When the weather starts to get cooler, many homeowners start to think about adding a fire pit to their outdoor space. They’re not just great for roasting s‒mores — fire pits are also an awesome way to bring friends and family together while also giving you a fantastic light show that is almost magical. In addition to being a great focal point in your backyard, fire pits can also be a safe way to keep you and your loved ones warm on chilly evenings. Unfortunately, though, as with any other type of fire, there are some risks involved with having one outside your home. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide on gas fire pit safety — so you can have all the benefits without any of the downsides.
Check the Location of Your Propane TankBefore you do anything else, check the location of your propane tank. If you’re going to be positioning a fire pit near your home, make sure that the tank for your gas appliances is as far away from the area where you plan to put your fire pit as possible. Ideally, you’d want to put some distance (at least 25 feet) between the two — so that, in the event of an accident, the fire can’t easily spread to your home and cause serious damage. If you’re unable to move your propane tank, there are a couple of things you can do to reduce the risk. The first thing is to make sure that the gas line that feeds your appliances is properly insulated. This can help prevent any potential damage to the line if the tank overheats. The other thing you can do is to make sure that your fire pit is positioned so that the wind can’t blow sparks toward your propane tank.
Install a Fire Pit With a ScreenYou’ll want to make sure that your fire pit comes with a screen to keep bugs and critters from getting inside of it. Although you might not think about it, there are actually a surprising number of bugs and critters that like to make their home in/near fire pits. If you don’t put a screen on your fire pit, you could end up with a lot of unwanted guests. Furthermore, insects and other creatures can easily get burned by a fire pit — which is bad news for them, but also not good news for you. An open fire pit is a great place for bugs to land. If they get too close to the flames and get burned, they will fall right into your fire pit and be close to your gas burner. Having bugs in your fire pit can cause problems, so you’ll want to make sure you have a screen to keep them out.
Make Sure There’s Plenty of Space to Move AroundIf you’re going to have a fire pit, you’ll want to make sure that there’s plenty of space around it — so that people don’t accidentally bump into the fire pit and knock it over. Falling coals and sparks can be extremely dangerous — so it’s important that you keep people as far away from the fire pit as possible. While you’re at it, you should also make sure that, if you have children, they are supervised when they are around the fire pit. Kids often don’t realize how dangerous fire and open flames can be — so it’s important to keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t come too close to the fire pit. Gas fire pit
Don’t Burn Anything Other than Natural Solid FuelBefore you put a fire pit in your backyard, you need to make sure that whatever you put in it is safe to burn. Many people choose to burn wood in their fire pit — which is completely fine. However, you should avoid burning things like paper and plastics — as these items will release toxic chemicals when they are burned. If you burn paper and other synthetic materials in your fire pit, you will release toxic chemicals into the environment — which can be bad for both people and animals. If you burn paper in your fire pit and there’s a strong wind blowing, the paper might fly out of the fire pit and start a fire somewhere else. You should also make sure that you don’t burn excessive amounts of paper and other synthetic materials in your fire pit — as this can cause your fire pit to get clogged.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Good VentilationWhen you’re designing your backyard, you need to make sure that there is plenty of ventilation around your fire pit — so that the smoke can be properly vented away from the area where you and your family are spending time. If the smoke from your fire pit isn’t properly vented away from the surrounding space, it can cause some serious health problems for you, your family, and your neighbors. The most common issue is that it can trigger a coughing fit — which can be incredibly disruptive, especially if you’re hosting a party. Other than triggering coughing fits, smoke also has the potential to trigger asthma attacks in people who are particularly sensitive to it.
ConclusionIf you follow the tips we’ve outlined in this article, you can rest assured that your fire pit will be perfectly safe. Of course, it’s important to note that, even if you follow all these tips, none of them will guarantee that your fire pit is 100% safe. There are some risks that are inherent to having a fire pit. However, if you follow these tips, you can greatly reduce the risk of your fire pit causing serious damage. And, best of all, with a fire pit, you can enjoy the benefits of the warm, cozy feeling that fire brings without the risk of getting burned. https://www.fernhill.ie/products/20/outdoor-heaters-firepits |
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