Is the rainy season around the corner and you don’t know how to keep a fire pit from flooding?
Keeping a fire pit from flooding is crucial for it to function well. Not only can stagnant water cause havoc in your yard (and potentially your foundation), but also pools of water may cause significant harm to your fire pit. However, fear not! While water is a concern, the solution is quite simple.
So, strap in and follow this guide and learn how to keep a fire pit from flooding.
How to Keep a Fire Pit From Flooding?
There are a variety of methods for preventing fire pits from flooding. One approach is to ensure that the area surrounding your fire pit is leveled before using it. Also, you can add sand or gravel to the bottom of your pit to aid with moisture absorption. Cover it to prevent water from entering if it begins to rain while using the fire pit.
Select the Appropriate Fire Pit
Choosing the appropriate fire pit for a place you have in consideration is a critical decision. First, consider the location and then conduct research.
Read reviews of several brands and styles, pay a visit to a few outdoor stores, or perform some comparison shopping online. When all is done, you will be glad you took the effort and time to select an ideal fire pit for your intended use.
The Design of the Fire Pit
The shape of a fire pit will affect how easily you can maintain it from overflowing. You can select between fire pits with mesh screens over the top and fire pits with a metal screen that completely covers the hole.
This way, even if there is a strong storm or wind-driven rain, you will keep it from flooding. If there is no metal or mesh to cover the fire pit, be sure to erect a tarp or any other kind of shelter immediately upon noticing a storm approaching.
Location of the Fire Pit
While you may adore your deck or patio, it might be dangerous if located dangerously near the edge of something like a hillside. The ideal position for a fire pit is a flat open area with no risk of rain pooling up around it. However, if it does pool, it has the potential to absorb the heat from your fire and transfer it directly into your home.
Ideally, you will enjoy your fire pit more often without having to constantly worry about how to prevent the fire pit from water. Therefore, consider these aspects before you begin shopping for one. Additionally, you can get a fire pit suitable for usage in wet weather or elevated above the ground.
Cover a Fire Pit to Keep Snow and Rain Out
A purpose-built fire pit tarp or a cover secured with bungee cords can prevent rain from entering the fire pit and flooding it. Alternatively, if you have a metal screen covering the top of the fire pit, it will keep the majority of rain out. However, in the winter, ice can accumulate on the surface of a fire pit, flooding the area beneath your fire pit cover.
Ascertain That the Fire Pit Is Level
A shaky fire pit makes cooking more complicated, and if your grate is not level, you risk having overcooked or burnt food. Therefore, it is a brilliant idea to inspect your fire pit for signs of damage regularly. If you discover anything unusual, take corrective action immediately.
Ascertain That the Drainage System Is Working Properly
A slight slope to the back or a little higher elevation in front will prevent rainwater collecting. Your fire pit’s screen or cover should collect any water that flows off it direct it far from the deck or patio. This way, you will enjoy the fire pit without having to be concerned about floods.
Keep a Shovel on Ready to Remove Any Ice or Snow Buildup
Also, you will need a shovel to remove any snow or ice that develops on top of the fire pit cover. This way, you’ll not have to worry about approaching too closely and knocking the lid off accidentally. With a bit of forethought, you can reap all the benefits of owning fire pits without having to worry about flooding and how to prevent fire pits from flooding.
Add Gravel or Sand around the Fire Pit’s Base to Aid with Drainage
If the area surrounding your fire pit isn’t level or is not set on a hard surface like cement, putting gravel or sand at the bottom of a foundation leg will assist avoid water collection and flooding. If the vinyl decking becomes deformed due to moisture accumulation beneath the fire pit lid, you could either remove it or buy a more substantial cover.
What to Do When Your Fire Pit Continues to Flood?
You are not out of luck if you currently own a fire pit that frequently floods. You may sit around it if it rains, but be ready to use a fire pit cover to keep water out. If you do not have one or can’t locate yours, you can improvise using a tarp and bungee cables.
At one edge of the tarp, stack some logs and place them on the top of the fire pit. Ensure that you drape it far enough to cover all sides. If you are concerned about it blowing away in the wind, attach numerous bungee cords all around the tarp (at least 3). Now you can enjoy sitting by the fire pit even when it rains!
Why should you be concerned about how to keep a fire pit from flooding? It appears that stagnant water is not just an annoyance for proper cleaning, but it may also cause rust to form on your prized fire pit. This significantly reduces its longevity and may necessitate a replacement.
If you wonder if fire pits could get wet, the answer is yes. Therefore, significant problems can emerge without sufficient drainage or evaporation. However, as long as your fire pit dries quickly, the negative consequences of a wet fire pit are minimal.
FAQs
Question: How do I protect my fire pit from rain?
Answer: Covering your fire pit is the simplest way to keep rainfall out. Numerous metal or vinyl cover options are available and are simple to use. Additionally, they keep wayward material out and keep fire pits clean and dry, set for the next occasion.
Question: Do fire pits need drainage?
Answer: It may not be the first thing for you to consider but building a good drainage system is important for your fire pit. Regardless of whether you have a movable metal or a set stone fire pits, you may need to construct a drainage system — and yes, permanent fire pits require drains which simplifies their use, cleaning, and maintenance.
Question: Will water damage a fire pit?
Answer: While water may appear harmless, it is among the most destructive elements known to man, particularly with metals. For example, the kind of metal used to construct your fire pit and the length of time it is exposed to rain may affect how quickly it rusts. If it rains unexpectedly for a night, there may not be any immediate damage to worry about. However, water will damage the fire pit over time.
