Let’s talk outdoor gas fireplaces

[joseywales]

Already have gas outdoors. Want to add a fireplace.

- I’ll look up code, but does it need to be further from my house than my pool heater was?

- vent free - why vent free for outdoors, just to save having a chimney/vent?

- most seem to be firebox only. Any sites that show ideas or plans for finishing the surround? Might be a fun masonry project.

Anything else you want to add

Thanks

 

[jack stand]

You got something against firewood?

 

[4x4Pete]

My neighbor has a gas fire pit on his raised deck. They like it. They use it at night throughout the week and whenever it's convenient. He says that his wife doesn't care for the lingering smoky smell from a real fire. The convenience is definitely there but I find that the propane or natural gas fire pits have a bad smell. Kind of like a small engine exhaust when first started up but it stays that way. I prefer wood fires, not too convenient for location or weeknights but they don't give ne a headache.
To the op- I doubt they need to be anything like 10' for a pool heater, the input is way less than that so clearances should be much less, like 3 feet. For a real looking fire pit a chimney wouldnt be wanted. If you build an outdoor masonry fireplace a gas log might do the trick.

 

[larry4406]

Put in a pizza oven while at it!

Mezzo™ Vent Free Combo Fireplace Oven | Stone Age Manufacturing

The Mezzo™ vent free fireplace-oven combines a 36″ vent free gas fireplace with our Mezzo™ wood fired oven, mounted in a custom enclosure reminiscent of the scratch built ovens of old.

stoneagemanufacturing.com

 

[kbeefy]

- vent free - why vent free for outdoors, just to save having a chimney/vent?

You and the fireplace will have plenty of fresh air outside, therefore a vent free works fine. No exhaust on your propane grill, right?

One of my friends recently put a gas fire feature in his back yard using a concrete pre-cast ring and filled it with gravel. Looks really nice and was cheap.

 

[Carguy99]

love mine use it all the time. Mine has no smell. I have a big wood pit on the other side of the property. this is so easy light it and when done turn it off and go inside…

 

[zippyslug31]

We just have a propane firepit, but it's been pretty nice. When I built my patio, I also planned out the base for the firepit body using the same pavers. I routed PVC plumbing under the pavers which I eventually ran my gas line through which gives a clean look. We have two large tanks which lasts forever (not sure the size, but they stand about 5' tall). I love this thing but my only criticism is that the pilot components (thermo pile, pilot jet, etc) tend to get fouled with soot, so I have to clean them on occasion. That could be one argument against going propane, but beyond that, I'd build this again in a heartbeat.

 

[larry4406]

Did this vent free unit for a customer on the rear screened porch.

 

[TRITOON]

I have a gas fire pit and i love it. I've done cutting, stacking, rotating wood, lighting it, worrying about wind direction, waiting for it to die down or putting water on it and potentially messing up the brick, and everyone smelling like smoke and needing showers afterwards.

Give me a beer and i can turn a gas knob and press the pilot lighter. When everyone is done, it goes off and i go inside and go to bed.

 

[Gimane]

Did this vent free unit for a customer on the rear screened porch.

Looks great! What about smell?

 

[larry4406]

Looks great! What about smell?

It did come out very nice. Was a PIA due ****** plans which left a lot to my and the framers imagination.

Honestly I can’t say anything about the smell. This was a natural gas ventless unit. Very tall ceilings (12-14’?) and screened porch so maybe that helped?

I only ran it a few times while under construction - prove it worked after completed, ran it for the inspector, lit it for the photographer, demonstrated it to the customer, then exited stage left after settlement.

I know the customer uses it quite a bit and the office has not received any complaints.

 

[gmcgeo]

Why do you want a vent outdoors? most all lp or ng fireplaces for outdoors are vent free.

 

[TRITOON]

Looks great! What about smell?

I'm not a huge fan of ventless indoors. Safety aspect mostly, but im also not fond of the smell or moisture build up. No matter what anyone says, if you are burning it in a modern house you will have build up of gases eventually. Direct vent no question.

But outdoors on a screened/screen less porch i wouldn't have any hesitation about putting one there. 3 or 4 season room (with glass windows), i would go with direct vent.

 

[ATC]

I have a gas fire pit and i love it. I've done cutting, stacking, rotating wood, lighting it, worrying about wind direction, waiting for it to die down or putting water on it and potentially messing up the brick, and everyone smelling like smoke and needing showers afterwards.

Give me a beer and i can turn a gas knob and press the pilot lighter. When everyone is done, it goes off and i go inside and go to bed.

I agree...and this is from someone who has used wood all his life.

I'm thinking about converting my little pit to propane someday soon:

 

[GreenIron]

I began building a firepit last June (2021). Been working on it in-between all of the other project here at our new place. It took a year to complete. I purchased bricks to match the house, poured a concrete slab (piping laid in for gas and igniter) and used concrete steppingstones for the caps.

It's a wood burning pit with the option as a gas fired pit. Plans are to build a 18' x 22' pavilion (with concrete slab) over this area in the next couple years and install a drop-in pan and fire-glass to operate on gas.

A friend donated some used refractured bricks for the inside. I had to buy a few extra to complete the vertical inside walls. The bottom refractured bricks are not mortared in. Prior concreting the base, I dug a pit and laid in a 2" diameter galvanized pipe (for drainage) and set sand and rock above the pipe. Rainwater is able to run through the no-mortared refractured bottom bricks and drain to the back side of the wooden fence.





Until the Money Gods send relief for the pavilion build, we'll enjoy wood fires.