Deck fire pits are a safe, simple solution. With an outdoor fire pit you can have the warmth of a real natural wood or gas fire on the patio, on the deck or in the back garden. Not only are fire pits safe and simple to use, they also make an attractive feature of your outdoor decor.
Choosing a fire pit for the deck or patio.

Fire pits come in many shapes and sizes, but the most well loved designs feature a large, shallow bowl to build the fire in, supported by a stand. The fire pit bowl can sit close to the ground, for a real campfire feel, or there are tall stands which have a shelf beneath for storing wood. You could also choose a copper chimenea style fire pit, which has a chimney structure above the fire pit itself to vent the smoke upwards.

Probably the most well loved fire pits are made from natural copper with a wrought iron stand, and it’s not hard to see why. Copper and wrought iron have a very attractive, antique look, and fire pits made from copper are magnificent outdoor sculptures in themselves. Copper fire pits can also be used as planters.

Other well loved materials for deck fire pits include stainless steel, clay, natural stone, or lightweight concrete reinforced with glass fiber. Some fire pits are designed for natural wood fires, while others work using a natural gas or propane flame over a bed of volcanic rock.

You will be able to enjoy the sight and sounds of a great crackling fire anytime and anywhere you want, safely. Whalen is a third generation company located in Macomb, IL that has been producing quality products for over 60 years. You can be assured that all Whalen fire pits are of the highest quality but are also reasonably priced.

Whalen Fire Pits at this time come in 3 available sizes. The Firepit Jr. is 20″ x 33″ high and is perfect for having nice, small fires. For slightly larger fires, the Whalen 20″ Firepit is perfect as it is 40″ high and also has complete flame containment with a galvanized screen. The largest fire pit made by Whalen is the 28″ model. This pit is 45″ high and made of heavy gauge steel that will last for many years. Both bowls are black with an enamel finish of baked porcelain. Like the other models, the 28″ Whalen has a 18″ steel screen that encloses the fire pit and keeps the flames and embers safely contained.

Whalen also makes many accessories for their fire pits including covers, pokers and even grill kits. The grill kits are very cool as they will turn your fire pit into a cooking grill instantly. The grills cover half of the top of the fire pit and feature over 300 sq. inches of cooking area so you will be able to cook for all of your guests.

If you are in the market for a quality outdoor fire pit, you really can’t go wrong with a Whalen. They will last a lifetime if cared for properly and are very reasonably priced. Also, they are made 100% in the USA.

Accidents Do Happen

Unfortunately, there are several incidents every year of burning embers and sparks that fly up and into trees, bushes, leaves or actually onto a roof and ignite a blaze. While enjoying your fire pit, you must also be safe and that is where fire pit screens come into play.

A good fire pit screen will keep those red hot embers safely contained within the enclosure. Still, it is a good idea to not leave the fire pit unattended for too long as anything can happen with fires. The wind could suddenly pick up and it does not take much of a spark to ignite some dry leaves.

Most fire pit screens will actually come with your fire pit although some do not and will need to be bought separately. Make sure that the screen is made of wire or some type of metal and that the openings are small enough to trap most of the hot embers. I have seen screens that have large openings and still allow good sized embers to escape. This is defeating the purpose of using a fire pit screen and is dangerous.

Make Your Own

If you buy a fire pit without a screen, you can make your own or have one made for you. A welder can make a nice custom fit screen for your fire pit at a reasonable price. Just make sure that the screen is easy to remove and that it allows you access to the fire without having to remove the screen every time.

By utilizing a good, quality fire pit screen you can enjoy the many benefits of a fire pit while also keeping your family, guests and neighbors safe.

The first choice you need to make is do you want something that is permanetely installed on your patio or do you want something that is portable that can be moved to other locations and store away in the winter. Portable fire pits give you more flexibility but some folks prefer having their fire pit fixed in a specific spot on their patio.

You can opt for a fire pit that burns gas and mimics a traditional camp fire. The advantages are that the gas burns much cleaner than wood and they are much easier to maintain and clean. You will need to hook up to a source of gas though whether it is propane or natural gas. Patio fire pits will obviously be fairly close to your home and can usually be hooked into your existing gas lines. Otherwise you can get a propane tank.

Another popular choice is the mexican chiminea, which is sometimes made of clay and has a chimney at the top which vents out the heat. They are very unique and often times become a conversation piece. If you are buying a chiminea for your patio, you should get one made of iron as clay designs are very hot and should not be placed on wood.

Patio fire pits are great to gather around with family on a cool fall evening as winter gets nearer. They add romance and a cozyness to your outdoor setting and can be used for many years to come.

Fire pits can range from very low cost including fire rings, or they can be very expensive if you go with a custom design. Copper fire pits are generally somewhere in the middle but can be very expensive if you have a custom pit designed. Most can be bought for somewhere between $200-$500 and can be purchased from specialty online stores or at some large retailers as well.

When shopping for a copper fire pit, you will need to decide what your needs are. There is a huge variety of designs available. You will also need to decide what type of fuel you are going to use. You may want a traditional wood burner that you can move. If you are looking to add this to your pation, you might want a propane fire pit that you can hook up to a tank or to an existing gas line.

Another great thing about these is that they are extremely durable. The copper will not rust and can handle temperatures close to 2000 degrees so you can never burn too hot. If you take care of your fire pit by storing it away in the winter and keeping it out of the elements as much as possible, it will last you a lifetime.

Whatever you decide to do, you will soon find out that copper fire pits can add a lot to your outdoor experience. They are fairly inexpensive, durable, and most importantly look fantastic!