Want to infuse your outdoor living space with elegance and functionality? It’s time to invest in an outdoor fire pit. Whether you want to warm your toes on a chilly evening or roast marshmallows with your kiddos, a fire pit creates the cozy backyard atmosphere you’ve always dreamed about.
But how do you ensure your fire pit operates at peak performance and looks good for years to come? Check our detailed guide below.
To Burn or Not to Burn
Knowing what items you should and shouldn’t burn in a wood-burning fire pit will help you maintain it properly.
To Burn
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Dry, split wood: this is the best fuel for a wood-burning fire pit
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Small sticks and dead leaves: these items can assist in the fire starting process
Not to Burn
- Accelerants: accelerants, such as lighter fluid, can do more harm than good
- Trash: household trash can expel harmful toxins into the air
How to Extinguish Flames
The best way to extinguish flames in your fire pit is to let them die down on their own. If you’re in a rush, you can accelerate the flame extinguishing process by pouring water over them. However, cold or room temperature water can change the internal temperature too quickly and form cracks in the fire pit.
How to Remove Ashes
Once the wood burns up and the flames die down in your wood-burning fire pit, the process isn’t quite over. Here’s what you need to do with the leftover ashes from the fire pit:
- Shovel the ashes out of the fire pit to prevent the acidic particles from creating long-term damage and staining.
- Place the ashes in a sealed metal container after each fire.
- Once the container gets full, dispose of the ashes and start filling it up again.
Pro tip: Don’t collect the ashes until at least one full day after using the fire pit. This allows time for the hot ashes to cool before you transfer them to the metal container.
How to Clean Your Fire Pit
Now that you know what to burn, how to extinguish flames, and how to remove ashes, it’s time to cover how to clean your fire pit. The cleaning method you should follow will depend on the type of fire pit you have. Follow our cleaning guide below to keep your fire pit in tip-top shape all year long.
Masonry Wood-Burning Fire Pit
While masonry fire pits are an aesthetic addition to any backyard, their stone construction takes a little extra TLC to maintain. But don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with a few simple steps.
- Combine water and muriatic acid in a bucket
- Soak a durable sponge in the mixture, and with gloved hands scrub the stones thoroughly
- Rinse the fire pit with water
- Let the fire pit dry completely before resuming use
Metal Wood-Burning Fire Pit
Metal fire pits are a popular option among homeowners for their durability, functionality, and versatility. However, they’re also susceptible to rust formation. While you can’t always prevent rust from forming on your metal fire pit, you can remove it. Here’s how:
- Combine heavy-duty soap and water in a bucket
- Using a wire brush, scrub the surface with the soapy mixture
- You can take the extra step of layering on a protective coating (like clear coat) to prevent further rust build-up. The type of metal your fire pit is made of will determine what protective coating will best protect it from future rust formation.
Gas Fire Pit
With easy on/off operation, gas fire pits are extremely user-friendly. They’re also easy to clean and maintain because they don’t produce messy ashes that need to be disposed of. Here’s all you need to do to maintain the look of your gas fire pit:
- Clean the burners
- Keep an eye on the fuel lines and make sure they are organized and hooked up properly
Cooking Surfaces
One fire pit component you shouldn't forget to clean is the cooking surface. Whether you roast hot dogs or grill veggies, juices and food pieces will get left behind. This residue builds up over time and becomes more difficult to remove. We recommend cleaning any cooking surfaces used on your fire pit the same day they’re used; that way they’ll be ready to go the next time you use your fire pit.
Upgrade Your Backyard With an Outdoormarketplace Fire Pit
As the weather continues warming up, homeowners are spending more and more time outside. A great way to enjoy your outdoor living space this spring and summer is to invest in an Outdoormarketplace fire pit. Visit Outdoormarketplace to shop the propane gas, wood burning and DualHeat options to find one that best fits your outdoor living space.
Do you want access to year-round family fun in the comfort of your backyard? Browse our online collection to find the fire pit that’s right for your space.
Get Your Backyard Summer Ready With a Premium Outdoor Fire Pit