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Parts Needed for Your Fire Pit
Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of items required to complete your fire pit project. While we may not offer every component for every gas connection, your local hardware store is an excellent resource for specific parts and personalized touches. In addition to our diverse selection of DIY fire pit parts, you will need paver stones, sand, gravel, a 4-foot leveling device, a shovel, and a rubber mallet.
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Things to Consider Before Building Your Gas Fire Pit
Professional Gas Line Installation
It is important to remember that making gas connections is not a complete “Do It Yourself” project. Before you do anything, you'll need to contact a licensed professional to determine if your gas setup will be able to handle the additional load of a gas fire pit. They can also identify any problems and make corrections before the installation to achieve the best results. Remember, all gas connections should be made by a qualified technician and in accordance with local codes and ordinances.
Gas Fuel Types
When deciding on a fuel type, there are several considerations to keep in mind. Compared to natural gas, bulk or bottled propane is more cost-effective to operate, but you will end up spending more on setup. When installing the gas line, keep in mind that variables like length, width, and pressure will affect the flame height. Pressure drops across distance so it is crucial to verify that your gas lines can handle the additional pressure and volume. This is where the trade-off comes in. It is more convenient to hook up a portable propane tank than install a new gas line, but refilling the tank is anything but. This is why a natural gas fire pit is ideal if your property already includes a natural gas line serviced by your local utility company. As always, you should have a licensed professional connect your gas line to your fire pit.
Choose the Right Sized Burner
Contrary to common popular belief, larger burners don’t necessarily result in bigger flames. Beyond a certain point, bigger burners can diminish flame height. For safety, it is advised to choose a fire pit ring that is 12 inches narrower than the inside diameter of your fire pit. For instance, if the inside diameter measures 42 inches, opt for a 30-inch fire pit ring. This not only establishes a secure buffer between the heat and your fire pit’s edge but also contributes to an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Ventilation
Early in your project, choose your fuel type and incorporate proper ventilation. Given that propane gas is heavier than air, install vents as low as possible to facilitate the escape of any unburned gas. Conversely, natural gas, being lighter than air, requires vents positioned higher on your build to allow for the rise of gas. Additionally, ensure vents are placed on opposite sides of your fire pit’s circumference; this is a crucial safety measure preventing the collection of unburned gas, reducing the risk of an explosion in the event of a gas leak or flames blowing out.
Planning for Your Fire Pit
- Pick the spot where the fire pit is to be located. Level ground is best and will require less work to stack the stones evenly.
- Lay a ring of bricks and set the pan in to make sure the spacing is correct.
- Mark the outside of the ring with a shovel so that you can dig the foundation. Dig deep enough for one stone plus an inch of sand.
- Now is the time to run the gas line!
- Level the bottom of the hole with about an inch of sand.
Steps to Building a Gas Fire Pit
Step 1: Dry Stack Stones
After placing each layer, pause to ensure everything is level. If the stones are not level, gently tap them with a rubber mallet or remove gravel until they are even.
Step 2: Stagger the Layers
Alternate each layer so that the stones overlap the gap in the previous layer. This practice ensures structural stability, preventing your fire pit from toppling over.
Step 3: Add Gravel Layer
Add a layer of pea gravel to the bottom of the fire pit to help it drain. Plan to leave openings on both sides for the gas to properly vent. This is done by leaving a single stone out on each side. If your fire pit is using propane, leave this opening as low as possible. If it’s natural gas, the opening should be higher.
Step 4: Mount Gas Valve
Mount your control valve to the fire pit wall. If you have a paver block bracket, that’s probably your easiest option, but other perfectly fine methods to mount the control valve include drilling a hole into the stone or chipping a stop to fit the valve.
Step 5: Install Burner
Install the burner and burner pan. Then have a qualified technician make all the gas connections and test them before continuing. Shop Fire Pit Burners with Pans
Step 6: Place Final Layer
Once all connections have been tested, place the final layer of stones around the fire pit.
Step 7: Fill the Burner Pan
Fill the burner pan with fire glass or lava rock no more than 1 inch above the burner. Lava rock and ceramic logs will give your fire pit a traditional look, while fire glass is ideal if a more modern look is wanted. Shop Fire Pit Glass
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