How To Install A Gas Line For A Fire Pit

Putting a fire pit in your outdoor infinite is the perfect way to create a cozy gathering spot you and your guests tin can enjoy yr-circular. Before you commencement edifice the fire feature y'all've ever wanted, there are a few important details to nail down starting time.

Nosotros've broken down all the essential decisions you'll need to brand, the parts you'll need to purchase, and the condom precautions that must exist followed to consummate a Practise-It-Yourself fire pit successfully!

LOCATION

The starting time thing you lot'll need to decide is where your burn pit will go in your outdoor infinite.

Surface

Your fire pit must sit on a apartment, level surface, such every bit a patio, deck, or leveled yard.

If you're installing your burn down pit on a deck, you'll demand to look for a model that's approved for installation on flammable surfaces and add together a not-combustible base of operations underneath the burn down pit to prevent radiant rut from transferring to your deck.

Popular non-combustible base of operations materials approved for decks include bricks, pavers, Hardie Board, and Dura Rock.

We do not recommend installing your gas burn down pit on grass. Over time, the ground beneath your burn pit may shift, displacing your fire pit and causing bug with its safety and performance.

Proximity

When choosing your fire pit's concluding location, brand sure it will have at least six anxiety of clearance around the sides and above the burner.

Your burn down pit must exist at least 20-25 feet away from the business firm or whatsoever other flammable structure, such equally a shed or puddle house.

The verbal corporeality of clearance to combustibles required will depend on the type and size of your burn pit burner. Carefully read the clearance requirements outlined in the installation manual that comes with your burner organisation to brand sure you comply.

Check any city ordinances to make sure your fire pit is legal and will exist upwardly to code.

FUEL TYPE

Natural Gas

Using Natural Gas as your fuel source is ideal if you want to build a permanent fire characteristic for your outdoor space.

You will need to hire a licensed gas professional to install a Natural Gas line on your belongings and run it to your fire pit. Attempting to hook up a Natural Gas line yourself without the proper training tin result in a fire, serious injuries, or fifty-fifty expiry.

In one case your Natural Gas line is connected, your fire pit will receive a constant menstruum of gas, saving yous time and money on replacement Propane tanks.

Liquid Propane

On the other hand, Propane tanks allow you to build a more than portable fire characteristic and require minimal installation.

If you have a large Propane tank on-site, you tin can hire a gas professional to run a gas line clandestine that connects to your fire pit — similar a Natural Gas line — making it a permanent part of your outdoor space.

You'll demand to hire a licensed gas plumber to run a permanent gas line to the fire pit location.

Read more on the benefits of each fuel blazon here.

VENTILATION

No affair what kind of fire pit you're edifice, you'll need to include ventilation in the enclosure.

Ventilation provides fresh air for the ignition organisation to work properly, allows for continuous airflow and water drainage, and prevents gas and oestrus from building up inside your burn pit enclosure.

Without plenty ventilation, the gas and oestrus buildup within the enclosure could atomic number 82 to an explosion.

Ventilation should include at to the lowest degree 2 born air vents on opposite sides of the fire pit. If your burn pit doesn't have an open bottom, you can create adequate airflow by using risers to elevate the fire pit off the ground.

Liquid propane is heavier than air and will sink to the lesser of your fire pit. Install the air vents on opposite sides of the fire pit at the lesser of the base. Natural gas is lighter than air and will rising to the elevation of the burn down pit. Install the air vents on opposite sides of the fire pit at the top of the base. 

ENCLOSURE STYLES

The enclosure is the body of your fire pit. It stores the burner and gas and ignition components.

Many homeowners choose to build their enclosures out of masonry bricks, while others buy unfinished enclosures, which are available individually or equally a kit.

DIY fire pit kits brand building a fire pit from scratch much easier. Virtually come with all the components you'll need and include an unfinished enclosure or masonry bricks that you tin stack yourself.

For example, the unfinished gas burn pit kit by HPC features an enclosure with a welded steel frame and Hardie Board shell that can exist finished with rock, tile, masonry brick, or metal in the color of your choice to friction match your outdoor décor.

BURNERS & COMPONENTS

Burner

The most of import feature of your gas burn pit is the burner considering it's used to burn down the gas and determines the size and summit of the burn down.

Burners are bachelor in a wide range of shapes, sizes, materials, and BTU capacities. Enquiry the types available and their BTU outputs to ensure you get the proper flame presentation.

You can purchase a burner by itself, or y'all can get a fire pit burner kit, which comes with all the components you'll demand to get together your burner system.

There are also drop-in style burner bowls and troughs available that rest on the elevation ledge of your fire pit enclosure.

Check out our deep dive on fire pit burners to learn more than near how they work and all the styles bachelor!

Pan

Burner pans sit direct under the burner and concord your media, such as lava rock, fire drinking glass, or gas logs. While some burners get in with the pan already attached, other models require the pan to be purchased separately.

If you lot're buying a pan separately, yous'll need to consider the size and shape of the burn pit, and if yous'd like the pan to be recessed into the surface or sit affluent with the elevation.

You'll need to discover a burner pan with a diameter that'due south large enough to provide approximately iii inches of clearance from the sides of the burner to the edge of the pan.

Connectors & Fittings

Connectors and fittings are the components that sit down inside the fire pit enclosure and are used to route the gas to the burner.

These parts include a connector hose with fittings, which is a small, flexible pipage that attaches the gas valve to the burner and a gas regulator, valve, and orifice.

Flexible Gas Line

You'll want to avoid corrugated pipage, elbow connectors, and sharp turns in your flexible gas line; otherwise, your fire pit won't receive plenty gas flow, and you'll hear unpleasant whistling sounds when you employ information technology.

We recommend purchasing a whistle-free flexible line to connect the gas to your burner system for the all-time results.

You'll also need to ensure your gas line is the right size. The wrong size gas line volition prevent the correct amount of fuel from reaching your fire pit, resulting in depression flames and poor burner performance.

Y'all can avert low flames and poor burner performance by making sure you take the right size gas line to supply enough fuel to the burner. If you have an existing gas line that'due south the incorrect size, you can have it modified by a gas plumber.

Air Mixer

If you're using Liquid Propane, you'll need an air mixer. These work by pulling in fresh air to mix with the Propane earlier exiting the burner for combustion.

Air mixers must exist installed vertically and as shut to the burner as possible. If information technology'due south installed horizontally or is connected to an elbow, airflow will decrease, causing gas to leak out underneath the burner pan.

To make up one's mind which type of air mixer you need, refer to the manufacturer's requirements in the instruction transmission that comes with your burner system.

Some burner systems, such as the Bullet Burner by The Outdoor Plus, don't require an air mixer. These burners are equipped with small air mixers in each jet that create the perfect air-to-gas ratio, resulting in supercharged flames that fire cleaner while using less gas.

MEDIA & ACCESSORIES

Media

Media sits on top of the burner and pan to hide them from view and helps distribute the gas evenly for a natural flame pattern.

There are a variety of different media options available to achieve your desired look. If your style is more than traditional, nosotros recommend choosing ceramic gas logs or lava rock media. For a modernistic wait, consider adding a bed of fire glass, fireballs, or firestones.

Media should only cover the burner past one inch with proper gas force per unit area. If you lot're using a burner with jets, similar the Bullet Burner by The Outdoor Plus, you'll simply encompass the tube with media and leave the jets exposed. Your media can sit flush with the jets, or the jets can stick out a bit above the media.

Liquid propane will leave a sooty residue on burn glass. Consider using darker colored fire glass or lava rock to hide the appearance of soot. If you prefer lighter colored fire glass, you can easily clean the residue off past removing the burn glass and washing it in a saucepan of soapy water. Allow it air dry earlier placing it back on the burner.

Wind Guards & Covers

If you alive in a windy expanse, you lot'll desire to consider purchasing a glass wind guard, which wraps effectually the edges of your fire pit to shield the media and burner.

Not but does a wind guard preserve your flame presentation on windy days, only it also prevents stray sparks from floating out of your burn down pit.

Nosotros also always recommend putting a protective embrace over your fire pit when it'due south non in apply.

A durable, weatherproof cover protects your fire pit from harsh weather conditions and helps prevent rusting and deterioration, so yous can enjoy your new fire pit for years to come up!

IGNITION OPTIONS

The ignition organization is used to start and command the fire. Whether y'all prefer to calorie-free your fire pit manually or want the convenience of a remote-operated, automatic system, in that location's an ignition blazon available to fit your project.

Friction match-Lit Ignitions

Standard, match-lit ignition systems are budget-friendly and don't have whatsoever moving parts, making them incredibly easy to install and maintain.

Most friction match-lit systems include a burner, flexible gas line, gas shutoff valve, and an air mixer for Liquid Propane fire pits.

To operate a friction match-lit system, y'all'll simply open up the valve on your fuel supply, concur a lighter or matchstick over the burner, and slowly turn on the gas. Yous can then adjust the flame elevation by turning the included key valve.

The Small Tank Torpedo Match-Lit Fire Pit Insert by HPC is 1 of our most popular friction match-lit ignition systems. Information technology arrives with the burner and pan fully assembled, is uniform with Natural Gas and Liquid Propane, and features a Penta-shaped blueprint for campfire-like flames.

Push-Button Ignitions

Simply similar lighting a grill, button-button ignition systems operate with a bombardment-powered ignitor probe placed in the burner pan on a button module mounted on the fire pit. When yous button the button, the probe sends a spark to the burner to light your burn pit.

Though a footstep up from match-lit systems, push-button ignitions don't crave electricity.

Even though you won't need a source of electricity for your push-button spark ignition organisation, y'all volition need to make sure you have a solid earth connection for the grounding wire of the spark ignitor.

The Push-Button Ignition Burn Pit Kit by HPC comes with everything you'll need for your fire project, including a stainless steel pan and fire ring that won't rust or corrode as your fire pit sits out in the elements. It besides features a Penta-shaped burner for tall, full flames and up to 150,000 BTUs of heat!

Automated Ignitions

Automatic, as well known as electronic, ignitions are the most expensive ignition option and typically require an electrical connexion. They provide the highest level of safety and offer y'all the simplest and most convenient style to light your fire.

You can rent a licensed electrician to install a power line and route it to your burn down pit, or you can purchase a bombardment-powered organisation.

All automatic ignitions include a flame-sensing pilot feature that monitors the flame in your fire pit and shuts off the fuel supply if the fire e'er goes out.

Fire pits equipped with automatic ignitions can exist controlled by a wall switch, remote control, Bluetooth app, or smart home system.

CONTROLS

Now, you'll need to determine how you lot want to command the gas and fire.

Based on the ignition system y'all cull, in that location are three different command options, including:

Key Valve - A shutoff valve mounted at the burn down pit base of operations is used to control the amount of gas flow to the burner.

Control Knob - A control knob opens and closes the gas valve, which turns the gas on and off. A push-button ignitor placed in the burner pan creates a spark that ignites the burn.

Remotes & Wall Switches – Exclusively used with electronic ignition systems, hand-held remotes let you turn the burn pit on and off from anywhere in your outdoor infinite. Some remotes even allow you lot to suit the flame acme. Alternatively, if you lot take an automatic ignition system, you tin have your fire pit wired to a unproblematic wall switch for quick on/off operation.

Call FOR Fill-in

In one case you have all your fire pit components picked out, it's time to put them all together. Doing everything yourself to salvage some money may be tempting, but the risks associated with installing your gas fire pit incorrectly far outweigh the cost of hiring a professional.

Hiring a trained gas professional is the best form of activity you lot can take to forbid potential burn hazards, injury, or death and ensure your fire pit is operating the way information technology's designed to.

A gas professional person will be able to appraise your property quickly, install a Natural Gas line, correctly hook up your fire pit, and check for gas leaks and weak connexion points.

WHY SHOULD You Rent A PROFESSIONAL?

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

At present that you have everything picked out, nosotros'll walk you through how your components fit together in both transmission and automatic ignition systems.

Only think, this is non something you should practise yourself. When it comes to gas and electrical installations, it's imperative to have them washed by licensed professionals.

Manual Ignition

Beginning, the gas line is routed to the location of the burn down pit, and the enclosure kit is placed on top.

Side by side, one side of the key valve is connected to the gas stub and the other to the flex hose. The flex hose is connected to an air mixer (only with Propane), then the air mixer to the pan and the burner to the pan.

Before setting the burner and pan in place, you'll exam for gas leaks at each connexion (burner to air mixer, air mixer to flex hose, flex hose to key valve, and key valve to stub).

After the gas connections are tested and ready to go, you'll gear up the pan and burner into identify.

Next, y'all'll check the ignition and burner to ensure the gas flows adequately and the burner produces the desired flame presentation.

The flame blueprint may non look completely accurate at this indicate since in that location isn't media on top to disperse the gas flow, but yous'll be able to run into if the gas pressure is off (low flames) or if the burner isn't working correctly.

This diagram illustrates what installation will await like with a push-button ignition.

Once you lot've determined everything is working as information technology should, you'll plow the fire pit off and fill the pan with media, adding enough to cover the burner by one inch (allow the burner cool start).

Next, you'll finish the outside of the enclosure with your desired finishing material.

Finally, turn information technology on, make sure the flames look skilful, and sit back and savour the fire!



Automatic (Electronic) Ignition System

Automatic ignition systems require both gas and electricity to function. Most automatic ignitions are hardwired, plugged in, or bombardment powered. How you want to control the fire pit will make up one's mind how your electrician will do the installation.

You should also consider including a gas shut-off valve approximately 20 feet away from the burn down pit. This will ensure you tin can cut the gas supply off to the burn down pit in case of an emergency.

Any fire pit that we sell for a commercial application (restaurant, hotel, multi-family application, etc.) must include an automated ignition system, emergency stop button, and a timer.

First, gas is routed to the location of the gas shut-off valve, then to the fire pit. Next, if you take hardwired power, a junction box will be installed remotely from the burn down pit, and for plug-in power, an outdoor-rated outlet will be installed inside the fire pit.

From hither, you'll follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing your particular automated ignition organisation.

When information technology comes time to exam your gas connections, you'll also demand to check the automated ignition organization to make sure your electric connections are working.

Once you've determined the gas and electrical systems are working every bit they should, you lot'll add the media, covering the burner by 1 inch, finish the enclosure, then run another test burn down to make sure the flames await proficient.

Sit down dorsum and relish!

WE'RE Here TO Aid

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Source: https://www.woodlanddirect.com/how-to-build-a-gas-fire-pit.html

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