Screen guide for fire pits?
If you have a nice big outdoor area and fond of enjoying the outdoors, especially in the chilly winter nights, then having a fire pit in your patio or the backyard will definitely add more to your experience.
Fire pits however can also prove to be safety hazards and hence, various state regulations regarding not allowing one in certain situations and certain types of fire pits are therefore not allowed by a few states.
Safety should always be the number one priority as fire pit can prove to be dangerous if safety is not thought about. It is extremely important to have a fire extinguisher handy if you are installing a fire pit in your house as the number one precaution.
The next important thing that you must have is the fire pit screen.
Most of the time, in the fire pit which uses wood, the embers and the sparks fly out of the fire pit all around the area, especially during periods of strong winds.
The sparks and the embers may hit anyone, anywhere as well as get caught between leaves of the trees which can prove to be a fire hazard. The thing which can help you to protect yourself and the area around you is the screen or a cover for the fire pit.
It is used as a form of safety equipment that helps to protect those who are near to the fire from the possibility of injury by any fire sparks that can fly out from the fire pit.
Many fire pits are equipped with screens for the fire pit which acts as a protection to safeguard the users and they are made specifically for them. You can, however, also purchase the fire pit screens used majorly.
Also consider the measurements of the fire pit, such as its diameter and size so that it can easily fit.
The stainless steel fire pits are the better options and the ones made with iron are not very strong but will end up rusting if they are not well maintained.
Things to Consider for Screens
The following things should be kept in mind when deciding to purchase a screen for your fire pit.
When you are in the process of selecting a fire pit to buy, look for these features, example door in a large size, so that additional wood can be added on the fire when needed.
- It should have a long handle that is quite long so that your hands can be protected from the fire.
- If you like night fires, then it is no doubt better to purchase a screen that is raised which will make it easy for you to add more logs into the fire, and this will reduce the requirement of opening the screen of the fire pit every now and then to replenish the wooden logs.
Check this: Maintenance of Stainless Fire pits
Safety tips for fire pits
You need to be extremely careful and cautious if you have a fire pit in your backyard without having a fire pit screen. A great fire pit in your backyard can really make your family gatherings fun and jolly without going out.
However, using fire pits without proper safety measures can prove to be really dangerous.
Whoever owns a fire pit that is wood-burning should be equipped with the relevant information regarding the rules and tips to guard your safety around fire pits which shall help you so that you are able to enjoy the fire place to the fullest while being safe and secure.
Fire can be really dangerous as well as erratic. It may spread in just a few seconds if left unchecked.
Do not use fluids that are flammable
Many people use gasoline or even the lighter fluid to light up their fire pit which can be really hazardous and yet, this practice is quite common with a lot of fire pit owners.
Even a drop of this flammable liquid can cause a fire to erupt and this can easily fall on your clothes or on something that is around you and it can catch fire easily.
Moreover, using too much of these types of fluids to start a fire can also be dangerous because a blazing fire can erupt with a match stroke that can cause serious burns on you as well as for other people around.
This can happen if you have put in too much fluid in the fire pit.
The fire should be lit up in a correct manner
The safest option to use in the fire pit is to use wood since the way it burns is quite slow. Even wood however, is not without its dangers if you do not take care of it.
If the wood is kept really high, and if by mistake it falls down when it is already lit up, it can cause flames as well as major sparks that can travel across cushions which may be on the chairs or seats and it may even touch flammable surfaces or materials.
The best way to start your fire in the fire pit is to use proper techniques. Fire starters for the fire pit are readily available in all major supermarkets or even at hard ware stores.
It is advisable not to use flammable liquids or newspapers to make your fire. Moreover, the fire starters that are available in the market also help to reduce the smoke that emits.
The fire-pit should not be in close proximity to your home
There should be a distance of at least three meters that should be maintained from your house that leads to the pit. It is important to keep your fire pit away from trees or branches or any sort of furniture as well as shrubs and foliage as these things can easily catch fire.
Don’t get drunk!
Many accidents happen quite often during festivities and around the holidays where people are often drinking and hanging around near the fire pit.
It is quite possible that a person may have too much to drink and stumble and fall down near or on the fire pit which can cause burns and be really dangerous.
The best idea is not to have alcohol around the fire pit area since it can get out of control and it might become difficult to control how much the guests are drinking.
So either have the alcohol or the fire pit in use, do not have both together.
Always clear the area
Sometimes it does not require alcohol for someone to just stumble and fall or to lose their footing. A lot of times a person may be distracted and trip over and fall.
Many times, it is due to an object that may be in their way or the floor being uneven which may cause them to slip. If this is around the fire pit area, it can prove to be dangerous and anybody can fall in the fire.
To prevent that from happening the fire pit should be placed in such a way that the flooring around its area is clear from any uneven edges and there are no objects which may be on the floor or blocking the path.
This is helping to protect you and your guests from any possible accidents.
Consider weather conditions
During times of dry weather or in droughts the overall environment is dry and using a fire in such a place can lead to accidents and start a fire as even a spark can easily travel to the dry foliage and a fire can abrupt easily.
This means one should be careful when making fires during the periods of strong winds and in times of dry season.
Conclusion
To sum up, having a fire pit in your house is a great idea and a fun away of having social gatherings around it. Safety for the usage however should be the number one priority and should always be considered.
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