EasyFirePits.com offers a plethora of different lifetime warranted gas burners at affordable pricing. Here are some tips on how to best use your burner and decide which one is right for your gas fire feature.
What size burner do I need?
Burner size is preference of the user, but remember, BIGGER IS NOT BETTER, especially with natural gas. It’s possible to burn gas quicker than you can supply it, which results in low flames. With liquid propane, a bigger burner means any portable tank (less than 100 lbs.) may ice up quicker if not in a water bath.
A burner that is too small looks like a single candle on a big cake, but an overly large one causes flames to lick up the sides of your pit. A good rule of thumb: you should always be 6-12 inches from the fire ring to the wall (pit) and 5-7 inches from the sides. With fire tables, keep 1-2 inches of space minimum from the ends for linear burners.
How high should I mount my burner?
Burner height is purely a preference of the user. A couple of basics we preach on fire pits:
- Keep the entire pit at 12 inches or less from the ground for enjoying warmth.
- The burner should be at the top 4 inches of the pit, so you don’t waste gas to see it.
Our unique fire ring mounting kit allows you to move up and down up to 3 inches (less actual surface thickness). It’s best to put the burner above heat absorbing material (like pea gravel or a drop-in pan) and not just sit it on the bottom.
Can I use wood and gas on the same Fire Pit?
Yes! Our burners – made of high quality marine-grade steel – can be used indoors and outdoors (as log lighters) as well as in dual purpose wood and gas fire pits. IMPORTANT: make sure you have adequate ventilation and protect the gas supply.
With gas, heat radiates up. With wood, embers radiate heat down and can melt a hose, so you may want to install a hard pipe or use stainless steel. It’s best to keep the burner off the floor and under the wood grate (for cleaning and efficiency). Burners used inside MUST be vented!
How many BTU’s are your burners?
BTU’s, or British Thermal Units, are determined by not just the burner, but by the gas pressure, the line size, and line length. We don’t measure our burners in BTU’s, and usually if someone calls us regarding them, it’s because their gas installer is running a pre-plumbed gas line to a pit from a buried tank or street gas connection.
Again, if you’re asking because someone is going to run gas line to your pit or table, then this is all you need to know:
Fire Table: Get at or over 150k BTU’s
Fire Pit: Get at or over 250k BTU’s
If you’re running natural gas, then make sure the line is at or over 1 inch from the house to the fire pit or table for max efficiency. For propane it can be ½ inch, and it’s still fine, as it’s high pressure gas. For natural gas, the gas line is the “gas tank,” and if you’re running a smaller width pipeline, you run the risk of burning gas quicker than you can supply it . So larger piping (Minimum ¾ inch) is better, as it gives you more back pressure to supply the burner with constant gas flow, which means bigger flames.
Our liquid propane kits all come with a 20 PSI / 500K BTU regulator, and it’s far more than most need.
Do I mount my burner with the holes facing up or down?
We suggest always mounting with the fire holes facing up; ESPECIALLY with PROPANE, as it otherwise falls (as it’s heavier than air) and can pond and become dangerous.
As for natural gas, many installers like to mount the burners with holes down as to avoid water in the lines (we hear of that so rarely, we don’t feel it’s worth it). We prefer the gas going straight up or being near to the top of the lava rocks or glass fillers. Otherwise, wind blows the gas around within, and sometimes, it all ends up on one side, uneven, or can blow out altogether.