With summer right around the corner, there’s no better time than the present to invest in a fire pit. A high-quality steel fire pit will allow you to enjoy the outdoors by hosting backyard parties with friends and family. However, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the following maintenance tips to preserve the look and integrity of your new fire pit.
Clean the Ash
Try to get into the habit of cleaning the ash out of your fire pit after using it. Allowing ash to settle and sit at the bottom promotes rust. The ash soaks up moisture vapor in the surrounding air, and this moisture reacts to the metal of the fire pit to create rust. You can prevent this from happening, however, by cleaning the ash out of your fire pit after using it. Just remember to wait until the ash has cooled, after which you can safely shovel it into a metal container.
Clean the Grate
In addition to shoveling out the ash, you should also clean your fire pit’s grate on a regular basis. Assuming you cook with your fire pit — as most people do — particles of food will become stuck to the grate. Using a wire grill brush, gently scrub the grate to remove these particles. If there’s any stubborn food that doesn’t seem to come off, add a small amount of soapy water to the brush. You can further prevent food from sticking to your fire pit grate by wiping the grate with vegetable or cooking oil before cooking.
Wipe it Down
It’s a good idea to wipe down the outside of your fire pit to clean any pollen and dust. While the presence of pollen isn’t going to affect the function of your fire pit, it can certainly affect its aesthetics. Thankfully, a quick wipe-down should eliminate particles such as this.
Cover it
Depending on where your fire pit is stored, you may need to cover it to protect against bad weather. Leaving your fire pit exposed to the rain or snow is never a good idea. Again, too much moisture can cause rust and corrosion, not to mention the fact that it turns any standing ash into a sludge-like mess. So, either move it under a covered area or purchase a separate “cover” to user over your fire pit.
If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help. https://ssfirepits.com/contact/
