Having a fire pit in your backyard is something that can be super satisfying. You might just want to be able to go outside during a nice evening and enjoy sitting around the fire pit with your family and friends.
If you’re still a bit new to using fire pits, then you might not be familiar with all of the things that you need to do. You might have been told by someone recently that you’re supposed to put sand in the bottom of a fire pit and you were confused.
Is there a specific reason why you need to put sand in the bottom of a fire pit? Is this completely necessary or is this just something that you can do if you want to?
Keep reading to learn about why you’re supposed to put sand in the bottom of your fire pit. It’ll help you to have a greater understanding of the topic, and you’ll be able to get good results when using your fire pit.
What’s the Purpose of Placing Sand at the Bottom of the Fire Pit?
If you’re unclear about why you’re supposed to place sand at the bottom of the fire pit, then you’ll be glad to know that the answer is really easy to grasp. This is something that is meant to protect the metal of your fire pit from the heat of the fire.
You know that fires are going to get extremely hot, and certain parts might wind up getting hotter than others. When you place sand at the bottom of the fire pit, it’s going to make it so that the heat is more evenly distributed.
If you don’t bother to put sand in the bottom of the fire pit as recommended, then the heat might become too concentrated in one specific spot. This could lead to substantial issues that might cause your fire pit to become dangerous.
For instance, it’s possible that the fire could burn through the bottom of the fire pit over time. This can occur when the metal deteriorates due to not being properly protected.
The sand can be a powerful insulating agent that will keep this from happening. Your fire pit will stay safe to use for a longer period of time and you can enjoy using your fire pit as intended.
How Much Sand Should You Use?
How much sand you need to use at the bottom of your fire pit will depend on the design. Since different fire pits can be made with different dimensions, some might require a bit more sand than others.
However, it’s generally acceptable to use one or two inches of sand at the bottom of the fire pit. Most of the recommendations that you will see from manufacturers will use a one- or two-inch layer of sand as a barrier.
There Are Different Fire Pit Designs
Of course, you likely know that there are different fire pit designs out there that you can use. Some people will gravitate toward one design or another, but they all have differences.
You can buy fire pits that have air holes at the bottom so that oxygen can help to keep the fire going strong. Some people don’t like to use sand at the bottom of these types of fire pits because they feel that sand being present would prevent or restrict airflow.
Depending on the design of the fire pit that you’re using, it may or may not be ideal to use sand at the bottom. Often, the manufacturer’s instructions will tell you whether sand is meant to be used at the bottom.
If your fire pit recommends that you put sand at the bottom of the fire pit, then it’s likely best to follow those instructions. It’ll ensure that you’re using the fire pit as intended, and the designers recommend that you use the sand for a reason.
When your fire pit instructions don’t say anything about using sand, it might be safe to assume that it isn’t completely necessary. Some designs will benefit more from using sand at the bottom than others.
Collecting Wood Ash
Another reason why some people don’t like using sand at the bottom of fire pits has to do with wood ash collection. Wood fire ash can be useful to you when you have a garden, but it’s hard to collect the wood ash if you’re using sand at the bottom of the fire pit.
The wood ash could be used as a potent fertilizer that will help your garden to thrive. If you like the idea of repurposing wood ash like this, then you might want to forego using sand in your fire pit.
If your fire pit recommends using the sand at the bottom, then it might not be good to avoid using it. You might want to seek out a fire pit with a different design that will be better for collecting wood ash.
Thankfully, there are so many fire pits to choose from on the market that finding one that will work for you shouldn’t be hard. It just might take some time to look and pick one out that you truly like.
Final Thoughts
Using sand is a good idea when you’re trying to protect your fire pit in most instances. Just remember that not all fire pits will need the sand layer at the bottom because they might be designed differently.
It’s best to pay attention to the instructions of whatever fire pit you decided to buy. If you build your own fire pit, then you will need to decide if your design benefits from a sand layer or if it isn’t necessary.
Remember to try to keep the sand away from moisture as well. If you allow the sand to get too moist, then it could cause your fire pit to corrode faster.
As long as you keep these things in mind, you should have a good experience with your fire pit. Enjoy using your fire pit to have fun with your friends and do your best to keep using it safely.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and over 10 years of experience working in IT. As a homeowner, I love working on projects around the house, and as a father, I love investigating various ways to keep my family safe (whether or not this involves tech). I’ve also played guitar for almost 20 years and love writing music, although it’s hard to find the time these days.