Fire Pit Maintenance Tips
Fire pit care and maintenance guidelines
Maybe you just bought a new fire pit and are wondering: Do I need to clean a fire pit? How do I take care of it? Where should I store my fire pit? How can I make my fire pit last longer?
A little time and effort goes a long way in extending the lifespan of your fire pit. Here you will find useful tips on how to take care of your fire pit to make it last longer and look better.
In this article we will cover the following tips to take a proper care of a fire pit:
- Cleaning
- Oiling
- Mechanical maintenance
- Painting
- How to stop fire pit rust
- Protective covers
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How to maintain a fire pit
1. Fire pit cleaning
How often should I clean my fire pit?
Do I need to clean my fire pit after every use? No, you can clean your fire pit only every few uses (depending on what you burn in the fire pit and how much debris has accumulated).
What to clean a fire pit with?
You will want to check the fire pit manufacturers instructions on what cleaning products you can use to clean your fire pit. Some chemicals can damage certain types of metal fire bowls, others can leave stains on metal or stone.
How to clean a fire pit
To clean your burner pan follow these steps:
- Dispose of the fire pit ashes
- Use a dry scrub brush to get rid of the debris remaining in the bowl
- Wash it with a cleaning solution
You can use a home made solution: dissolve ¼ cup of washing soda in gallon of hot water.
One more tip: do not use corrosives to clean a metal fire pit bowl
Your safety while cleaning a fire pit
Cleaning a fire pit is a dirty job. Especially removing the leftover ashes can produce a lot of dust. To stay safe, use a dust mask, protective gloves and apron. Apart from that a protective eye wear wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
2. Oiling fire pit
Should I oil my fire pit?
Yes, oiling your metal fire pit as part of your maintenance practice will stop or slow down the rusting process. Although oiling a fire pit after each burn would be excellent, it would be cumbersome, so we would recommend doing it after each cleaning, ever few burns.
How do you oil a fire pit?
Rub in some beeswax polish or vegetable oil all over the burner bowl as well as other metal parts of your fire pit (legs, lid, etc). Giving it a layer of protection against the air will prevent your fire pit from oxidizing. To apply wax or oil, use a soft cloth (e.g. a piece of old cotton shirt or an old sock). Work in 8-shape movements on larger surfaces – this way you will cover them most efficiently.
3. Mechanical maintenance
Here is what you can do to avoid mechanical damage of your fire pit:
- Regularly tighten any nuts and bolts to avoid damage and maintain stability and strength.
- If you have propane or gas, check connections regularly to avoid gas leaks.
- Do not drag your fire pit when moving, instead lift and place it carefully
- Position your fire pit on a stable surface and level it up if needed. Ensure the weight is distributed evenly to avoid the burner bowls toppling over or going out of alignment over time due to the weight not distributed evenly.
4. Painting fire pits
Is it safe to spray paint a fire pit?
It is safe to use only specialist spray paint for fire pits and BBQs. It needs to be a heat resistant paint. You shouldn’t use just any spray paint on anything that will be in contact with high temperatures or fire or you will risk the paint burning off and releasing toxic fumes.
Why spray paint a fire pit?
Metal fire pits are often painted on the surface. However, the layer of paint will burn out over time, discolorate and won’t provide protection from rust. To maintain your fire pit properly, you should occasionally touch up your firepit with fire pit spray paint.
5. How to stop fire pit rust
First, let’s answer the question why do fire pits rust?
Most fire pits are made from carbon steel or other types of metal and metals rust in contact with oxygen and water. Although metal burner bowls are usually coated with an anti-corrosion paint, this layer will burn off over time and the exposed metal will begin to rust. So what can you do about it?
How to rust proof a fire pit
Ways to rust proof your fire pit
Here is how you can rust proof or revive a rusted fire pit:
- Spray paint
First, clean the fire bowl and sand it to create a rough surface to which the paint will stick well. If there is a lot of rust build up, use a rust remover and sand the metal again after that. Then apply a high-heat, rust-resistant spray paint. (You may want to apply two layers of paint so it lasts longer). - Apply oil
Once the metal is dry, apply vegetable oil (or any other cooking oil) with a paper towel or a cloth (an old sock does a great job!) Oil creates a natural protective barrier between metal and air slowing down oxidation (corrosion). - Add sand
Putting sand in the bottom of your fire pit is a good practice. Sand will absorb moisture keeping it off the metal. But there are even more reasons why put sand in the bottom of a fire pit. - Remove ash from the bowl
The leftover ash absorbs moisture from the air or rain and holds that moisture right on the surface of the metal accelerating corrosion. So make it a habit to remove the ash the next day after burning a fire (when it has cooled down) if you want your fire pit to stay rust free for longer.
6. Protective covers for fire pits
Let’s begin with looking into the conditions in which you store your fire pit.
Can you leave a fire pit outside?
Yes, outdoor fire pits are designed to be left outside. But you will want to use a protective cover to keep your fire burner clean, slow down the corrosion and keep it in a good condition.
Can I leave my fire pit outside in winter?
Yes, it’s fine to leave a fire pit outside for winter, but remember to protect it with a cover.
Can fire pits get rained on
As we mentioned above, ideally you should protect your fire pit from rain when not in use. However, an occasional shower won’t ruin it immediately, e.g. if it rained at night after you’ve enjoyed an evening around the fire and left your fire pit to cool down, there is nothing to worry about. Just take care of it the next day, make sure there is no water remaining in the fire bowl and leave it dry for storage.
Can propane fire pits get wet?
It shouldn’t be an issue if they get wet or rained on occasionally, however if they remain wet for a long time, it may negatively influence the performance of gas burners, it may become become difficult to light it and the fire pit will rust.
How to keep your fire pit from filling with water
Prolonged exposure to water can rust away any metal fire bowl. To ensure water doesn’t stay in your fire pit for a long time, you can:
- drill a drainage hole in the bottom of your fire pit
- store it under a roof
- use a protective cover or tarp
Should you cover a fire pit from rain?
Yes, it’s a good practice to cover a fire pit and protect it from rain and sunlight. Although fire pits are designed to sit outside, using a protective cover will extend the life of your fire pit, reduce rusting and discoloration. Some fire pits come with protective covers. There are also various ready-made covers you can buy online for square or round outdoor fire pits, or you can simply use a tarp to cover it.
Examples of fire pit protectors
Square Firepit Cover Outdoor
Round Patio Fire Bowl Cover
Remember to use a protective cover only after the fire bowl has cooled down not to burn it!
How do you keep a copper fire pit shiny
To keep your copper fire bowl shiny you can polish the copper surface and then using a soft cloth rub in some furniture polish or wax into it. This will prevent the patina from forming on the surface.
If you want to use natural ingredients, you can use lemon and salt to polish your copper fire pan. How to do it? Cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub the copper with the lemon halves. After that, rinse the copper bowl with water, and dry with a cloth or paper.
Fire pit maintenance don’ts
There are a few things you should avoid doing if you wan to take a good care of your fire pit.
- Don’t put out your fire pit with water
Allow it to burn out naturally instead. If you pour water over your fire bowl, the rapid change in temperature may cause your fire pit to weaken or crack. If you need to put out your fire pit quickly, you can use sand or ashes to extinguish the flames. - Don’t let water stay in a metal fire pan
We’ve covered this already above, so this is just as a reminder. Water remaining in a metal fire bowl for an extended period of time will accelerate the corrosion process, so you want to avoid it. - Don’t burn plastics or treated wood
Plastics or chemicals from treated wood may damage the surface of your fire pit and most importantly are harmful to your health.
We hope you find our fire pit maintenance tips helpful and you will enjoy your fire pit for a long time!
What are your best tricks to clean and look after your fire pit? Share in the comments below!
