Gathering around a fire pit is a fun way to spend the night with family and friends. It’s always a perfect evening full of laughter and toasted marshmallows.
However, when your fire pit starts smoking, it’s not that amusing anymore. It often leads you to wonder what causes a fire pit to become so smokey.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the reasons for that and what you can do to prevent it. So, if you faced a similar issue before, keep reading to know the solution.
Reasons Why a Fire Pit Becomes So Smokey
Naturally, your fire pit should emit smoke. After all, the burning process of any element has to produce some sort of emission.
If not addressed, such emissions can cause respiratory issues and eyeburn. Furthermore, it can also worsen existing health conditions, such as asthma and allergies.
On top of that, smoke causes your clothes to smell bad and your s’mores to taste funny.
Overall, the goal here is to understand the reasons behind excessive smoke, which is out of the ordinary. Here are a few causes of the more-than-usual smoke coming out of your fire pit.
1- Type of Wood: Your wood selection can significantly impact the amount of smoke produced. In general, some types burn cleaner and produce less smoke than others.
2- Moisture Content: Wet or green wood (freshly cut) releases more smoke as it burns. That’s because moisture evaporates and escapes along with other combustion gasses.
3- Wood Status: The wood you use may have been sitting out for too long, growing mold or fungus. When burned, this wood can produce a lot of smoke, which can be harmful if inhaled.
4- Oxygen Supply: Adequate airflow is essential for an efficient and complete combustion. Otherwise, the smoke output can increase beyond the ordinary.
5- Wood Placement: Stacking wood logs tightly together prevents proper air circulation. Such a practice can cause it to smolder instead of burn, producing more smoke.
6- Starting Method: You may get the fire going using yard debris, such as leaves, pinecones, or pine straws. This practice can definitely add to the smokiness of your fire.
7- Burning Trash: Sitting by the fire, you might become too lazy to get up and dispose of that candy wrapper or paper cup. Avoid throwing them into the fire pit, as it isn’t the wisest idea.
8- Unclean Fire Pit: Accumulated old ash, debris, and embers in your fire pit can affect your current fire quality. Besides being hard to start, the fire may start smoking heavily.
How To Prevent a Fire Pit From Being So Smokey
You don’t have to live with the fact that your fire pit is smoking heavily. Luckily, there are a few solutions for this annoying problem.
By implementing some recommended strategies, you can minimize the smoke output of your fire pit. Check out the following tips.
A- Choose the Right Type of Wood
Using properly dried and seasoned wood ensures less smokiness. Such wood types also perform better and burn longer than wood with higher moisture content.
Principally, among the best kinds of wood to use in your fire pit is well-seasoned hardwoods. That’s because such species typically have a denser texture and hold less moisture.
Yet, some types still smoke less than others, such as oak, maple, ash, and hickory. So, you might want to opt for those instead of poplar, eucalyptus, or elm.
Of course, green wood may stop smoking after burning for a while and losing the moisture content.
However, this may take some time before it happens. Thus, it’s better to start with already-dried logs.
What Is Seasoned Wood?
Seasoned wood is a fully-dried type of wood stored in a dry place for over six months. You can find it in many gas stations or home improvement stores.
Primarily, seasoned wood has a moisture content of less than 30%. That’s why it burns longer, better, and hotter than other kinds.
What Is Kiln-Dried Wood?
As the name suggests, kiln-dried wood stays in a special type of kiln to dry out. Being there for two days, the wood reaches moisture levels of less than 20%.
Just like seasoned wood, you can find kiln-dried wood in home improvement stores. Yet, it’s much more expensive.
How About Softwood?
Although softwoods are famous for being easy to ignite, they do produce more than needed smoke. That’s mainly because they contain high amounts of sap and resin.
Even if dried well, types like cedar, pine, spruce, or fir may still smoke when burned.
B- Ensure Proper Airflow
Enough oxygen and air circulation are vital for burning wood. Therefore, you need to position your firewood and stack it properly inside the fire pit.
To do so, try methods such as the teepee or log cabin stack. These strategies should help your fire receive enough oxygen and burn more efficiently, producing less smoke.
C- Maintain Your Fire Pit
Regular maintenance is key to preventing excessive smoke from your fire pit. You just need to clean the ash and debris regularly to improve combustion efficiency.
Moreover, inspect your fire pit for any obstructions that could hinder airflow and clear them out.
D- Consider Cleaner Alternatives
For smoke-free burning, you can consider other alternatives. This includes propane and natural gas fire pits.
These choices offer more control over the fire and are environmentally friendly. That said, if you still prefer burning wood, you can invest in a smokeless fire pit.
Designed to emit minimal smoke, this type of fire pit utilizes double walls and secondary combustion mechanisms. As such, it contains the heat effectively and reduces smoke production.
Final Thoughts
When your fire pit is so smokey, it can ruin outdoor fun. Whether it’s due to the type of wood used, the airflow, or the fire pit status, smokey fire pits are annoying.
Fortunately, there are ways to fix that. All you need to do is choose the right type of wood, keep your fire pit clean, and make sure air can flow around the fire.
All in all, a well-managed fire pit always means more enjoyable gatherings with your loved ones.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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