Outdoor fire pits are great investments to spruce up outdoor spaces with warmth and natural light, but there are a few things to consider before making your purchase. For most people, the ease, convenience, and minimal maintenance of gas fire pits make them a better option than wood-burning ones, but there are a few reasons to choose logs over gas.

Fire Pit Safety

Fire pits are designed with safety in mind but dealing with flames always carries inherent risks and the potential for injury. The type of fuel that you use will ultimately determine how safe your fire is, which means there are a few things to consider before choosing your setup.

Propane tanks are designed with effective safety features that keep them from becoming dangerous so they can be activated and left alone. High-quality gas-burning stoves include durable connection points to keep gas from leaking during operation, which is why they are always a safer bet than wood-burning fire pits. Remember that propane canisters can be defective, so always be cautious if the tank is leaking or you can smell when the valve is closed.

Safety around wood-burning fireplaces requires more awareness and effort than propane tanks since wood leaves residue behind and can be unpredictable. Your fire might send off flying embers or grow out of control depending on the types of wood that you use, so always make sure you have a fire safety plan when burning wood. Also, keeping your wood-burning fire pit clean is a must to make sure old soot doesn’t contribute to out-of-control fires.

Feeding the Fire Pit

When it comes to adding fuel to your fire pit, there’s no doubt that propane is the most convenient option. Gas burning pits only require that you simply hook up to a gas line or install a propane tank to keep the fire going for hours without maintenance. This is great if you want the warmth and atmosphere of a good fire without having to pay close attention to it.

On the other hand, burning wood logs in your fire pit gives you the experience of being in control of the flames while enjoying the aroma of different types of wood. If the natural and unique feel of sitting around a fire that is created by more than just pushing a button is appealing for you, then go with a wood-burning pit like the Lunar Artisan Steel Fire Bowl, but if convenience is what you seek then check out the Rome Granite Gas Burning Table.

Fire Pit Maintenance

When it comes to cleaning, propane fire pits again prove themselves to be the more convenient option over wood burning. Since natural gas is clean-burning, you don’t have to worry about scooping ashes out after each fire. That means that they will continue to look good after many uses with very minimal upkeep but remember to regularly check the quality of hoses and connection points for wear, tear, and damage.

Since burnt wood leaves behind ashes and soot, it’s only a good idea to get one if you’re willing to clean them regularly. It’s also important to realize that propane fire pits can be turned off by simply flipping a switch or pushing a button while wood fires must be allowed to die down or extinguished another way. But if you plan on using your fire pit to roast marshmallows, remember that they will taste like propane if cooked over a gas flame.

You may also want a wood-burning fire pit if you garden or compost since wood ash is acidic and useful for adding potassium to the soil. Remember that ash will have more or less of this nutrient depending on the age and quality of logs. Vegetables grow best in soil that has a Ph of 6.5 and using ash to make the soil more alkaline can help balance the Ph level.

Therefore, investing in a wood-burning fire pit such as the Patriot Steel Fire Pit is a great idea if you garden and compost.

Cost of Fire Pit Fuel

One of the biggest considerations of buying a fire pit is the cost of fueling it. While propane pits offer clean-burning convenience and minimal maintenance, their fuel typically costs more than logs and other pieces of wood.

It may be a good idea to have both a wood-burning pit and a propane pit to diversify your economic options. Many fire pit users have both since stocking up on propane when gas prices are low and using wood when gas prices are high can save you money in the long run.

But wood is pretty much always the best economic option, especially if you source the fuel yourself. If you harvest firewood from forests or other areas, make sure that you have proper permissions and focus on sustainable awareness like not overharvesting. You can also find scrap wood from wood shops and discarded pallets to burn but remember to avoid painted and treated wood since burning these will create toxic fumes and may affect your fire pit’s finish.

The bottom line is that depending on where you are, buying wood is generally cheaper than buying natural gas to fuel your fire pit.

Environmental Impact

Natural gas burns cleanly to create less CO2 than wood fuel. This means that propane is a better option for reducing your carbon footprint, but it’s important to keep in mind that harvesting natural gas is oftentimes dangerous for the environment.

Although wood fires create more volatile compounds, they are a better option since trees are renewable resources, and harvesting them is generally better for the environment than producing natural gas. This is highly dependent on your region, but it’s safe to assume that wood fuel is the greener option for your fire pit.

Whether you’re harvesting firewood by hand with an ax or using a machine like a chainsaw, always remember to follow best conservation practices.