With autumn starting to creep in and nighttime coming a little earlier every day, for many people it’s time to start saying goodbye to outdoor entertaining. But if you really love a good barbecue and an evening conversation out in fresh air, you aren’t totally out of luck when summer starts to wane. Fire pits, fireplaces, and other fire features make a pretty solid replacement for late evening summer sunshine, and can help you stretch out your outdoor season, even in cooler climates. Bonus? If you’re looking to do a large update (either for this year or next), fire pits have started to become a common add-on for many outdoor sets.
Why Bother With A Fire Pit?
There are a huge variety of fire features you can add to an outdoor space, from big rough hewn rock-and-sand bonfire pits to delicate and sophisticated table toppers. But what they all hold in common is that they produce heat and light that chases back chilly autumn night air around a small area, allowing you and your friends and family to gather outside while still staying warm and comfortable. Unlike big outdoor heaters, these won’t make your space warm enough to enjoy in the dead of winter in a cooler climate, but they will provide enough heat to keep you feeling cozy on a long evening.
What Do Fire Pits Look Like?
What kind of fire pit or fireplace you want will depend a lot on what your outdoor space looks like, where you want to put it, and what kind of fuel it uses. Wood burning fire pits are usually stone or metal; they’re typically quite large, heavy, and in the case of stone, almost always stationary. Fire pits that burn a liquid or gas fuel, on the other hand, can be much more compact and lightweight. They’re still hefty enough to stay stable, but not so weighty that once you put them down, they’re in place for good. That said, the fire pits that come paired with outdoor seating sets are almost never stone; rather, they’re either small and brazier-like (for mobility), or integrated directly into a table paired with the set.
Why Buy A Fire Pit As Part Of A Set?
You can certainly buy a fire pit or other fire feature on its own rather than as part of a seating set. But there are a few big benefits to purchasing them together. Maybe the most obvious one is simply that they look good; a complete set will not only be nicely matching, but will be comfortable to use together. Buying fire pits in this way is also a good way to strike a balance between price and quality. Regardless of what type of fuel they use, stone fire pits can be quite expensive to set up. Similarly, freestanding wood-burning fire pits made of metal range from very poor quality on the cheaper end, and hugely expensive (and heavy) once you reach the more elegant and artistic designs.
What’s The Best Type Of Fuel For A Fire Pit?
The type of fuel your fire feature uses is also much more than just a question of aesthetics. First, you’ll need to think about availability: how easy is the fuel to obtain, and how expensive? You also need to be sure the type of fuel you want to use will work in the space you have. Wood fires in particular must be well ventilated; propane is cleaner-burning, but you shouldn’t use it in a space with a low overhang. Different types of fuel will also produce different levels of heat and light, burn for different durations, and can be easier or more difficult to extinguish.
Propane-burning fire pits are among the most commonly paired with outdoor furniture. They generally consist of a small, fireproof basin built into the top of a table that conceals the propane tank. You can adjust the heat and flame levels, and the fire will stay lit about as long as you’d expect from a propane grill with a similar sized tank. You can also find fire pits that use a liquid biofuel made of ethanol. Ethanol is made from plant byproducts and burns more cleanly than propane, but you won’t find it in tanks at your local gas station. Rather, it’s a bottled liquid you pour into a basin and light. Ethanol produces heat and light levels more similar to wood fueled flames, but without the mess.
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Can Fire Pits Be Used For Cooking?
Most fire pits that come paired with outdoor seating sets are freestanding, but only single-purpose – aka, they’re often shaped like a table, but not usable as one. But on rare occasion it’s possible to find a fire pit incorporated into a dining set, where the fire serves as a centerpiece of a larger table. This is a much rarer setup, but one I like a lot – especially ones that also feature an add-on grill that not only allows you to chat, but also to cook and eat right around the table. While this might be a little too toasty for a hot summer day, it’s the perfect way to see the summer season in and out when you’ve got the will to spend your evening outside, but the warmth isn’t quite there!
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