How Does an Outdoor Fireplace Work?

An outdoor fireplace adds beauty and functionality to a deck or patio. It can provide warmth on a cool fall evening while entertaining friends. It also adds ambiance to your outdoor decorations, casting a glow from the fire on those cool nights. 

There are different types of outdoor fireplaces, each one designed for a different purpose and fitted for different situations and functionality. Different types of fireplaces are outlined below, as well as how they work.

Fire Pit:

A fire pit is sort of a portable fireplace for outdoors, with the added benefit of not being expensive. Also, because it is portable, it can be moved to different locations.  It is a good starter fireplace, available at most home improvement stores. A fire pit works by depositing starter wood, or other easily combustible wood, into the pit and lighting. They come in different shapes and sizes, with some even looking like a small fireplace. They can also have screens, which prevent the fire from escaping the pit and causing damage.

Permanent Fire Pit:

A variation of this theme is a more permanent fire pit, which is intended to be a permanent structure because it is built into the patio, or bricked around. Such fire pits can feature seating, and may even allow for cooking surfaces for additional functionality. While the permanent fire pits work the same way as the portable ones, these usually use wood for the fire, or even fireplace logs.

Permanent, built-in fireplaces:

A built-in fireplace is much like the interior fireplace inside your home, with the absence of a flue. It is typically made of brick. It does, however, usually feature a chimney that channels smoke away from the sitting area of the patio or deck. It is started by adding twigs to the fireplace, or starter wood. Then, once the fire has started, larger logs are added for longer fires. Screens can prevent sparks and embers from escaping.