The Pros and Cons of Backyard Firepits
For many homeowners, having an outdoor fire pit is ideal. For a good reason, the thought of having a patio in the backyard with a designated area for bonfires is immediately alluring.
A fire pit may be used for any occasion, whether you want to relax with your family or host outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. A fire pit is an excellent addition to any outdoor gathering space since it can provide warmth and a cozy atmosphere and even function as a basic BBQ.
You may pick a fireplace best suited to your house from several available styles. Aside from staying warm on a winter night, fire pits are also a lot of fun to use as cooking equipment and a source of excellent entertainment.
When you decide to install a fire pit in your house, there are a few essentials you should be aware of. You must know the advantages and disadvantages of fire pits because exposed flames provide particular concerns.
What Are Fire Pits?
Fire pits stylishly lengthen the outdoor-living season. They range from portable metal bowls set up anywhere to fixed stone wells that are a gathering place on a patio or a piece of grass. More than ever, customers are adopting fire pits for multi-seasonal living and entertainment. Fire pits have a nostalgic appeal for many, conjuring up cozy nights spent around the campfire.
All that is needed to create a fire pit is a hole to enclose a fire properly. A hole in the ground can be dug for this, or it might be more challenging to hollow out a brick or granite pillar. For safety reasons, a wood-burning fire pit should be placed at least ten feet (three meters) away from nearby buildings.
What are Fire Pits For?
Fire pits can keep you comfortable when you want to spend a pleasant evening outside or with friends and family. Even if the nights are getting chillier, you can afford to spend time outside by sitting in front of an open fire. A fire pit is a great way to produce more ash at once if you ever need to make it for garden nutrients, to clean your driveway, or for any other use that requires ash.
Pros and Cons of Having a Backyard Firepit
Having an outdoor fire pit comes with a few drawbacks. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of buying an outdoor fire pit is crucial.
Pros
Family can enjoy pleasant evenings outside.
You may enjoy pleasant evenings outdoors in your yard thanks to backyard fire pits. After a long day at work, it might be fantastic to unwind by relaxing in front of your fire pit. For an even more soothing experience, you can order a cold beer or another beverage.
Increases your property value
Backyard fire pits are enduring features. They are also beautiful and are a focal point for your outdoor space. Fire pits can significantly increase a property’s value. A backyard fire pit will be a significant plus for potential buyers if you decide to sell your property. Better offers will undoubtedly follow, enabling you to sell your house for a higher price.
Installing a backyard fire pit is simple.
Additionally, installing most outdoor fire pits is relatively easy. In reality, you may frequently be able to install your fire pit by yourself, provided you have a certain amount of technical understanding.
This implies that you can construct a fire pit in a few hours if you order one or buy one from your neighborhood home improvement store. You should follow all safety precautions to prevent any unpleasant shocks or mishaps.
Perfect for kids who like playing outdoors
If you have kids, who like playing outside, having an outdoor fireplace in your yard might improve your quality of life. Your children may learn a lot about nature and why it is vital to preserving it in the best way possible. Getting a fire pit may also make sense from an environmental standpoint, even though it also implies some emissions from burning wood or gas. Suppose your children grow up in those natural environments. In that case, they are much more likely to behave environmentally friendly when they age.
Various fire pit designs are available.
Regarding fire pits, you may select from a wide variety of styles. A few decades ago, the options for fire pits were minimal, but today, the options are practically limitless. Fire pits have been created by designers all around the world that combine convenience and functionality with a nice aesthetic.
If you look around for a time, you’ll also find the fire pit that perfectly complements the overall design of your yard.
Cons
Fire pits in the backyard can be hazardous.
The fact that outdoor fire pits may be somewhat hazardous is one issue. There will always be a slight chance of explosions or other catastrophes since your fire pit has to burn wood or gas. This may occur due to improper fire pit installation or faulty construction materials.
Fire pit accidents can happen regularly despite the relatively low hazards, so you should be aware of this risk before constructing an outdoor fire pit.
Maintenance
Like any other permanent outdoor fixture, fire pits need regular, consistent upkeep to be completely functional and visually attractive. That entails covering fire pits during inclement weather, routinely brushing out debris and charcoal, power washing them, and applying a rust-prevention treatment to the metal parts.
Space is required for fire pits.
Additionally, it would be best if you didn’t disregard the space needed for outdoor fire pits.
Even if the pit itself may not be giant, it can occupy a significant amount of area, especially if you situate it in the middle of your garden.
Therefore, when purchasing a fire pit, take your time and organize your project carefully to prevent any later unpleasant shocks.
There's a chance that your neighbors won't like the smell.
While some neighbors won’t have any issues with your fire pit, some can be more challenging. You should be careful to avoid getting into any disputes with your neighbors over your fire pit since some neighbors may not like the scent of it, primarily if it is powered by wood or even coal.
Guests are also at risk from unattended fire pits.
Another drawback of backyard fire pits is that you risk injuring your visitors, at least if you don’t adequately protect the area surrounding your fire pit.
Frequently, your guests won’t be aware of the possible risks posed by your fire pit, so you must take the necessary precautions and adequately warn them so that you won’t be held accountable for any potential mishaps that could occur.
Things To Consider Before Having a Fire Pit In Your Backyard
- Never set up a fire pit on top of grass (place it on a level non-combustible surfaces such as pavers or concrete).
- The pit should be placed at least three meters away from buildings or flammable materials.
- Never let the fire in the pit burn unattended.
- A garden hose or fire extinguisher should always be nearby.
- Select the appropriate fuel type and size for the intended use region. Consider a modest model and gas if you’re purchasing a fire pit for a balcony to avoid creating too many flames or heat.
- Using a metal cover, which you must separately purchase, is the best way to put out your fire pit. Otherwise, you might use soil or sand. Water is another option, although it might produce a lot of waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before lighting the fire, you should set a pit closer than 10 feet from anything combustible, such as your house or hanging tree branches. Put the pit somewhere other than a wood deck, enclosed porch, or grassy area unless the owner’s manual expressly permits it.
Your fire pit’s fuel source is propane. It is a clean-burning fuel source. This indicates that after burning, it almost leaves no pollutants or particles behind. Nothing smells because it has all been burnt away.
Depending on how carefully you take care of it, a fire pit may last anywhere from a year to a lifetime. If you take care of your fire pit properly, it will stay dry for approximately a year. But it may last a lifetime if you take good care of it.
Although having a bucket of water around isn’t the most excellent solution for this, water may quickly and easily put out a fire in your fire pit. A garden hose with a multi-pattern nozzle is necessary if you use water to burn the flames.
Key Takeaways
A fire pit is used in the same ways a typical campfire can: for cooking, toasting marshmallows over an open flame, or just as a warm and spacious source of light that lets you spend your evenings and nights outdoors for a change. People seldom invest in fire pits because they don’t need them, but those who frequently come to appreciate the many benefits that owning a fire pit delivers.
Whether its for aesthetic purposes or you have something functional plans you have in mind, you have to consider all the benefits and drawbacks of installing fire pits on your backyard. To help you with these kind of decision, never hesitate to reach out to your trusted outdoor fit pits installer. These will save you from a lot of problems and costs later on.
