How Do Smokeless Fire Pits Work?
Breathe easy.
Do you love sitting around a campfire but you’re tired of unwanted smoke blowing in your eyes and the scent lingering on your clothes? Read on to learn about the benefits of a smokeless fire pit and how they work.
What Is a Smokeless Fire Pit?
(Shop this image: smokeless fire pits, patio sofas, yellow blankets, and green throw pillows)
Smokeless fire pits are specially designed to release less smoke and ash for an enhanced campfire experience. Fueled by either wood, propane, or gas, smokeless fire pits burn more efficiently than traditional fire pits and create a hotter fire – perfect for roasting marshmallows or cooking over the flames. In addition to optimized performance and comfort, these fire pits have environmental benefits as well. Their clean burn releases less byproduct into the air and contains excess ash and embers inside the fire pit to reduce the risk of the fire spreading.
While they have many benefits, smokeless fire pits can be more expensive than traditional fire pits. The vertical design of many smokeless fire pits tends to distribute heat upwards, so it may not be as effective for heating large areas and you should still avoid placing the fire pit below any flammable elements, such as trees or roofs.
(Shop this image: smokeless fire pits, Adirondack chairs, outdoor geometric pillows, and bollard landscaping lights)
Smokeless fire pits have three distinct features that allow them to burn so efficiently with little smoke: bottom vent holes, double walls, and upper outlets. Together, these features create a unique airflow that reduces the byproducts released by the fire and makes the burn more efficient overall.
The bottom vents provide oxygen to the base of the fire and an additional air stream that enters the double walls. As the secondary air stream heats up within the walls, it rises and is released through the upper outlets. Here, the hot oxygen recirculates the smoke into the fire, causing a second combustion that consumes the smoke and ash to prevent its release.
Keep in mind that there may be smoke when you initially light the fire. Your fire pit needs to heat up sufficiently in order to create the second burn that will ultimately eliminate the smoke.
