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What are the Pros and Cons of a Wood Burning Fire Pit?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

A wood burning fire pit can be a pleasant and aesthetically pleasing addition to a backyard or courtyard, but fire pits need to be constructed carefully and maintained regularly. Unlike a gas burning fire pit, a wood burning one will need to be cleaned of ash and embers regularly to avoid a mess as well as a potentially dangerous fire hazard. Such fire pits will also require the user to procure seasoned firewood to be burned in the pit; unseasoned wood is more likely to cause a lot of smoke or to be difficult to light.

The advantages of a wood burning fire pit include the ability to produce a small, moderate, or large fire, depending on the user's desires, by adding more wood. Once the wood has burned down and embers remain, the pit can be used as an effective cooking fire that will not flavor the food as gas can. Cooking items such as Dutch ovens can be used in the burning embers, whereas such implements may be difficult or impossible to use in a gas burning pit.

A wood burning fire pit will require seasoned firewood to be burned.
A wood burning fire pit will require seasoned firewood to be burned.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantages of this type of fire pit include the inability to quickly regulate the size of flames and the presence of smoke during burning. Gas burning fire pits can be extinguished quickly and easily should the need arise by simply cutting off the gas supply to the flame. Wood fires will need to be doused with sand or water water, and even once this has been done, the fire may not be completely extinguished. Gas stoves do not produce large amounts of smoke, but wood often will, and this can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat. Smoke can also get into the clothing, hair, and skin of people around the fire.

Gas stoves do not produce large amounts of smoke, but wood often will.
Gas stoves do not produce large amounts of smoke, but wood often will.

A wood burning fire pit is an inexpensive way to add a fire pit to a yard. While not necessarily expensive, gas does cost money, whereas wood can sometimes be found at no cost. The components that the user must purchase to make a gas powered fire pit work properly will also add to the overall cost of the pit, whereas a wood burning model requires no extra equipment beyond the structure itself. One of the more significant drawbacks is the cleaning process; ash and embers will need to be scooped out of the pit and properly disposed of, and the pit itself may become discolored from smoke and ash.

Discussion Comments

anon951641

Really, what kind of person thinks that smoking out their neighbors and polluting their neighborhood air is a good idea?

anon951616

Seriously, why not discuss the health issues associated with a fire pit, like the environmental impact or the irritation to neighbors? There are so many reasons not to have a wood burning fire pit. Take some time to educate people on the truth about wood burning. Visit the American Lung Association's page, or just look what the EPA is currently doing to try to reduce the participation in the air we breathe.

anon951613

Plus, the smoke may blow in your neighbors window then the fire department comes. It's not worth the hassle.

gravois

I have seen a lot of fire pits for sale now that the weather is getting warmer and people are getting their backyard in shape. I have never had one before but I have thought about buying one this year.

I am worried about getting all the wood that I will need. There are not a lot of trees in my area and I can't imagine how I would be able to gather enough wood to keep a fire going. How much does it cost to buy wood and how long will it last?

nextcorrea

I like fire pits all right but I feel like the minute I sit down next to one the smoke starts blowing right at me. I have to squint my eyes or move to the other side of the pit and invariably the smoke will start blowing in that direction.

Also, the next day all my clothes and my hair smell like smoke. I like fire pits but I'm not sure all the hassle is worth it.

Ivan83

I think that if you have the space and the wood there are really not any cons to having a wood burning fir pit. They are great on cool fall and spring evenings, they cast a pleasant light and have a nice smell and they are something that brings people together. Some of my fondest memories of my house are sitting in the backyard with my friends around a fire having a beer and talking.

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    • A wood burning fire pit will require seasoned firewood to be burned.
      By: GummyBear
      A wood burning fire pit will require seasoned firewood to be burned.
    • Gas stoves do not produce large amounts of smoke, but wood often will.
      By: Maygutyak
      Gas stoves do not produce large amounts of smoke, but wood often will.
    • It can be challenging to control the size of the flame in a fire pit.
      By: beeandbee
      It can be challenging to control the size of the flame in a fire pit.
    • Wood burning fire pits, if not properly made or maintained, can become fire hazards.
      By: Tatiana Belova
      Wood burning fire pits, if not properly made or maintained, can become fire hazards.
    • One con of a wood burning fire pit is the presence of smoke during burning.
      By: nikkytok
      One con of a wood burning fire pit is the presence of smoke during burning.