Portable Fire Pit Versatility

Portable fire pits are great! They can warm up that spot in the backyard where everyone is hanging out or be the center of attention on a patio or deck. There are lots of different sizes and styles available for these fire pits and, as with everything else, there are a few things you should probably know before buying one.

Things to Know Before Buying a Portable Fire Pit

First is the finish. If you will be using a portable fire pit outside on a patio or deck then make sure it has a enamel finish or you buy a stainless steel portable fire pit. That will help prevent any rust stains from getting on the patio or deck. We all have the best intentions of putting them away after use but a rain storm in the middle of then night can cause non enamel finished fire pits to begin to rust. Of course stainless steel will not have this problem but they cost a lot more money.

Another consideration is the size and actual portability of the portable fire pit you purchase. There are several large units that come with wheels and a handle. These are great and very easy to move around. Just pick up on the handle and then roll it into position. Couldn’t be easier but just know that the handle gets very hot when the fire pit is in use and if you don’t wait until it’s cooled down then use caution when moving.

Some portable fire pits are pretty small and can be moved by carrying them to the place you want them. Some of these small units even come with a bag to carry them along with the base. These types of units usually sit on legs to help keep the heat away from what ever you set it on. Be sure to read the manufacturers recommendations and cautions but in general they will always recommend that you never place these units on any type of flammable surface. So no matter how great it would be to have the fire pit on your wooden picnic table, don’t do it. The owners manual will tell you the safest way to use the portable fire pit. Some people place the smaller units on brick or stone or concrete. I have seen friends put a few bricks on their patio table to set the fire pit on. It worked well for them but I am a little leery of putting any thing with flames on a wooden table.

The larger units usually come with a screen to help prevent large sparks from escaping. Know that smaller sparks will still fly from the flames and make it through the grid of the fire screen. The smaller units are usually open with no spark shield. So since there will be sparks (and a lot more if the wind is blowing even a little bit) you should only use them in the open and not under a covered patio or awning.

Some of the units can double as a grill too. From my experience they don’t perform all that well as grills but perform great in keeping the area around them warm and being a center piece. The place where everyone pulls their chairs around to talk and enjoy a few beverages of their choice.

Since portable fire pits are smaller than a regular fireplace you will want to find wood that is smaller too. Most of the ‘big box’ stores sell packages of wood specifically sized for use in portable fire pits. The wood in these packages has been cut to smaller size and sometimes they sell Pinion wood which has a really great smell too.

So bottom line is to watch out where you place the portable fire pit and adhere to the manufacturers recommendations. You will find that you will be spending a lot more time outside in early Spring and early Fall if you own a portable fire pit.