Fire Pits, Why Not Just Build Your Own?

Firepits are becoming the way of life! They completly transform your yard from bore, to hours and hours of wonderful evenings spent with family and friends. You can sit around,cook marshmellows,cook hotdogs,or even steaks on these things!They are the centerpeice of the evening hours!They can be made into any shape or size to accomadate any location or situation!

The fire rings are the deciding factor on what shape or size you will need , but have no fear! They are available in just about every shape and size as well! There are many of web sites on the internet to help you decide on the size and shape that you will need!

If you are building a swimming pool, now is the time to at least get a gas stub up for your firepit! Or anything else for that matter such as BBQ's, Tiki torches or any other gas appliances!Your gas man is there for your pool so why not!
If you are just wanting to build a firepit for your back yard and are not installing a pool or anything gas related you will need to have a licensed Plumber or H.V.A.C Contractor install the gas line for you! Many landscapers will tell you they can do it but 90% of the time our company is repairing problems created by landscapers! Be sure you have a licensed gas contrator install your gas line!Beleive me, its gas, you are gonna want it right if your family and friends are all sitting around this thing, are'nt you?

k- so gas line is in and has a riser stubbed up with a cap on it and hopefully a valve at the gas meter where your gas guy stubbed it up. This is so you can shut the line off in case of emergency! If you hit it with a shovel or your dog finds it digging in your back yard!

where your gas line comes up for the fire pit,you will need a gas valve as well!I prefer to use the key valve gas valves also known as Dante valves so you can regulate your flame height but also remove the key for safety of youngster around the pit! With the key removed you will not be able to turn it up or down!Do not install this valve with the shiny cover facing up in the ground!the valve will fill up with dirt and will chew the o rings when ever you turn the key! We see this all the time!Even if there is no dirt around, the wind will mysteriously find a way to get it in the valve!

Next you need a fire ring that you will be using and we usually install it on a 1/2 X 24" stainless steel gas flex line that you can pick up at home depot for a couple bucks!The other end obviously will connect to the dante valve. Voila,the gas part is done!

The rock work comes next! Build your rock around the out skirts of the fire ring, fill the pit up with sand, just to cover the 1/2 flex line you picked up at home depot, and let the ring sit on top of the dirt!Now put a fine layer of heat treated glass or lava on the ring, just enough to cover it up, barely! NOTE: if you put to much lava or whatever you are using on th ring it will fill it up with gas before your flame will get to it and can cause an explosion! You just need enough on the ring to barley cover it up,Just so you can't see it!

Turn key valve about 1/4 turn stay back and chuck in match! To turn it off, simple shut the dante valve off the the flames will sputter away.