Gas Firepits: Safety and Maintenance

Gas fire pits are easy to use but there are safety factors that are important to consider.
As cooler weather approaches more people look towards firepit use to create both warmth and ambiance outdoors. With a growing number of consumers purchasing gas fueled fire pits, the no brainer, quick fire-lighting convenience with no messy ashes, can leave people with a false sense of security. However, dangers do exist. If you own a gas firepit or, are thinking of purchasing one, here are a few safety tips. And once you are done reading those. Take a look at cleaning and maintenance.

Gas Firepit Safety

1. You can help prevent accidental fires by keeping the area around your firepit free from combustible materials. This can include cleaning materials like mops, brooms, newspapers but more importantly, gasoline and cleaning fluids.
2. Inspect and clean burners regularly. Insects such as spiders can actually nest in the burners and block air flow. If this happens a fire can start behind the valve panel.
3. Be sure to keep electric cords and power supplies away from the fire pit.
4. Don’t use your gas fire pit in a windy area. If you need to do so create a windbreak.
5. Never line a gas firepit with tin foil.
6. Don’t use your firepit as a storage area for flammable materials or plastic items which can ignite.
7. Never leave children unattended around fire pit when in use.

Cleaning and Maintenance

1. One of the most important considerations is to keep the burner free from obstruction. If you have gas logs you will want to periodically remove them so as to be able to inspect the burner. If the burner is dirty, clean it with a soft brush. Also remove any dirt or lint in this area. By doing this you will ensure trouble-free operation. For more information see: http://www.everything-patio-furniture.com/patio-fireplace.htm

As you can see most of the safety tips provided are common sense. By staying alert to the potential dangers and keeping up on cleaning and maintenance, nothing can stop you from enjoying your outdoor fire!

Nicole Martins is a contributing writer and researcher for Everything Patio Furniture. Find information and reviews on popular outdoor furniture and patio heaters. For more information about outdoor fire pits, please visit http://www.everything-patio-furniture.com/outdoor-fire-pit.htm

By Nicole Martins
Published: 9/30/2006

 
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