Frequently Asked Questions

General Maintenance and Safety tips

  • Read your installation handout carefully so you know how to properly operate and maintain your fire bowl.
  • Never place your fire bowl under or near anything flammable. This includes trees and low-hanging plants. Your fire bowl should only be used outside in an open space with adequate air flow.
  • Never use your fire bowl in an enclosed space. Toxic smoke and harmful gases, like carbon monoxide, will build up without proper ventilation.
  • Always keep your bowl clear from combustibles.
  • Never use accelerants to start a fire. Accelerants are very dangerous and can damage your fire bowl. Accelerants include gasoline, lighter fluid, alcohol, or other volatile liquids.
  • Keep plastic materials away from the area surrounding your fire bowl. Melted plastic is challenging to remove and will destroy the surface of your fire bowl.
  • It’s important to keep water or a fire extinguisher close to your fire bowl in case of emergency.
  • Keep your fire bowl covered when not in use. This will prevent unnecessary wear and tear from inclement weather conditions and prolong the life of your fire bowl. Ensure your fire bowl has adequately cooled down before covering it. If you experience harsh winters in your area, it’s best to store your fire bowl inside a dry, covered location to keep it working properly.
  • Never leave your fire bowl unattended when in use.
  • When cleaning your fire bowl, use a soft cloth and mild soapy water to clean the surface and outside of the fire bowl. Harsh chemicals and cleaners are not recommended.

Gas Fire Bowl Maintenance and Safety Tips

  • Prior to each use, ensure all combustible materials and flammable liquids have been cleared from the area.

  • Inspect your burners, gas lines, connections, hoses, and fittings regularly to ensure they are clean and secure.

  • Always keep vent openings and surrounding areas clear of dirt and debris. A blockage of gas flow can cause a fire.

  • It’s recommended to have a qualified, licensed professional inspect your fire bowl and gas supply once a year.

  • Never burn solids like leaves, sticks, wood, paper, or plastic in your gas fire bowl. This will damage your fire bowl and can cause a fire.

  • Never attempt to cook food over a gas fire bowl. This will damage the burner and cause other costly damage.

  • Check your gas fire bowl regularly for soot and dirt buildup. Clean your gas fire bowl regularly with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.

What Is Fire Bowl Media?

Fire bowl media is material used in place of traditional wood logs in gas fire bowls to disperse the flame and create the appearance of a natural flame. Without media, the flame is focused only in the area where the gas exits the burner. The media we recommend and sell is lava rock and fire glass.

Lava Rock Media

Lava rock is formed naturally from volcanic magma. It is fire-safe, can withstand high temperatures for long periods of time, and is maintenance-free.

Since Lava Rock is an organic material, the size, shape, and color will vary from batch-to-batch, so it’s best to buy lava rock in bulk up-front to ensure a uniform look in your fire bowl.

How To Put Lava Rock In Your Gas Fire Bowl

Always wear a pair of heavy gloves while handling lava rock.

Pour lava rock onto the ground and rise with water to remove dust. Dust can reduce the
performance of your burner by clogging it.

Slowly pour the lava rock into your fire bowl until the bowl is filled. Lava rock can be mounded up to
2 inches above the top of the bowl.

What To Do If Your Lava Rock Gets Wet

Lava rock will absorb water if it gets rained on. Turning on your fire bowl while the lava rock is wet will cause the water inside to boil, which can lead to the lava rock popping and/or bursting.

When you lava rock is wet, put your fire bowl on low for 15-30 minutes to burn off any water. Once your lava rock is dry, carefully turn the gas up until the flame is at your desired height.

Cover Your Fire Bowl

The best way to keep your fire bowl media dry is to keep your fire bowl covered when not in use. This will also prevent damage from daily exposure to the elements and ensure your fire bowl stays in good condition.

Make sure your fire bowl is cool to the touch before covering. The cover may melt and ruin the fire
bowl if the bowl and fire media are not given adequate time to cool down.

Fire Glass Media

Fire glass is made from color-infused, tempered glass. Tempering creates compression on the surface and tension in the interior of the glass, which results in four times the strength of untempered glass.

It is best to wear heavy duty gloves when handling fire glass. When used properly, it will never discolor, burn, melt, or produce toxic fumes, soot, ash, or smoke.

How To Clean Fire Glass

Always wear gloves when handling fire glass, as it can break. Follow these steps for cleaning your fire glass:

 

  1. Take fire glass out of your fire bowl and put it into a bucket of soapy water. Carefully wash clean.
  2. Rinse soap with clean water
  3. Lay the fire glass on a towl to air dry.
  4. Place the dry fire glass back into your fire pit.