One thing I always liked about fire pits is their simplicity, it’s surprising how such a simple thing can create such an amazing atmosphere. But one thing always baffled me about them, why are they round? Why aren’t they square, or rectangular or triangular? To find out the answer to this question I decided to do some research, here is what I found out.
Fire pits are round because this is the most efficient shape for dispersing heat. Every person sitting near a round fire pit will get the same amount of heat no matter on which side they are.
So it all comes down to efficiency more than design. If by any chance you see a rectangular wood burning fire pit, it was probably made by somebody who has no idea what he’s doing, let me explain why.
Table of Contents
Why the Shape Matters (Round Fire Pits vs. Rectangular Fire Pits)
First let’s start with an illustration that I made that will show you how heat radiets.
As you can see the people around the round fire pit will get the same amount of heat, while the people around the rectangular one won’t.
While my illustration might not be the most exact thing in the world it still portrays an accurate idea.
But if you are in the market for a fire pit you might have probably seen that a lot of gas fire pits are square or rectangular. Did the gas fire pits manage to be as efficient as round wood burning fire pits? Not really.
Why Are Some Fire Pits Rectangular or Square Shaped?
The only rectangular fire pits that you will see are on gas. Those fire pits won’t really suffer from the heat dispersing problem, since this is not their role.
Gas fire pits are ornamental, more than practical, while they do still use real fire, on which you can cook, and even warm yourself if you get really close, most of them will never be able to create as much heat as a classic wood burning fire pit.
But, a very long time ago when fire pits were invented they didn’t start as a recreational thing, it was actually something people used to survive.
Why Fire Pits Are Round
When humans were still using caves as homes, they needed a place to heat themselves, so they made a fire, and they decided to put this fire in a hole in the ground, hence the name fire pit.
Back then the heat from the fire pit was essential to them, so to make sure that there would be no conflict about who gets the most heat, they made the pit round. This way, no matter where you stand you will get the same amount of heat.
But today we have better ways of heating yourself, so why are we still making round fire pits?
While it is true that we have better ways of heating ourselves, the relaxing ambiance created by the warmth of the fire pit is the main selling point of the fire pit. Why wouldn’t we want to experience this to its fullest?
Final Thoughts
So if you want to experience everything that a fire pit has to offer you want to get a round fire pit. But if you are more interested in making you backyard looking a certain way, rectangular fire pits are still an option.
In the end of the article I will leave you with some of the most common questions and problems that people are faced with when owning a fire pit. Hopefully this will help you avoid some of the biggest mistakes people make when owning a fire pit, and save you some money.
Common Questions
How do I prevent rust from appearing on my fire pit? In order to prevent rust you can:
- Move the fire pit in a dry room, or any place with a roof should prevent most rust from appearing.
- Cover your fire pit using a metal or wooden lid, or a synthetic cover. But make sure that the fire pit has cooled off before you cover it.
- Removing the ash from the fire pit is also very important, as ash absorbs a lot of humidity from the air.
- The most important thing that you can do is to regularly clean and inspect the fire pit.
How do I remove rust from a fire pit? To remove rust from a fire pit you can use:
- Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Soft drinks
- Baking soda
- Potatoes
- A mix of them
- Commercial products like: WD-40 and CLR
After you remove the rust you should get some Sandpaper, Spray Sealant, Spray Paint. After that you should remove all the paint using a coarse grit sandpaper, then use a finer sandpaper and remove all scratches. Apply a thin coat of sealant, after it dries apply the pain, and then another coat of sealant. Make sure that you try to make the coatings as even as possible, otherwise the paint will come off.
Do propane gas fire pits smell bad? Propane fire pits shouldn’t smell bad. You might feel a small hint of gas when you turn the fire pit on, but that should be the only bad smell that you feel.
If the bad smell persists there might be a problem with the fire pit, the regulator, the propane tank or dust.
To check if the regulator of the tank has a problem you can make some foam with some water and soap and spread it where they connect. If bubbles start to form, then you have a gas leak. In which case you can try to see if the gasket is damaged and if the regulator is tightly screwed. If this doesn’t solve the problem you should call somebody to check the fire pit.
If the gas smell appears when the fire pit is turned off, it usually means that the fire pit is broken, in which case you should call somebody to repair it.
Another cause for the bad smell can be dust. Excessive dust will usually give off a burnt smell. This smell usually tends to disappear after some time, but in some cases the residu can stick to the rocks that fill the fire pit, in which case you will have to wash the rocks.
In case you have a technical problem the best thing that you can do is call somebody that is trained to deal with those kinds of problems. Don’t try to repair them yourself, it can be very dangerous.
How long do fire pits last? A fire pit can last anywhere from one year to a lifetime. It all depends on how well you maintain it.
In the case of wood burning fire one of the most important things that matter is what you are burning. Things like magazines contain chemicals that can damage the fire pit. Wood that has been painted or treated in any way will also damage the fire pit. So only burning firewood will increase the lifespan of your firepit.
Removing the ashes is also very important. Ashes absorb humidity from the air, so letting them sit in the fire pit for long periods of time is like having your fire pit filled with water.
In the case of gas fire pits it’s extremely important to dust them off. Dust doesn’t only leave an unpleasant smell but over time it can damage the interior of the fire pit.
For both types of fire pits it is also extremely important how you store them, leaving them uncovered year round, will drastically reduce their lifespan.
What is the best wood for a fire pit? The best wood for a fire pit is hardwood, which one you choose is up to you. If you choose one from this list you shouldn’t go wrong:
- Oak
- Ash
- Mapl
- Walnut
- Mahogany
- Hickory
- Beech
Just make sure that the wood you choose is seasoned and not green, if you get green wood you will have to leave it to season for at least 6 months.
While softwood is not a great choice for a fire pit, it can be a great addition as you can use it to light the fire or add pleasant smell.
And remember to stay away from driftwood, construction wood, wood with things grown on it and vines.
How can I successfully start a fire pit every time? Every successful fire is built using 3 layers:
- Tinder – burns quickly and ignites the kindling
- Kindling – the middle layer that will will get ignited by the tinder, and will help
- Firewood – the wood that maintains the fire
The tinder is what will start the hole fire up. As tinder you can use newspaper, tree bark
fatwood or leaves. The tinder doesn’t have to burn for long periods of time. It just has to burn long enough to light the kindling.
The kindling is the part that makes or breaks the fire. Most unsuccessful fires don’t light up because they lack kindling. Softwood is usually a good choice for kindling, some of the best and most common options are: Pine, Poplar, Cedar and Spruce.
Tinder on it’s own doesn’t have the ability to light the firewood, this is why you want to use kindling which can light up firewood, but can’t maintain a fire pit on its own.
Firewood is what you use to maintain the fire in the fire pit. Hardwood is the best choice for firewood. Just make sure that what you are getting is seasoned wood, not green wood. Green wood is wood that has been recently cut, so it still has a lot of moisture inside of it. Seasoned wood has been chopped up and left to dry for 6 to 12 months, which makes it perfect for any fire.