Burners
Burners for fire pits are undeniably the most important component of any outdoor fire feature. Gas burners create a beautiful flame set and provide warmth and ambiance to your backyard area. CJs Fire Pits can help you select a high quality, dependable, safe, and durable fire pit ring insert that is most appropriate for your feature!
We offer products from trusted, world renowned manufacturers to ensure your fire pit burner is constructed to meet the highest standards and built to last. Perhaps you are installing a fire pit for the first time, or maybe you are seeking to upgrade the flame experience you currently have. Regardless of your situation, the fire pit replacement parts and kits that we offer are superior, top notch products that you can confidently rely on.
CJs Fire Pits has been in the outdoor living business for over 20 years. We are experts in helping our customers get exactly what they need to embellish their outdoor space. Let us help you find the perfect fire pit burner ensemble!
How to Choose an Outdoor Gas Burner
Selecting an outdoor gas burner can seem complicated or even overwhelming. There are several different brands, shapes, sizes, and BTU capacities to consider when searching for this particular part. Our goal is to take the guesswork out of the picture and help you get exactly what you need for your fire feature. Let’s go over some of the things you should consider when searching for a burner.
- Fuel Source: This is your starting point! It is important to know what kind of fuel you will be using to enjoy the flames produced by your new gas burner: propane or natural gas. Propane is stored in a tank outside of your home. Tank sizes vary from 20 gallon tanks used for propane grills, to 100 pound tanks for fueling cooking appliances or hot water tanks, and up to 500 gallon tanks which are common for whole house heating and powering. Appliances, furnaces, and even fire pits are connected to propane tanks with a hose and fittings designed for this fuel type. Natural gas is supplied to residences or commercial venues through in-ground pipelines. Here again, a pipe supply line can be routed to your fire pit for enjoyment. Whichever fuel type you have, we always recommend that a licensed contractor connect your fire pit to the source. Purchasing a burner that is compatible with your fuel type is a must for safe and proper operation.
- Heat Output: The output of fuel is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. Different burners produce different BTUs, and it is important to know what the maximum heating capacity your fire pit can withstand. Typically, the gas burning feature you purchased comes with manufacturer guidelines that clearly state this information. You also need to make sure you have an ample fuel supply to handle the heat capacity of the burner you are considering, especially if you are using propane. For example, if you purchase a 60,000 BTU propane fire pit burner, you can anticipate 9 hours of use from a standard 20 gallon propane tank.
- Shape: There are several different shapes of outdoor gas burners. The most common is a fire pit ring, or circle. There are also penta or star shaped burners, square, linear, S-shaped, and rectangular shapes. Start by looking at the shape of your fire pit, as well as the shape of the center where your fire pit insert will be placed. If it is round, then a circle or penta burner would complement your feature well. For long, rectangular shaped fire pits, a rectangular, linear, or S-shaped burner would be most appropriate. Square centers would accommodate square burners. Keep in mind that many gas burner kits come with a pan, bowl, or trough (depending on the shape) to accommodate media such as lava rock or fire pit glass.
- Size: As with the shape of the burner, size is also important. When constructing a brand new fire pit, the burner and pan size is more lenient, as you can essentially pick as big of a size as you want and build around it. If you are replacing a burner, you’ll need to make sure it is compatible with the existing pan and fittings. Whether you are building from scratch or upgrading, remember that we can customize a burner to your exact specifications! And always keep in mind that the bigger the burner, the more fuel you will use.
- Construction: The materials used in the construction of our outdoor fire pit burners are able to withstand weather’s elements, as well as use under duress of heat. Stainless steel and brass are resistant to rust and corrosion, and both materials are extremely durable.
- Cost: CJs Fire Pits carries only the best when it comes to quality, American-made products. While our prices may reflect a bigger investment on your part, consider the fact that these propane and natural gas burners come with generous warranties and are designed to hold up for years of enjoyment, versus needing replaced in a year or two due to faulty parts or mechanical failure. We strive to offer products that are agreeable with almost any budget.
How to Install an Outdoor Gas Burner
As we have already mentioned, replacement burners (as well as burners for brand new fire pit construction) must be 100% compatible with fuel sources, fitting sizes, and media. This is first and foremost a safety concern. Because all fire features are different depending on the brand, size, and heat capacity, we can’t stress enough how important it is to find a licensed professional to help with the installation process as well! In addition, always consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for set up and provide your installer with a copy of this manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fire pit burners provide ample heat?
BTU output is the amount of heat that the burner gives off. If warmth is your primary goal, you’ll want to look at a high capacity gas burner. Be sure that your fire feature is compatible with a higher BTU rating, and as always, be mindful of the additional fuel it will take to provide that extra power. If you are seeking ambiance over extra warmth, a smaller or lower capacity burner may be in order. You might even consider one with a non-traditional design for an attractive and mesmerizing flame set!
Are gas burners safe?
If you are mindful of size, output, and compatibility, a fire pit burner is absolutely safe. In fact, many homeowners opt for a gas burning feature due to ease of control, and the safety features that are offered with burner ignitions. Gas burners are also smokeless, don’t produce sparks or embers, and emit far less soot than a wood burning fire, making them a cleaner and safer option.
Are gas burners easy to care for?
Burners do not require frequent maintenance like wood burning features do. The manufacturer’s guidelines will tell you exactly how often you need to check to ensure connections and fittings are secure. Both propane and natural gas do produce soot when burned, so it is necessary to clean your burner and any fire media from time to time. Again, the manufacturer’s suggestions for this process can be found in the owner’s manual.
Do you offer different gas fire pit burner designs?
Yes! We have your traditional shapes (ring, square, rectangular, and linear) and then we have styles that are more unique, such as penta and S-shapes. We also offer burners that produce different flame sets that traditional burners can’t create.
- Torpedo burners are amazing! The nozzles, or tubes, on the burner where the fuel is expelled produce wider and more dramatic flames than your typical outdoor fire pit insert. Torpedo burners are constructed from a combination of commercial grade stainless steel and brass. There are many shapes and sizes available.
- Crossfire burners are a technological phenomena that mimic a wood burning fire! These brass creations produce brighter, fuller, taller, and more natural looking flames than almost anything on the market today. Choose from a wide variety of sizes and unique designs to elevate your fire pit experience.
- Brass Bullet burners offer high quality, precision, and aesthetics beyond measure! With their ability to produce awesome flames while using less gas, these burners are hands down our customers’ favorite! Brass Bullet fire pit burner kits are available in several styles and sizes.
- Gas log burners are simply beautiful adornments for your gas burning fire pit! Crafted from ceramic and hand painted to look like natural wood species, they are designed to look so natural that your guests may not know they aren’t gathered around a wood burning fire!
- Submersible burners are unique manifolds that come in three main styles: hoop, double ring, and H-shapes. Your traditional burner sits on top of the fire pit or is elevated over a pan, bowl, or trough. A submersible burner is designed to be placed within the fire pit, submerged under fire media, and produces a more realistic flame. These burners are great choices for modern and contemporary fire pits used for entertainment and relaxation.
What kind of ignition systems do burners come with?
Depending on the brand or type of burner, the ignition system may be customized to your preference. While certain burners are match lit only, we offer a large selection of burners that are compatible with different types of ignition. Match lit, or manual ignition, requires a match or lighter to start the fire after you have opened the gas valve. Spark ignition lights the fire with the push of a button, and electronic ignition can be controlled by button, remote, or a switch. Flame sensing technology is embedded into certain ignition systems to safely shut off the power if flames are not detected.
Do I need to put lava rock around my gas fire pit burner?
When you search through our burner products, you will often find recommendations for fire media type and amount. Lava rock, fire pit glass, and even ceramic gas log sets are attractive additions to any fire feature. They also help disperse gas and produce a more natural looking flame. For products that do not have an option to add media, we offer a line of decorative add-ons for you to choose from! Not sure which is more appropriate for you? Give our customer care team a call - we’ll be happy to walk you through this process to make sure you get the right media for your particular burner!
Can I burn wood on my gas burner?
Please do not attempt this. Wood burns at a much higher temperature than propane or natural gas. Your fire pit burner is not able to withstand this kind of heat and may become damaged beyond repair and void your burner warranty.
Should I purchase a cover for my fire pit burner?
While the material used to manufacture a fire pit burner is made from weather resistant stainless steel and/or brass, you certainly don’t need to cover the burner area if you don’t want to. However, we feel it is an extra precautionary measure worth taking! Not only will a cover prevent water from impeding on the burner and media, it will also keep debris at bay. There are a couple of choices for covers: you can opt for a large vinyl cover that will protect the entire fire feature, or you can get a metal cover that sits over the burner area only. Both styles are available on our website and come in a variety of sizes.