How to Build a Smokeless Fire in your Outdoor Fire Pit

Building a “smokeless fire” in your fire pit can elevate your outdoor experience, providing a cozy and clean ambiance for gatherings. While 100% smokeless fire is, well, impossible, you can follow these simple steps to minimize smoke and maximize enjoyment around your fire pit.

Choose a Well-Designed Fire Pit: Invest in a high-quality fire pit with proper ventilation features, such as a built-in grates and ample diameter. These design elements improve airflow and help reduce smoke production.

[product=legacy-fire-pit-insert]
With specially-designed airflow features and an elevated fire, the Legacy Fire Pit Insert makes time by the fire simple, clean, and real. Don't settle for anything less than the best.
[/product]

Consider Placement: Select an open area for your fire pit, away from trees, structures, and other potential obstacles that can disrupt airflow. Avoid windy locations to maintain a controlled environment.

Opt for Dry Hardwoods: Use dry hardwoods like oak, maple, or birch for efficient and nearly smokeless burning. Avoid green or damp wood, as they tend to smolder and produce more smoke.

Prepare Firewood Properly: Cut the firewood into smaller pieces, creating better ventilation and faster burning. Properly season firewood for use in your outdoor fire pit. Remove any wet or rotten sections from the woodpile to ensure optimal combustion.

Build the Fire with Care: Start with a layer of tinder, such as dry leaves or small twigs, at the bottom of the fire pit. Add kindling in a crisscross pattern on top of the tinder. Use a high-quality fire-starter to avoid using more kindling, which can produce early smoke. Gradually stack larger logs while maintaining sufficient space for airflow. We recommend the cross-hatch or log-cabin method for best airflow.

Remember the Embers: For an ideal burn and a warm radiance, keep the hot embers close to the heart of the fire with an ember catcher. This will not only cast a warm glow around the bonfire, but the heat will offer greater combustion and reduce smoke.

Control Airflow: Increase airflow when starting the fire using a Stoker Poker to establish a strong blaze, and to revive the fire when adding dry kindling if it begins to smolder due to lack of fuel.

Regular Maintenance: Clean out ashes and debris from the fire pit to ensure unobstructed airflow. An ash scoop is an easy tool to remove cooled ashes from below your fire pit grate, or invest in a fire pit with an easy-to-remove ash basket. Keep the surrounding air intake area clear of any blockages for optimal ventilation.

By following these steps, you can create a nearly smokeless fire in your fire pit, allowing you to enjoy a cozy and clean ambiance during your outdoor gatherings. With the right fire pit, proper wood selection, and mindful fire-building techniques, you'll enhance the comfort and atmosphere of your fire pit experience. Gather around the warm glow of a smoke-free fire and make lasting memories with family and friends.

Luxury Firepits - Firepit Accessories - Firepit Grates

Walden Backyards Makes the Highest Quality Fire Pits and Accessories

Legacy Firepit - Blow Through Stoker Poker - Fire Pit Grates - Accessories