Many homeowners have trouble choosing between a fire pit that uses natural gas and one that uses wood, but considering the pros and cons of each can help. One of the biggest advantages of a natural gas fire pit is the ease of starting a fire, as wood does not need to be gathered to do this. There is also no smoke, embers, or ash, which means that it is considered rather clean. On the other hand, it is not the best kind of fire pit for roasting food, and is not usually considered as warm as the kind that uses wood. Additionally, it is often difficult to install the gas line needed for this kind of fire pit, which can result in high costs.
People who live in cold areas are often interested in starting a fire quickly in order to begin warming up right away, and a natural gas fire pit offers this ability. In fact, most fire pits of this kind can be started by pressing a button, turning a key, or flipping a switch. This is typically faster and easier than gathering wood and constantly placing it in the pit to build the fire.
Another perk of a fire pit that runs on natural gas is the lack of mess to clean up after each fire, as there is no ash left in the pit afterward. Additionally, there are no embers during the fire, which means that people gathered around it will not be hit by flying sparks. This also reduces the risk of a fire starting outside the pit. Of course, despite these advantages, some homeowners may be disappointed by the lack of smoke, or even the lack of embers, as the fire may not seem very natural without these familiar details.
Another disadvantage of the typical natural gas fire pit is the fact that it is not ideal to cook food using this kind of flame. While most people do not regularly cook dinner on their fire pit, they may want to roast marshmallows, which is usually best left to wood fire pits. Many simply feel that the fire that can be created in this type of fire pit is not as warm or cozy as the kind in a wood pit with its crackling sounds, multiple colors, and ever changing flames.
In addition, anyone considering a natural gas fire pit should check to see if their yard already has a gas line, as this is required for this type of pit. If the yard does not have one, it should be noted that having one installed can be expensive, usually requiring the help of a professional. This is especially true for those wanting to install a fire pit on top of a patio, as it can be difficult to put a gas line in when there is already cement present.