Home decor decisions can be pretty easy. You can either look online for some good interior design inspiration or simply hire an interior designer. Unfortunately, this gets a bit trickier when you are talking about landscaping elements in your backyard. Don’t worry. Unless you are in the middle of building a new home, there is no need to talk with an architect or your home builder to help make these decisions. You can easily make your backyard look great with some kind of heating option or fire pit.
Within this article, we are going to talk all about fire pits. We’ll go over various features, how they operate, and many more details. Whether you want something to roast marshmallows with the family, or just to keep warm while enjoying your patio, the details will be listed below. Let’s jump into the topic.
Here Is a List of Everything That You Can Expect To Learn Within The Post That Will Follow:
- Is There Such Thing as an Electric Fire Pit, and How Does an Electric Fire Pit Work? – While many people think electric might be the way to go for their fire pit, they may be surprised with the availability of these units. Here we discuss electric fire pits for backyard use.
- Are There Other Outdoor Fire Pit Alternatives To an Electric Fire Pit, Like a Propane or Other Gas Fire Pit Table? – We list a few of the different types of fire pits you might find in a backyard as an alternative to electric.
- What Are Some of The Various Features of an Outdoor Patio or Backyard Fire Pit? – We have fun highlighting some of the features people might look for when trying to find the perfect fire pit for their outdoor area.
- What Fuel Type Is Best for a Patio Fire Pit, Fire Pit Table, or Other Gas Fire Pit Variety? – The fuel you use is important. For this section, we’ll go into the details of different fuel types and what you can expect.
- How Does a Fire Bowl Work and Can You Fill It With Fire Glass or Lava Rocks? – Fire bowls are quite popular with people that like fire pits. This section delves into the use of decorative glass and rocks and how you use them with these fire bowls.
- Do You Need Some Kind of Stainless Steel Spark Screen To Protect Outdoor Furniture From The Flames of Your Outdoor Fireplace or Heating Option? – Protection and safety is important. For this reason, we go over some of the reasons you may want to consider using a screen over your fire pit.
- Can You Buy a Generic Amazon Propane Gas Fire Pit, Propane Fire Pit Table, or Other Outdoor Heating Tabletop Options? – Generic brands can be tempting, but we will talk here about why you might want to rethink buying generic for such an important outdoor feature.
- If Generic Amazon Options Aren’t Reliable, Are Brand Names Like Endless Summer Good For Your Outdoor Living Space? – We explore the idea of buying trusted brands, and give some basic suggestions when purchasing.
- Do You Need a High BTU Output For Patio Heaters Where The Patio Is Enclosed or Partially Indoors? – Heat output is important for many outdoor fire pits, however, we will talk a bit about when you don’t need quite as much heat.
- Can You Use Fire Pits Indoors or On a Partially or Fully Enclosed Patio Area? – In this part, we’ll go into the concerns when it comes to using fire pits indoors or on patios that are enclosed without proper ventilation.
- For Patios That are More Indoors or Completely Indoors, Are Standard Wood or Gas Fireplaces The Best Heating Option? – There are plenty of disadvantages to wood and gas fireplaces, whether you are using them indoors or for covered and enclosed patios. We list those disadvantages here.
- So, If Wood and Gas Options Have So Many Disadvantages, What Is So Great About an Electric Fireplace? – Electric fireplaces have tons of benefits over wood and gas for indoor and enclosed patio use. Many of these advantages will be highlighted in this section.
- Are There Many Different Types of Electric Fireplaces To Choose From or Are You Stuck With Only One Type When It Comes To Functionality and Durability? – With a wide variety of electric fireplaces out there, you may be having trouble picking the right one for your patio or indoor use. Check out this list to see which fireplaces you might like and which you should make sure to completely avoid if possible.
- Do Electric Fireplaces Lend Themselves To a Lot of Fun DIY Home Improvement and Other Projects That Involve a Remodel? – We give you a few ideas on what you can do with electric fireplaces that you really can’t do with other heating options.
- If Going Electric, Which Fireplace Brand Would Make The Best Centerpiece or Focal Point For Outdoor Use On a Partially or Fully Enclosed Patio? – Since we’ve already established how important a quality brand is, this section will cover the best brand of electric fireplace for your enclosed patio or indoor areas.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a fire pit table or other fire pit type that is an electric version. While there are some gas fire pit and gas fire pit table designs with an electronic ignition, a fire pit that is completely electric simply doesn’t exist. If you understand the benefits of electric and have a patio or other covering that can support electric options, there are electric heating units for the outdoors that aren’t necessarily fire pits.
If you are set on a fire pit, you will need to look into other options like a gas or wood fire pit. Gas is the most common type of fire pit that you will see for backyard use. There is a wide variety of fire pits with different features available. What you go with will depend heavily on your preferences, budget, and the environment you will be using it in.
Of course, there are some other options as well like a chiminea, infrared heaters, and even some tabletop options. The options for the top of a table are usually weaker and more of a novelty. However, some can help keep people warm directly around the table if the temperature outdoors isn’t too low.
When it comes to features, the materials used play a big part in the look and operation of the fire pit. There are fire pits made of materials like cast iron, concrete, or even a steel fire pit. Some materials are more weather resistant than others and will stay in better shape over time.
Some fire pits have rectangular flat beds and others have a fire bowl. Although both will work similarly, they can vary quite a bit in their aesthetic appearance.
Many fire pits may have a mantel edge around it made out of slate tile. This material is durable, fire resistant, and has a modern, yet earthy look to it.
It is also common for higher end fire pits to have safety features. Of course, this is going to depend heavily on both the brand you get and the model you choose to go with.
Gas fire pits primarily come in two different types of fuel: propane and natural gas. Natural gas has the luxury of being connected to the gas lines from your home. Liquid propane, or LP gas fire pits, need their propane tank changed frequently. Of course, using a fire pit that has a propane tank has the added benefit of burning cleaner and more efficiently in most cases.
Really it just comes down to your preference. Do you want gas connected to the house, but it will be slightly less of a clean burn and less efficient? Or, do you want to use a propane tank that you might have to change but with greater efficiency and cleaner burning? Keep in mind, flame color can also vary between these gases as well if that is important to you.
A fire pit bowl, just like any gas style fire pit with a bed, allows you to put a lava rock or glass arrangement. Lava rocks tend to look much more natural, while fire glass is more modern with glowing colors when exposed to the flames. You usually won’t combine both types, but will use one or the other. That being said, different colors, shapes, and sizes of glass can be combined if you want to give different aesthetic moods. Regardless of which you go with, both will need to be cleaned and maintained regularly as the flames and their emissions can cause the rocks and glass to look dirty over time.
Protection from sparks is most important when you are using a fire pit that burns wood. That being said, homeowners can still benefit from some kind of screen protection even for gas pits. This is because the flames that are exposed can easily catch things on fire that come into contact with the fire pit. This can be something as simple as some loose leaves blowing across the flame. A screen can also add some safety in the sense that people or pets won’t accidentally fall into the fire pit. This is especially important if you have a table or pit that is on the lower side, which fire pits tend to be.
While many people don’t use any kind of screen with their fire pits, if you have pets, children, or a lot of trees around your home, a screen can be a smart purchase. If you are using a fire pit that burns wood, a screen that protects from embers sparking off is absolutely essential. Regardless of which type you get, you should avoid placing your fire pit on or near a wooden deck due to the chance of the deck catching on fire. The fire pit should be put directly on stone, concrete, or some other hard, non-flammable surface.
You should really avoid any kind of generic brands that you might find on Amazon. While the pricing can be extremely tempting, generic brands tend to have a lot of problems. It is common for these generic brands to lack proper safety features. Additionally, the construction is poor and the material quality is lacking, therefore they don’t really last as long. Buying any kind of outdoor pit or other heating device should be a trusted brand name, not a questionable generic brand.
Endless Summer is a decent brand of both wood and gas pits out there. However, there are many trusted brands as well. They all tend to specialize in different looks and types. Before choosing a brand, you should first consider what kind of type of fire pit or outdoor unit you will want and what look you are going for. After that, you can see what quality brand names offer what you are looking for. If you do it the other way around, the brand you choose may not have an option for your specific situation or decorating style.
For the open air, higher heat is necessary. Especially if you live in a colder region of the country and you want to keep a decent area warm around the heater. However, with patios that are enclosed, you don’t need nearly as much heat output. By having an enclosed patio, even if it is only partially enclosed, you are allowing the heat to be contained. This residual heat will keep the area nice and warm for much longer. If you have an enclosed patio area, there is no need to buy an expensive heating device made for the wide and open outdoors. Too high will actually be overkill. Not only is it a waste of money, but you can overheat an area and make the air feel incredibly dry.
Similar to indoor areas, the sweet spot for heating enclosed areas is around 5,000 BTUs or slightly more. Less than this, and an area may not get quite warm enough. More than this for an enclosed area, and you may have a problem with overheating and dry air. If you are buying for enclosed areas, even just for a nice roofed area or canopy covering, you don’t need the most powerful heating device. Instead, you can focus on quality of the device, reliability over time, and efficiency to keep those heating costs down.
Since most wood and gas fire pits need plenty of ventilation for them to be safe, you really want to avoid using these in any enclosed patios. You certainly never want to use them indoors. The harmful emissions from both burning wood and gas can cause some serious issues with your health, and in some circumstances, can even be deadly. These outdoor fire pit types need to be completely open to the air. Even a partially enclosed space for these pits can be dangerous without proper ventilation being installed.
If you are heating an indoor area, a partially enclosed patio, or a fully enclosed patio, you may want to look into fireplaces as your primary source of heat.
If you are thinking about using a fireplace for your enclosed patio or other indoor area, you might want to think twice of going with wood or gas. To break it down, here are the main wood fireplace types found in a home:
● Open Hearth
● Enclosed
● Enclosed Insert
● Wood Stove
● Fire Pit
Here is why you should probably just avoid wood fireplaces at all, regardless if it is for indoor use or your patio:
● Fire Safety – They increase the chance of a house fire.
● Harmful Emissions – These fireplaces produce both smoke and carbon monoxide.
● Hassle To Use – Maintenance and using wood fireplaces is a big chore.
● Heat Loss Problem – The chimney lets out quite a lot of heat.
● Smell – A smoky smell persists throughout your home.
● Stains – This smoke also yellows and stains walls over time.
● TV Damage – Your TV will eventually stop working if mounted above wood fireplaces.
● Wood Storage – You need tons of space for wood.
● Expensive To Build – They are a big, expensive construction project.
Gas fireplaces are a slightly better alternative. Here are the main kinds:
● Direct Vented
● Ventless
Of course, gas fireplaces have some of their own unique issues:
● Flame Is Exposed – Flames still cause a fire risk.
● Carbon Monoxide – Some harmful emissions are still present.
● Ugly Flame Color – Fire color is aesthetically displeasing.
● Weak Flame – The fire never flickers like real wood fireplaces.
● Costly Installation – Professionals have to install these for you.
If wood and gas fireplaces are out, why should you choose electric for your fireplace? Here is everything great about electric fireplaces:
● No Added Fire Risk – Because there is no real flame or burning, there is no added risk of a fire.
● No Harmful Emissions – The lack of burning means you also are free from the worries of harmful emissions.
● No Staining or Smells – The lack of burning also means you don’t have to worry about smoke smells or staining.
● Using it is Easy – Operating electric fireplaces is incredibly simple to do.
● Easy Installing – It is very easy to install electric fireplaces because they don’t need any ventilation and only need a nearby outlet.
● Any Room – The low requirements of installing electric fireplaces means you can easily install them in any room of your house or on your patio.
● TV Safe – No smoke and heat that is blown towards the center of a room means you can safely hang your TV up above electric fireplaces.
● Heat Efficiency – No ventilation means all of the heat produced is retained within the room.
● Supplemental Zone Heating – Even with large homes, electric fireplaces in a zone heating strategy allow warming a home without incredibly high heating bills.
● Remote Control – You don’t even need to get up from electric fireplaces to turn them on or change the temperature.
● Flame Effect Ambiance – Higher end electric fireplaces like MagikFlame use holographic 3D flames that truly capture the look and feel of the real thing.
Whether you are installing fireplaces indoors or on your enclosed patio, you might want to know what types are best to get. Here are the common types:
● Flat Wall Mantel Package – A solid fireplace if you want something that looks more traditional.
● Corner Fireplace – Perfect if you need an electric option for the corner of a room.
● TV Stand Fireplace – With fireplaces built into TV stands, these can save space but at the cost of a weaker fireplace.
● Corner TV Stand Fireplace – These corner TV stands also save space, but also have the same problem as standard TV stand fireplaces.
● Wall Mount Fireplace – One of these is a great option if you want to hang a fireplace or imbed it within a wall.
● Electric Insert – Inserts are versatile. You can convert existing fireplaces, or use them for a custom mantel.
● Freestanding Fireplace Heater – These portable fireplaces tend to be incredibly weak and you should just avoid them completely.
● Electric Stove – These mimic wood stoves for people with a rural, farmhouse kind of aesthetic.
Compared to several heating options that you can go with for either an indoor area or even an enclosed patio, electric fireplaces are one of the best for doing your own little projects. Due to their somewhat portable nature and their low requirements for installation, you can build areas around your fireplace without much issue. This is especially easy if you go with a fireplace insert. While inserts are commonly used to turn traditional fireplaces into electric ones, you can also use one to completely customize your fireplace mantel.
Since electric fireplaces don’t have a need for ventilation, enjoy customizing your patio space however you would like. You can build electric fireplaces directly into the wall, build a custom mantel around it, and much more.
One of the most realistic, high end electric fireplaces on the market is MagikFlame. MagikFlame has several models of electric fireplaces, so there is a little bit for everything. Of course, all of MagikFlame’s fireplaces come with the following features:
● Ultra Realistic 3D Fire Effects – One of the things that MagikFlame is most known for is their ultrarealistic flame effects. This is due to the Holoflame technology they use. Their flames are holographically 3D projected onto a beautiful physical log set that sits inside of the firebox. Under the log set are some equally impressive glowing embers. The 3D flames themselves come in 30 different styles that you can easily switch between when setting the mood. All of the 3D fire effects move and dance just like a real fireplace, with little embers that occasionally shoot off. With flame effects this real, don’t be surprised if many guests at your house have trouble distinguishing your fireplace from the real thing.
● Crackling Log Sounds – Impressive visuals isn’t all that MagikFlame has to offer. To take the atmosphere to an entirely new level, MagikFlame fireplaces play the sounds of crackling log sets along with the crackling log visuals of the flames. This auditory addition helps elevate MagikFlame fireplaces to an even more realistic level. If you are in the mood for some extra relaxation, you can just as easily play some optional, relaxing nature sounds that come with MagikFlame fireplaces.
● 5,200 BTU Heater – The 5,200 BTU infrared heater that is inside of each MagikFlame fireplace can warm an area or home of up to 1,000 sq. ft. For indoor use, this is enough to easily keep a condo, an apartment, or a small to medium sized house incredibly warm and toasty. The heater is also ideal for patios or other backyard areas that are partially or completely enclosed. The infrared heating coils are incredibly efficient, so you can expect to spend the least amount possible to warm an area. If you are using these in your home, and your house happens to be extremely large, this isn’t a problem. You can set up multiple fireplaces in a zone heating strategy. Zone heating allows you to warm the largest of homes, while still using the minimal amount of energy to warm occupied areas.
● Smartphone App – You don’t need yet another boring and clunky remote control to toss on the pile next to your couch. Instead, MagikFlame fireplaces are effortlessly controlled with an app that can be installed on your phone or tablet. With their intuitive app, you are given full control over temperature, flame visuals, audio, and so much more.
Does MagikFlame interest you? Please enjoy these further MagikFlame resources:
● MagikFlame Story: How MagikFlame got its initial start.
● MagikFlame Reviews: Hear from real MagikFlame customers.
● MagikFlame Electric Fireplace Buying Guide: Learn more about how electric fireplaces work.
● How MagikFlame Is Built: See for yourself all that goes into MagikFlame fireplaces.
● Payment Plans and Financing: Enjoy MagikFlame’s helpful payment options.
● MagikFlame Warranty: Each MagikFlame fireplace comes with a full warranty.
