Mixing Fire and Water

Mixing fire and water always makes for an interesting project. Rick wants a decorative fire pit with a statue inside the fire ring. Water would spring out the top of the statue and cascade down its sides. We must consider how to protect each element from the other, the flame height to the statue, how to mount the statue, and how to design the fire ring.

First of all let's take a look at the statue. It is 6 inches at the widest point toward the middle and is 14 inches high. Rick would like the flame to be roughly the same height as the statue. We can adjust that with the ball valve at the pit as long as we have enough gas in the first place. Normally, I request at least a 4 inch space between the burner and the inner edge of the capstones. Since the statue sits inside the fire ring and is surrounded by heat, 4 inches is probably not enough even with water pouring over the statue sides. The water from a closed system will probably overheat as well.

Fire pit burners come in standard sizes from 6 inches to 48 inches in 6 inch increments. Custom burners are pretty pricey. A statue with a 6 inch diameter inside a 12 inch ring leaves only 3 inches of space between the statue and the outer ring. The next size up is an 18 inch ring. Six inches is a safer bet; but an 18 inch ring has two concentric rings, an inner ring at 9 inches. The ring still has to be modified to work with this set up. Luckily, the inner holes and the cross member gas holes can be welded closed for around $50. That way the hub gas feed can still be used without modification. This burner will also consume less gas because the inner ring is disabled which will give a higher flame at the same BTU level.

The only other consideration is the depth of the fire ring inside the pit. It is recommended that the ring set below the top edge of the pit by 4 to 8 inches to protect the flame from wind. Rick will have to decide how that placement will affect the statue presentation.

As you can see, the more elements you bring into the fire pit the more complex the design becomes. Everything is related to everything else. Always, always consider the size fire ring you want and the amount of gas you can supply before you put the rest of the pit design together. The other "always" is to have a qualified plumber determine how to get the proper amount of gas to the pit. I have had too many tell me how the gas line is embedded in the patio concrete after they discover the line is too small for the distance and the flow they want. You will be successful and have fewer reasons for expensive rework if you consider these at the beginning of your project.