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Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire Pits
Your Outdoor Fire Experts
Create an Outdoor Oasis Spanning the Seasons
Picture this; you get home from a busy day at work. The sun is setting, there’s just a little bit of nip in the air. You grab a bottle of your favorite Pinot and a couple of glasses, some cheese, olives, and a few slices of a baguette, grab your partner and head outside to the patio. The sun is setting, and you light the gas fire pit up and settle back into your favorite comfy chairs which just happen to be arranged around the firepit. Feet up, you feel the pressures of the day melt away, as you’re mesmerized by the dancing flames as you each recount the day to each other, watching the flames reflect through the wine glass, feeling the fire’s radiant glow warm you.
There are many kinds of fire pits and fireplaces that can be incorporated into your outdoor spaces. We tell folks all the time that there’s 2 very major things to get right in designing your Wine Country Outdoor Spaces:
- Shade during the day
- Some type of radiant heat for the evenings to take away the chill of the night air
What better way than an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, maybe a radiant overhead heater, or maybe even all of the above?
Outdoor fire features can use any of the following fuel types:
- Natural Gas
- Liquid Propane Gas (LP)
- Ethanol
Each of these fuels has pro’s and con’s. Like most things, everything has tradeoffs, and your particular scenario will normally dictate which fuel type is the best one.
PRO'S
- Burns very cleanly
- It never runs out in the middle of a party
- Throws lots of warmth
- Timer valves available to turn gas off if forgotten after a period of time
- Don’t need to buy a specialty sideways LP tank – especially pertinent in low, occasional-height fire pits which can be expensive
- Low fire pits don’t need an unsightly tank nearby and a hose feeding the fuel from tank to fire pit
CON'S
- Have to run a gas line in the ground
- Not very portable, unless using quick-disconnect lines
- If left on and forgotten, can result in a big gas bill
LP Gas–Propane is provided via either a house LP system, for homes without street gas, or via an LP tank nearby or even underneath the fire table for easy access. In many cases, if your fire feature or BBQ uses the standard 5 gallon LP tank you can simply use the loaner program ay many stores, where you simply swap your empty LP tank for a new full one.
PRO'S
- Throws the most heat – ‘hotter’ fire
- Totally portable – fire features can be moved wherever desired – not tethered to an in-ground gas line
- LP Tank storage inside fireplace or fire feature frequently available
- Tank swap programs widely available
- Many fire pits available in LP versions
- If left on, the only financial exposure is the amount of LP gas in your tank
- Specialty Timer Valves are available to limit financial exposure for whole-house LP systems if burner left on
CON'S
- If LP tank runs out, the party’s over, unless you have spares
- LP costs somewhat more than street gas per cubic foot
- Specialty sideways LP tanks, used in low, 18-19” high fire pits, are fairly expensive
- Sideways tanks not in any swap programs, but must be purchased
Ethanol – a grain alcohol, usually made of corn. For backyard fire feature use, it's normally in gel form and is typically poured into a vessel then lit with a long-handled lighter. It does not throw a lot of heat. It can be burned indoors without being vented – its by-products of combustion are CO2 and water vapor. It is not a serious contender if warmth is the goal. Dealing with it can be somewhat cumbersome, pouring it into the burner, snuffing it out to extinguish the fire, etc. However, ethanol does have its place and we do have ethanol offerings if LP or natural gas isn’t an option.
Visit Sonoma Add Warmth
& Ambiance To Your Outdoor Escape
Villa Terrazza helps you add an outdoor fireplace, fire table or fire pit to your outdoor escape. We love collaborating with you to create an outdoor space that fits your lifestyle and style.
Not only does an outdoor fireplace, fire table or fire pit add ambiance, but they also add a stylish design element that is a focal point where people can gather and stay warm nearly year round in the North Bay. It is worth the trip to Sonoma to talk with one of our experts and see our extensive selection outdoor fire products that can add ambiance to your backyard haven.
Whatever type of fire feature or outdoor radiant heater you desire, come see us at Villa Terrazza before you make a purchase. Bring us some images of your outdoor spaces, tell us a little bit about your lifestyle, how you entertain, and we’ll collaborate with you to create ambiance and warmth for your outdoor spaces.
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