Gas Fire Pit Insert Kits
This fire pit was built at a golf course in Georgia. The Guy that built it said this was his first try at rock work and he knew nothing about fire pits . His name is John. John built the fire pit and called us and after a little discussion we custom built him everything he needed to complete the project. All the components were drop in parts. Then he installed the fake logs. He wanted the safety screen ( Built be Dancing Fire) because this was a public application and safety was a concern. I think he did a fine job and the fire looks like a real fire burning.
Ok, You want to build a Gas Fire Pit
Now What?
We have options here and depending on the BUDGET I am confident that we can get the fire pit of your dreams. We can go from simple to remote controlled fancy, depending on the application and the budget.
A gas fire pit consist of a ring of bricks or rocked wall or something that makes the perimeter of the fire pit. Then we have a fire pit burner, a pan for the burner and a stand for the pan to sit on. Then we need a shut off valve at the fire pit to shut off the gas.
Most fire pits are about 16" to about 24" tall and have a ledge around the top. The inside is where the burner and stand go. I suggest that a plumber installs a gas valve into the rock veneer that you turn off and on with a key. Just like an indoor fire place that has a gas log lighter. The valve is embedded in the rock. A plumber can do the same kind of install here and stub a piece of pipe into the fire pit and cap it off. This takes care of the gas for now. If your wanting an automated control valve you will need to have an electrician install a water proof electrical box on the inside of the fire pit and have him run a piece of conduit to the electrical source. If this is by a pool have him run it towards the pool equipment.
Now we need to decide on how you want the burner to light and behave. When I say how it behaves this means what happens when the wind blows out the fire. Gas appliances have what's called a thermo couple safety valve. This is the same type of safety devise used on hot water heaters. You light a pilot light and the pilot light gets hot. THis heat will heat up a thermo couple bulb. The thermo coupler then tells the gas valve that "Hey gas valve, I'm getting hot so there must be a pilot light lit so go ahead and open up the gas" Then the gas valve opens and the burner is lit. On the other hand if the wind blows out the fire the thermocouple tells the gas valve "Hey gas valve I don't feel any heat so the pilot must be out so turn the gas off". This is a safety feature so that if the fire gets blown out the gas automatically shuts off. This type of appliance usually has a control that restricts the amount of gas flowing to the burner.
Now that we understand what a thermocouple is we can better understand the burner options. Basically you have burners that either have or don't have thermocouple safety valves built in. We'll start discussing the simplest and least expensive and up from there.
Choosing the type of Burner You Want
We have several options here and the decision is usually a budgetary issue. The prices range from several hundred to several Thousand. The least expensive is our Match Lit Gas Fire Pit Kit. We have a very simple kit that we all a "Match Lit Kit". Just like it says - you use a match or lighter to light the burner. This kit has no thermo coupler safety valve. It's a very simple kit. You have the gas valve built into the side of the fire pit and a pipe stubbed into the fire pit. You use a flex line to connect the pipe to the burner kit and set the burner and pan on the stand. No safety devises installed. If the fire gets blown out the gas is still blowing out. No electricity is needed
Then we have a Push Button Lighter Kit. This kit is the same as the match lit kit but instead of using a match you have a Piexo electric push button lighter. There is no thermo coupler safety valve in this kit like the match lit kit. No electricity is needed
Then we have the Manual Electronic Ignition Kit. This kit has a push button igniter and this is the first step into the gas kits that incorporate the thermo couple safety devise. It lights like a hot water heater. Push the igniter to light the pilot light and when the pilot light heats the thermo coupler then the gas valve opens. No electricity is needed
Then we move into automated Gas Fire Pits. These kits can be operated by remote controls, timers, switches or swimming pool control equipment. This kit incorporates the thermo coupler safety valve. It's very easy to install but requires electricity run inside the fire pit.
Choosing the Burner Pan
The pan has issues as well. Not the shape because that's pretty obvious. A round pit use a round pan, square pit use a square pan. We have fancy stainless steel pans to the simple cold rolled sheet metal pans. Again depending on the budget this could add to the budget or this could be a good place to save on the budget. The pan, in most cases, are not seen. The purpose of the pan is to support the burner and give a solid bottom for the burner to rest on. My idea of the best burner pan is a stainless steel flat pan. I say this because stainless won't oxidize (rust), and the flat pan won't let water collect for the burner to set in. The next best choice is a flat pan made of regular steel and painted with heat resistant paint Least expensive). We have stainless steel pans that have sides and a flanged lip so it can sit in a ledge that has cut out with no support underneath as well.
The Fire Pit Burner Stand
The stand is what the pan sits on inside the fire pit. You can do this several different ways. You don't necessarily need a stand. You can fill your fire pit with sand or gravel and have the pan sit on this type of media. If your burning propane I like this idea. Propane is heavier then air and if you fill the void under pan with rock your closing in this area. Kind of a messy pain but it works and it's easier on the budget. My idea of a proper set up is a stand for the pan to sit on. The reasoning is that if you have to remove the unit for servicing it's easier to access. We'll make stands to fit any size, shape or height fire pit using regular steel or stainless steel.
What do you want on your Fire Pit
Once the fire pit is built we'll need to cover the burner area with some sort of media. We can use Lava rock, river rock or crushed glass. I suggest using lava rock as a base. Fill the burner pan with lava rock so you have just enough rock to cover the burner. What happens is the gas comes out of the burner holes and rises. As the gas rises it works its way thru the spaces between the lava rock and when it get's out of the rock it burns. The lava rock spreads the gas out evenly and looks more natural. At this point you can use larger rock and the fire will climb thru the rock or you can cover the lava rock with crushed glass. This is a really neat look. Really gorgeous. You can also put fake logs one the lava rock for a natural camp fire look. We have all of the supplies you need to finish the project and get that finished look your after.
Now What
What I just described is the different options you have. The easiest next step is to call me @ 817-613-0029, my name is Jim and let's discuss the project. If you want to see the different sizes and prices click here and this will take you to our online, secure estore.
