Fall weather is in the air, and the heat has started to lift. What better time to hang out with friends or enjoy a peaceful moment at home around your fire pit?
Fire pits are popular in fall weather as homeowners extend their living space to the back yard or their patio. If you’re ready to light up your fire pit, make sure you stay safe so everyone enjoys the moment.
Purchasing a New Fire Pit
If this is the year you’re adding a fire pit to your outdoor living space, you’ve got some important decisions to make.
DIY or Professional Installation: If you want a DIY project or to save a bit of money, you can go to your local home improvement store to get everything you need to set up a fire pit. If you don’t have the time, energy, or skills to do that, you can always have it professionally installed.
Permanent or Portable: Will your fire pit be part of a designated outdoor living space? You may want a permanent fixture. Do you want to bring it with you when you go camping or to a friends home? Look for portable fire pits instead.
Wood or Gas: Your final decision is about how you want to light your fire. Wood burning fires give off a nice crackle and smoke, creating an ambiance that many people enjoy, but they can take a while to get going. Gas fire pits light almost instantly, shortening the wait time, but don’t offer the same sensory experience.
Fire Pit Safety Tips
Much like using a fireplace in your home, there are many things to keep in mind when you use your fire pit. All are meant to keep you, your family, and your home safe.
- Place or install your fire pit on bricks, pavers, or a metal surface. Do not set it on wood or grass as these can catch fire easily.
- Make sure your fire pit is set up at least 10 feet away from your home and your neighbors homes and yards.
- Before lighting your fire pit, check the wind direction. You don’t want a spark blowing towards people or your home.
- Do not use gasoline or lighter fluid to light your fire pit as these liquids are highly flammable and can cause a fire to grow too big too quickly.
- Make sure your clothing is non-flammable and doesn’t fit loosely. It only takes a single spark.
- Keep pets and children at least three feet away from your fire pit and never leave them alone with it.
- Always have a fire extinguisher or source of water (a hose or a bucket of water) close by in case the fire gets out of hand.
- Safely dispose of ashes by letting them cool, placing them in a metal bucket, and dousing the ashes with water.
No matter which fire pit you enjoy in your backyard, always make sure you have enough home insurance in case of a fire. If you haven’t thought about your home insurance since you bought your home, now is the time to check your policy limits. Contact Charlotte Insurance today!