Outdoor relaxation has taken on a new appeal with the advent of outdoor fire pit units. It’s way easier to spend time outdoors without worrying about the temperatures of missing out on the plush furniture in your interiors because you can now readily replicate the same outdoors. Fire pits come in a variety of designs and are powered by various sources. If you are looking to use a gas fire pit—which is more energy efficient—you might need to consider the best type of gas for your home. In this guide, we’ll explore various types of fire pit gas and which is best for your home.
Types of Gas Fire Pits: Advantages and Disadvantages
Ready to make the transition from bio-fuel sources such as charcoal and firewood? Great! When it comes to gas fire pits, there are two options available to work with—natural gas and propane gas. They work as great fuel sources for fire bowls, fire pits, and fire pit tables.
Natural gas:
Fire pits fueled with natural gas are a great option if you want your fire pit or fire pit table to be installed permanently in a specific location. It works great if you have an existing supply line of natural gas in your home. The great thing about this fuel source is that you won’t have to worry about exhausting your gas supply while the fire pit is in use.
One thing you’ll however need to do would be to get professional help to install the fire pit and connect it to your gas supply, as it’s not something you can do on your own. The challenge with this is that it can be pretty expensive to install. Once you do this, you’ll have access to natural gas, which would be a cheaper option over propane gas. Another great perk is that the fire from your fire pit table or unit will be bigger and warmer since the flow of the gas will be unrestricted.
There are a lot of ecological benefits to using natural gas as well. Unlike other gas types, the toxins emitted during burning are greatly reduced compared to others. The methane composition in natural gas yields a small amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which makes it cleaner and safer to use.
When using natural gas with your fire pit, you’ll see it giving off yellow flames that may be almost invisible during the day due to the clean nature of natural gas. Although natural gas isn’t as energy efficient as propane, as it gives up 2.5 BTUs more than it, even though it’s cleaner. You can also expect your unit to last much longer since it’s a permanently installed feature and already pre-designed for the long haul.
Pros of natural gas
- Cleaner atmosphere and gives off fewer toxins
- One-time installation expense, and subsequently cheaper
- Gas supply is unlimited
Cons of natural gas
- Requires professional help to install
- Installation can be a huge expense
- Gives off more BTUs than propane
- Almost invisible flame in daylight
- Requires existing gas supply line to install
Propane gas:
This is another fire pit fuel source mainly composed of acetan and a more convenient option to install. The gas comes in its tank and allows you the flexibility of placing your fire pit or propane fire pit table in any part of your home. This takes off the worry of installing the unit in a specific area because you want to connect it to an existing supply line.
A great perk of propane gas is that you have the flexibility to determine how much flame you want your gas to produce per time and generally how much of the gas goes with each use. Unlike natural gas, the flames are bright enough to see during the day, which makes it a perfect option for aesthetic use.
Additionally, more versatile fire pits and fire pit tables come with propane gas, and it allows you the freedom to choose what works for your personal taste and style. With the small sizes of most propane tanks, they can be easily hidden out of view, or you could use a hidden gas supply line for a larger-sized propane tank.
You wouldn’t need to break a bank to install a propane gas fire pit, as they’re relatively cheaper to purchase and install. If you love to DIY, this is another place you can be expressive, as installing propane gas fire pit units is pretty easy, and you won’t need to worry about hiring a professional to get it done for you. All you’ll need are the right tools and the manufacturer’s user guide, and you’re all set up.
Although natural gas is still cleaner than propane gas, it’s equally safe to use, and you don’t have to worry about destroying the environment when using it. This is because it’s largely safer for the environment to burn propane gas than to burn charcoal or firewood. Ideally, the BTUs from propane are way lesser than that from natural gas, and this makes it a more energy-efficient option. Due to the flexibility of propane fire pit gas, you may need to pay attention to its maintenance, so it would last you for longer.
One great thing about propane fire pits is that they never lose their appeal, so if you purchase one and you want to resell it later, after some years of use, it’ll still be as trendy as the day you first got it. The downside of propane fire pits is that the frequency of your refill trips will heavily depend on how often you use the unit and the size of your propane tank. So, if you don’t have a large tank, you may need to have a spare one nearby as a backup, so you can easily replace it when it gets exhausted.
Pros of propane gas fire pit
- Easy to manage the flame size and gas use
- Easy and less expensive installation
- Energy efficient
- Comes in trendy fire pit designs
- Safer than bio-fuels
Cons of propane gas fire pit
- Requires proper maintenance
- Limited gas supply
Choosing The Best Type of Fire Pit Gas for Your Home: What You Need to Know
Wondering about what the best type of gas fire pit to settle for? Here are a few factors to consider to help you make the decision.
Gas supply:
Do you have an existing gas supply line? If yes, if you don’t mind the cost, you may choose to go for propane fire pits with natural gas, as it will be a cheaper option when compared to propane gas and the hassle of filling it. If you don’t have an existing natural gas supply line at home, then that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the warmth of a gas fire pit. A propane gas fire pit or fire pit table will be your perfect option.
Budget:
What’s your budget for your outdoor relaxation area? As you already know, you’ll need to use a huge amount of money to install a gas supply line if you don’t already have one. Additionally, you also need to factor in the cost of hiring a professional for your fire pit installation. Propane gas fire pits allow you to enjoy outdoor warmth without having to deal with installation expenses and the like. Our propane gas fire pits and fire pit tables come with prefilled propane tanks for your convenience.
Style and aesthetics:
Permanent fire pit gas designs requiring natural gas may not offer as much versatility in style and aesthetics. However, you have ample options to choose from when purchasing a propane fire pit and outdoor fire table for your home.
Community guidelines:
Have you considered the guidelines guiding fire and the use of gas where you live? Some areas are prone to wildfires and may ban open fires, including those from gas fire pits. Additionally, there may be regulations on the use of the natural gas supply, which would make propane gas a preferable option. To know what applies in your locality, check with your homeowners’ association to ensure you’re not breaking any rules.
Available Fire Pit Options for Your Home
Now that you’ve explored the various gas types for your fire pit, you also need to decide on what to buy. We offer a variety of propane fire pit designs that will scale up the value of your home.
Fire pits: This timeless unit is perfect for all-season use in any home. Whether it’s an evening of drinks and laughter with friends or something beautiful to light up your patio on cool evenings, the outdoor fire pit is a great option.
Fire pit tables: This versatile fire pit design offers the option of an additional table surface alongside your firepit for warmth. It’s a great option if you have a small space where you’d like to sit and hold conversations.
Conclusion
Deciding on the best fuel source for your space can be confusing when you’re not sure about the difference between the gas fire pit types. With this guide, you can now decide to either settle for natural gas—which can be expensive to install, or propane gas—which is more versatile and energy-efficient. If you need expert assistance, please feel free to contact Cosiest and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.