What is the purpose of proper Gas Fire Pit Clearance? In today's HPC Fire Inspired™ Tech Talk we are going to talk about the proper gas fire pit clearance to combustible materials needed when installing a gas fire feature. A combustible is any flammable material that could be seriously damaged by the flame. HPC looks at clearances two main ways: horizontal and overhead, as well as two BTU ranges: at or less than 200K and 201K to 400K BTU's. Here are the following HPC Fire Inspired™ guide lines: Standard Burners up to 200K BTU Horizontal Clearance – 36" edge of burner pan to any combustible Overhead Clearance – 84" from top of fire pit enclosure to ceiling AND must have at least 2 open walls NOTE: You must meet both of these criteria [...]

Gas Fire Pit Drainage What is the purpose of gas fire pit drainage for your enclosure? In HPC Fire Inspired™ last Tech Talk we talked about Ventilation, today we are going to talk about Drainage and how it goes hand in hand with Ventilation. The sole reason for proper drainage is to avoid water/moisture accumulating in the fire pit enclosure. There are two points (1 critical, 1 highly recommended) that HPC would like to emphasize in regards to proper fire pit enclosure drainage: In any fire pit enclosure installation it is critical that the valve box be installed above grade HPC highly recommends that a floor drain be installed on your fire pit enclosure If no floor drain installed, then the ventilation openings should go all the way down to the ground so that [...]

Gas Fire Pit Ventilation What is the purpose of ventilation in a gas fire pit enclosure? HPC Fire Inspired™ specializes in safe fire pit inserts. In order to have a successful installation of an insert, you must build the proper enclosure, which means you must meet the safe and proper product clearances and understand ventilation requirements. An HPC fire pit insert is different than a fire table. An insert is a permanent installation, requires a hard piped gas line, possibly an electric or GFCI outlet run into the enclosure. The enclosure can be built to match or blend with your outdoor area, whether stone, brick, poured concrete, or several other non-combustible materials, as long as it has adequate ventilation. HPC recommends the following [...]

Hearth Product Controls (HPC) Recommends Annual Firepit Maintenance: While many hardscape and landscape contractors are planning spring cleanups and new construction projects, we recommend that you add spring fire pit maintenance to your lists. Like any appliance, routine maintenance ensures that fire pits are safe and trouble-free. Plus, seasonal maintenance provides contractors with recurring revenue opportunities. Hearth Products Controls recommends that a professional -- one who is certified in the U.S. by the National Fireplace Institute -- service gas fire pits annually. Prior to starting a gas fire pit for the first time in the spring, here are a few things to do and check to ensure the fire pit is ready for service: Make sure the fire pit [...]

Blue Flames Explained - ​We often receive calls from homeowners asking "Why are there blue flames or the flames are hard to see when we first light our fire pit?" There are a couple of factors that cause your flames to look like this for a short period upon start-up. One is that blue flames indicate complete combustion of the gas. There is a high oxygen ratio mix. The amount of oxygen is controlled by an air mixer on your fire pit. When you first start up your fire pit, there is a lot of air (oxygen) in the gas lines. The fire will burn a blue color until all the air is purged from the gas lines. Blue flames burn almost twice [...]

Gas fire pits add so much to outdoor environments, whether in residential or commercial applications. The fire pit becomes an irresistible focal point of its environment and allows users to take advantage of outdoor spaces for more hours in the day, more days in the year. When planning to add a fire pit to your setting, there are many considerations: fire pit size, shape, BTU output, ignition system, and more. All of these variables can be discussed with a landscape architect or installation professional to ensure you have the right fire pit for your intended use. And all of these pros will recommend that the fire pit insert you choose meets critical safety and performance standards. What is the standard? Gas fire pits, [...]

Can I Put a Fire Pit Under a Pergola? At HPC, we regularly get questions regarding safety, and we love to answer them! Safety is our first priority. Here, we'll answer some frequently asked questions regarding your outdoor living space: are fire pits under pergolas safe? How much vertical clearance do I need to put a fire feature under a wooden pergola? In addition to the hominess and warmth that a fire pit adds to any outdoor living space, installing a structure above your fire feature will further enhance the coziness and the aesthetics of your backyard, taking it to a whole new level. Whether you install an HPC fire pit with match-lit, push-button flame sensing, or new state-of-the-art [...]

Fire Pit Maintenance Labor Day has come and gone, summer has snuck by us again. But it is that time of year when nights will start getting cooler and there is nothing better than sitting around the outdoor fire pit with family and friends. Even a gas fire pit may need some seasonal maintenance. Just like your gas grill, check all gas connections periodically with a soap and water solution for gas leaks. Make sure there is no foreign debris in the burner area, leaves, rocks, and in my case the grandkids' little matchbox cars. Some foreign material can pop and crack when heated and become projectiles. Make sure the drains and vents are not clogged up. No critters living underneath the enclosure. [...]

Hearth Product Controls (HPC) specializes in fire pit inserts. In order to have a successful installation of an insert you must build the proper enclosure, which means, ensure good drainage, meet product clearances and understand ventilation requirements. An HPC fire pit insert is different than a fire table. An insert is a permanent installation, requires a hard piped gas line, possibly an electric or GFCI outlet run into the enclosure. The enclosure can be built to match or blend with your outdoor area, whether stone, brick, poured concrete or several other possibilities. No matter what you choose, there are 3 reasons you still need to build in ventilation. Vent any trace gasses from the enclosure. Whether natural gas (NG) or liquid propane (LP) there will be [...]