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Deciding on a Gas vs Wood Fire Pit

The question of installing a gas or wood-burning fire pit is a pivotal decision that most homeowners slightly struggle with. On a surface-level, whether you choose gas or wood, your fire pit will still function perfectly and create the perfect recreational area for your friends and family. However, there are slight differences between the two options that you should keep in mind.
To help you narrow down which option is best for you, we’ve put together this list of five points of consideration that you should discuss with your family. As your fire pit team, us at WNY Fire Pits will help you through every step of the process to ensure the best decision was reached.

Five Things to Consider when Choosing a Wood or Gas-Burning Fire Pit

1. Availability of Fire Pit Materials

For some, the decision between using gas or wood in their fire pit comes down to a simple issue: availability.

If you live in a remote area that would require a longer drive to be able to replenish the gas for your fire pit, using a wood-burning fire pit may be a better option for you. Similarly, people within cities may have trouble finding wood to burn that doesn’t cost more than they’re comfortable spending.
It’s a balancing act that depends on your locale and how far (or how little) you’re willing to drive to keep up a good stock of materials for your fire pit so that you can enjoy it whenever the mood strikes.

2. Storing Wood (or Propane) for your Fire Pit

Storing both wood and propane for your fire pit is another point to consider when deciding between these two options.
Wood-burning fire pits require an additional space where wood can be stored safely. A proper storage area will be covered, dry, and is situated away from the house to minimize fire hazards and exposure to termites that may be within your wood.
Propane-burning fire pits require canisters which must also be stored properly, though some are able to be hidden with design, landscaping, or by running a longer line to a gas tank that’s situated further from the pit itself.

3. Fire Pit Burn Type

Though both gas and wood fire pits obviously burn and create the fires so many of us enjoy spending time by, there is a difference between what we can the “burns” of these two methods.

Wood Fire Pit

Many homeowners like to consider the impact that their fire pit may have on the environment. Wood is a renewable resource, which is a bonus to many. However, wood is less of a “clean” burn than gas is.
This means that embers and smoke from your wood-burning fire pit may slightly sting the eyes of those around the fire pit, and the smoke created will be released into the atmosphere. As a result, it’s important to consider if your friends or family may have difficulty the

Gas Fire Pit

Gas, on the other hand, is a non-renewable resource. This is a negative for many, but gas does have something else going for it: a cleaner burn that produces less irritating smoke and is better for family members with asthma and the environment.

Because both wood and gas have pros and cons, this factor really comes down to whether or not someone in your family (or neighborhood) may have difficulty with one type or the other.

4. Ease of Maintaining Your Fire Pit

A final point of consideration is the ease with which you can personally use a gas or wood-burning fire pit.

Wood Fire Pit

With a wood-burning fire pit, you must know how to build a fire in order to use it with ease. This means that someone in the household should have previous experience or be willing to learn. Our skilled team is also available to help with tips and tricks to building the perfect wood-burning fire – just ask!

Wood-burning fire pits also need to be cleaned to keep the pit clear of debris. Leaves, old ash, charred logs, and embers must all be removed from your fire pit with regularity.

Many people find using wood-burning fire pits easy, traditional, and preferable so, if you aren’t a pro at starting off a fire yet, don’t be discouraged or dissuaded from this option.

Gas Fire Pit

With gas fire pits, it’s as easy as flipping a switch. For those who are seeking an easy and work-free experience with their fire pit, then gas may be the option for you.

When selecting to install a gas fire pit, you will need to hire good professionals to work with so that gas leaks can be avoided during the installation process and lifetime of use that your fire pit will undergo. Though these are rare, it’s an important point to consider.

Like we mentioned before, gas pits will also need to have a storage of gas available to keep the fire pit running. Make sure that these points are taken into consideration when deciding on the ease-factor of a gas or wood-burning fire pit.

For more information about the fire pit packages we have available, what’s best for your space, and whether or not a gas or wood-burning pit is right for you, please contact us and schedule a free estimate with our team.

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