Fire pits are a very personal purchase, and for the expense, you want to make sure you get the perfect fire pit to match the design of your home. But what if none of the fire pit’s you are looking at match your general aesthetic? Well, there is always the option to build your own!

We always recommend getting a professional’s opinion and for certain steps of the process, such as moving a gas line, but there are definitely steps of the process you can do yourself to ensure it is perfectly customized to your taste and save the hassle of scheduling an appointment.

Location

The first step in building a fire pit, for a gas or a wood-burning fire pit, is to determine the location of your fire pit. Will it be on a deck? Will it be on a patio? When searching for a location to build a fire pit, it’s best to find a flat area, such as a flat yard, or a stone patio. You’ll need to ensure you have a non-combustible base such as concrete or brick. If you’re building on grass, use a layer of sand or pea gravel as your foundation.

If you want to put your fire pit on a deck, check out this article. The biggest concern is many decks are built on a combustible surface such as wood or vinal. You will need to ensure your fire pit will have a non-combustible base so heat radiating off the fire will not cause issues.

We don’t recommend a fire pit on a covered patio unless you have a professional examine the location. Due to the limited ventilation on covered patios For, more information check this article.

Once you’ve selected a few possible locations, you must ensure there are at least six feet of clearance around every side of the fire pit. Once you get further down into the process and have selected a burner for your fire pit, double-check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see what the recommended clearance of combustible materials is for your fire pit. Six feet is a good rule of thumb but depending on the size of the burner this can change.

Finally research your city and state codes to ensure it is legal to install a fire pit in your backyard, and if there are any restrictions or limitations on things like clearance distances or fuel types.

Gas Type

Your choices of fuel for a gas fire pit include natural gas or propane. The main difference is that natural gas is sent to your fire through a permanently installed gas line, whereas with propane-fueled fire pits you have the option to hook up a temporary gas tank. 

Natural Gas is ideal if your home is already set up with natural gas, such as if you have a natural gas fireplace. You will need a permanent gas line installed in your fire pit. You need a professional installation for this aspect of the building process to meet building code requirements and ensure all safety standards are met. This will cost a bit more upfront but will save you time and money in the long run. You won’t have to run out to the store for propane tanks to fuel your fire, and natural gas fire pits are more efficient than propane, so you’ll end up using less gas and less money for a natural gas fire pit. 

Propane Gas gives you a little more flexibility You don’t have to worry about gas pipe installation. You will have to purchase 20 lbs propane tanks to fuel your fire, or get a large tank on-site, and have a more permanent gas line attached to the fire pit. If you decide to use a standard 20 lbs propane tank to fuel your fire, keep in mind when building your fire pit you may want to build an enclosure to house your propane tank and keep it out of view. There are lots of accessories available built to enclose propane tanks in various designs and methods. 

Delivering the correct amount of gas to your flames is of the utmost importance. One easy problem to avoid is to ensure you have a correctly sized gas line to deliver enough fuel to the fire. This will help keep your flames at an optimal height. If using an existing gas pipeline that isn’t the correct size, a gas plumber can easily modify this system. 

Building Your Fire Pit

You’ve found a location, and you have a way to fuel the fire. It’s time to get down to work and start to build the pit itself!

Enclosure

The first step is you need a foundational structure to house all the elements of your fire pit. These elements will include the burner, ignition, and gas components. The material will need to be non-combustible, so don’t even consider building a wooden enclosure. That’s asking for trouble. 

 An enclosure can be built free-standing from masonry brick. Another option is to purchase an unfinished enclosure and finish it off with stone or brick.

 The last option is to purchase a DIY fire pit kit. These kits make it easy to build your own fire pit, by including all the pieces of the puzzle you need. If you're not feeling confident about finding all the parts for your fire pit this is a good option for you. They will come with a stack of masonry bricks or an unfinished enclosure.

Ventilation

One of the most important aspects of having a live fire is giving it a way to be fed oxygen and release toxic byproducts. Not only will this vent allow for air to flow freely and prevent dangerous gas build-up inside the enclosure, but it will also drain any water that makes its way into your system. For your gas fire pit, the vent will likely be in the base of your fire pit. 

If you do not ventilate your fire pit properly, a buildup of gas can cause explosions. If your fire pit does not have openings in the bottom for whatever reason, use risers to lift the entire base off the ground. Otherwise, we recommend having at least two vents on opposite sides of your enclosure.

The type of fuel you use to power your fire pit will also affect where you place your vents. Natural gas is lighter than air and will rise up to the top of your fire pit; therefore, the vents should be at the top of the base of your enclosure. Propane is heavier than air and will sit on the bottom of your fire pit; therefore, the vents will need to be on the very bottom of the enclosure. 

Burners

You can’t have a fire without a burner. The size of a burner will dictate how tall and wide your flames will stand. When choosing a burner important features to look at include the size, shape, material, and BTU. The shape of the burner will affect the flame pattern, and the BTU is how much heat the fire will produce. 

This is another aspect of the fire pit building process that if you are not feeling confident about choosing all the right parts for a burner kit there are fire pit burner kits available that will come with every part you will need to start up your burner. For more information on burners check out this post.

Pan

The pan is what cradles the burner, media, and everything that makes the flames come to life. Check your burner first, because some burners have pans attached already, or it may already be included if you have purchased a fire pit burner kit. 

If not, and you are purchasing the pan separate from the burner take a look at your burner size and shape. The pan’s diameter needs to allow for 3 or more inches of clearance space between every side of the burner and the edge of the pan. Once you have determined how big the pan needs to be, you can look at shapes and styles of pans compared to your enclosure. Would you rather the pan sit in line with the top edge of your enclosure, or would you like it to be recessed down into the surface? 

Connectors and Fittings

The parts that deliver the gas into the enclosure and to the burner are called fittings and connectors. The biggest potential issue to be aware of when choosing connectors and fittings is high-pitched whistling sounds created from sharp turns in the fitting pathway. 

Look for a whistle-free flexible line to use as a connector. Avoid corrugated pipe and elbow connectors, as they create sharp turns that will result in whistling. When installing your connectors use gentle curves in a flexible line; avoid sharp turns for optimal use. 

Air Mixers

Are you using propane as your fuel source? Then you will need an air mixer for your fire pit. Air mixers work similarly to blowers in a fireplace. They take in outside air and mix it with propane before it shoots out of the burner and ignites for the combustion process. 

What air mixer you get largely depends on what burner you have. Each manufacturer has a different air mixer, and some burners, such as the Crossfire Brass Burner, have air mixers built-in. 

The air mixer will be installed on the connectors and fittings system, and it's essential to get as close to the burner as possible. The air mixer must also be positioned vertically. Otherwise, the airflow will slow, and gas will be able to leak out of the mixer. Gas escaping where it’s not supposed to be is never a good problem, and in this case, it can lead to flames underneath the pan and damage the foundation of your fire pit. 

Media

Now for the fun part! Picking out the media. Media is the accent that brings your whole fire pit style together. It also has a functional purpose. Media sits directly on top of your burner. It functions to hide the burner from view, protect the burner, and distribute the flames as they exit the burner to give your fire pit a more natural look. 

For an in-depth look at different types of fire, pit media check out the article here. Your options for types of media include lava rock, a gas log set, colored fire glass, fireballs, or fire stones. If you get loose media like lava rocks or fire stones it should cover the burner by one inch (assuming your burner has the correct gas pressure). You can also use a combination of fire media, such as an inexpensive lava rock, topped with fire glass, to get a modern style at a more affordable price point. 

If you’re using liquid propane, the fuel will leave a soot residue on fire glass. Or if you are using natural gas and lava rock as a base layer for fire glass, you’ll see a similar residue. Purchasing a dark color fire glass will hide soot. If you have your heart set on light-colored fire glass, have no fear, it is easy to clean, by placing it in a bucket of soap and water, then leaving it out and allowing it to dry completely before placing it back in the fire pit. 

Never collect river stones from near a river, or your backyard to use as fire media. These naturally occurring stones often have water in them, and if quickly heated up, they have a tendency to explode. 

Ignition

The final step of gathering all the pieces of your fire pit is to select the ignition. Otherwise, you will not be able to turn your fire pit on! There are three main types of ignition systems for your fire pit: manual ignition (also called match-lit), push-button ignition, and automatic ignition. 

Each category of ignition system raises in price but also increases the convenience. Automatic ignition is the most expensive but gives you the option to turn on your fire pit by remote control, a switch, your smartphone’s Bluetooth, or a smart home system.

These types of ignitions also require electricity to operate, and we recommend hiring a licensed professional to install them because incorrect installation can lead to dangerous scenarios. You should also think about installing a gas shut-off valve that is twenty feet away from your fire pit. This is a safety feature that will allow someone to shut off the gas supply a safe distance away from the fire pit if disaster does strike. And as with any time you are dealing with fire. It’s good to have easy access to a portable fire extinguisher around your fire pit area. 

When to Hire a Professional

If you’re ever in doubt that’s why we’re here! If you selected all the materials, but don’t want to connect all the electrical parts of your fire pit or if you get halfway done and want someone else to finish the job, or if you just have a simple question, give us a call!

Fire pits have a lot of electrical and gas components that should always be handled by a professional. For example, if you need a gas line modified or installed if any of the smallest connections aren’t installed correctly this can lead to dangerous, or deadly situations. Attaching the electrical ignition systems also should be installed by a licensed professional.

We’re Here to Help!

If you need any help installing your gas fire pit, feel free to call us at 866-848-3473 or send us an email. Our NFI-certified experts are here to answer any questions or schedule an inspection for your existing fireplace or your new gas fire pit. Browse our selection to learn more or check out our other Learning Center articles to expand your fireplace knowledge.

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