When not prohibited by state rule, local ordinance or water utility regulation, the following types of burning are permissible without a permit if no nuisance is created:
A. Recreational campfires kindled when the ground is covered by snow or on frozen bodies of water; [PL 1991, c. 36, §4 (NEW).]
B. Residential use of outdoor grills and fireplaces for recreational purposes such as preparing food; and [PL 1991, c. 36, §4 (NEW).]
C. Use of outdoor grills and fireplaces for recreational purposes such as preparing food at commercial campgrounds in organized towns as long as the commercial campgrounds are licensed by the health engineering division of the Department of Human Services

 

[jar944]

they will come for it. Right now the next target is BBQs that use wood. New natural gas installations have already been banned in some cities and counties. Propane won't be far behind.

Not the states with freedom..

Not to mention the need ro upgrade electrical service for millions of homes if that ever were a real thing.

 

[juddspaintballs]

Natural gas being phased out????! I wish I could even get natural gas

No, it's not. A couple of places like California and NYC are banning it for some unknown idiotic reason, though. The US has the world's largest natural gas reserve and it is one of the cleanest burning fuels available in such a quantity. There is no refining or danger if it leaks into the open (a closed attic space is a different animal) like fuel oil. Natural gas fuel isn't going away anytime soon.

 

[FredWanaker]

Looking at the OP's signature, they are in Escondido, which is part of the San Diego Air Quality District. They do not currently have a burn / no burn policy on fireplaces or firepits, so at this time he can burn wood. I was just on the SD AQCD website to see what their policy is.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Looking at the OP's signature, they are in Escondido, which is part of the San Diego Air Quality District. They do not currently have a burn / no burn policy on fireplaces or firepits, so at this time he can burn wood. I was just on the SD AQCD website to see what their policy is.

Moot point, since I refuse to burn wood.
I'm only interested in propane gas fires.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Moot point, since I refuse to burn wood.

Why is that?

 

[kbuhagiar]

Why is that?

Not relevant to this discussion.

 

[FredWanaker]

we had a black iron steel pipe in Riverside, not that far north of you in the 70's, that rusted out in about 7 years, and leaked gas. Be sure to pressure test that existing pipe before trusting it.

 

[Dig Doug]

Hello folks,

Our new-to-us home has a round fire pit in the backyard. It is in great shape cosmetically, but it apparently hasn't been used for many years, and I want to resurrect it. It has a direct connection to our propane tank, so I would like to install a gas burner, but I've never owned or maintained one before, so I am at a loss as to where to start.




Since these pictures were taken I've uncapped the pipe and confirmed the operation of the shutoff valve, which is located on the outside of the pit, just below the feed. The interior diameter measures approximately 32". I've seen other fire pits in operation, and would prefer (if possible) to have the burner element hidden under a layer of rock. I want to start with a clean slate, so I'm looking for pointers on how to reconstruct the interior for safe and efficient operation.

Any observations and information is greatly appreciated - thanks!

I didn’t realize it but I’m in Escondido also…

Small world!

Been here since 1975

 

[mike93lx]

I didn’t realize it but I’m in Escondido also…

Small world!

Been here since 1975

You didn't know where you live?

 

[Dig Doug]

You didn't know where you live?

Nope….

I bounce around a lot currently in my Az house.

Escondido is a small north county town ! You don’t see it on a lot on the forums, I guess, I could if worded it differently ….

 

[kbuhagiar]

we had a black iron steel pipe in Riverside, not that far north of you in the 70's, that rusted out in about 7 years, and leaked gas. Be sure to pressure test that existing pipe before trusting it.

Already done...thanks!

 

[Metal-Marc]

Not relevant to this discussion.

But a wood burning fire pit is awesome.

 

[jar944]

But a wood burning fire pit is awesome.

*If* you have a lot of firewood laying around. If you are paying $7-10 a bundle from the store, not so much.

 

[DeeDubz]

But a wood burning fire pit is awesome.

Its great but maybe the OP doesn't wanna smell like a camp fire. I have two fire bowls next to my pool. They burn Nat gas. At least in the area Im in you can get away with nat gas or propane. If you burn wood 9 times out of 10 your neighbor is gonna call the fire dept. Also need a mesh cover over the fire pit if you do burn wood. Most of the time down where im at in so cal. You can only use wood if your cooking....