Charcoal is a lightweight, black carbon residue produced by burning wood or other organic material. It is commonly used for grilling and barbecuing, as it has a high heat output and produces fewer byproducts than traditional wood fires.
A fire pit is a designated space outdoors where a fire can be safely contained and enjoyed. Fire pits are often used during outdoor gatherings and events and can be constructed from various materials, such as stone, brick, or metal. Combining charcoal and a fire pit can create an enjoyable and efficient outdoor fire experience.
In shortly, Yes, you can use charcoal in a fire pit without any difficulties. As it is lightweight, burns longer than the others, and is safe, charcoal is an excellent fuel choice for the fire pit. It doesn’t matter if you have a fancy fireplace or a traditional one; charcoal is a suitable option for all.
What is Charcoal?
Charcoal is a solid compound that is formed by burning wood in a minimal oxygen environment to remove all water from them and make them more volatile. As there is no moisture in this compound, charcoal tends to catch fire quickly and generate heat to keep the surroundings warm.
Moreover, this compound produces the least smoke and burns for longer hours at a stretch. And because of such benefits, charcoal is one of the most preferred sources of fuel for household fires, fire pits, and grills too.
Another thing about charcoal is that it is neither coal nor falls in the coal family. Charcoal and coal are two completely different types of fuel with different characteristics. For instance, coal is a natural mineral that forms organically in the earth’s crust. It takes millions of years to form and is quite expensive. It also gathers a super high amount of heat.
On the other hand, charcoal is a manmade product made by burning wood and is less expensive. It can generate and store a moderate amount of heat. You can add a piece or two of coal with a bunch of charcoal to up its heating level.
Benefits of Using Charcoal In A Fire Pit
People prefer to burn charcoal in their fire pit for a few specific reasons. Let’s go through the amazing benefits of using charcoal in a fire pit for an even better understanding.
- A Safer Option: One of the main reasons people use charcoal in their fire pit is that it is much safer than burning wood. As it doesn’t make as many sparks and flying burning debris as wood, there are minimal chances that it would burn you or catch fire in the surroundings, especially on a windy day.
- Produces Less Smoke: Unlike wood or any other fire pit fuel, charcoal produces far less smoke while burning. And as it doesn’t cover the surroundings with smoke and burn your eyes, you can lounge beside a charcoal-burning fire pit and enjoy your leisure to the fullest. Moreover, since charcoal doesn’t produce as much smoke, it won’t suffocate and make you uncomfortable in any way.
- Easy to light: People pick charcoal over wood because it is easier to make a fire with charcoal than wood. Even if you soak the charcoal in lighter fuel and toss a match, it will start a fire immediately. Lighting up a charcoal fire is as easy as it can get. Moreover, because charcoal burns more evenly and steadily than other fuels, it gives you more control over the fire and ensures more safety.
- Easier to Maintain: A charcoal fire is also easier to maintain than a wood fire and requires minimal attention. Unlike wood, you don’t have to think about the right size of the logs or the right way to place them in the fire pit. To keep it burning in your fire pit, you just need to add more charcoal over a time interval, and that’s it.
- Long-lasting heat: Charcoal burns longer than wood, providing a more consistent and prolonged heat output. This makes it ideal for larger gatherings or events, as it can sustain a fire for an extended period of time.
Drawbacks of Using Charcoal In A Fire Pit
- Slow burn time: Charcoal takes longer to burn than wood, requiring more patience and attention to maintain the flames. This can be inconvenient for those who want a quick and easy fire experience.
- Requires additional tools: Charcoal requires special tools for lighting and controlling the fire. This may include a chimney starter, a fire poker, or a fire grate, which can add to the cost and complexity of using charcoal in a fire pit.
- Produces ash: Charcoal produces a large amount of ash as it burns, which can become a nuisance. This ash must be regularly removed from the fire pit to ensure safety and prevent messes.
How to Light Up a Fire Pit Using Charcoal?
Now that we know charcoal is a safer option for burning in an outdoor fire pit, let’s discuss how to ignite charcoal successfully so that you have a blazing outdoor fire as soon as you want it.
You can use it to light up the charcoal in no time. The lighter fluid is one of the easiest and most popular methods of lighting up charcoal in your patio fire pit. If you, too, want to use it to ignite a fire in your fire pit, follow these easy steps. They will help you to light up a charcoal fire in no time.
Step 1: Arrange the Coals
To ignite the fire quickly in your fire pit using lighter fluid, gather the coals and arrange them in a pyramid.
You can also scatter them throughout the pit. But gathering would increase their contact and help the fire spread quicker than ever.
Step 2: Pour the Lighter Liquid
After arranging the coal, pour an appropriate amount of lighter fluid on them and light them up immediately with a long match. The long matchstick will keep your hand safe from glowing fire.
Step 3: Spread the Coal
When all the coals are fired up, spread them throughout your fire pit for even heat.
Remember not to put on lighter fluid on hot or flaming coals. It would suddenly make the fire bigger and cause unfortunate events.
Lighting up your patio fire pit would take 15-20 minutes following this method.
If spritzing on lighter fluid on the coals seems a bit too much for you before you light them up, you can always buy the ones that are already soaked in the right amount of lighter fluid. This will not only save time but would also save your energy.
Is Wood Better than Charcoal to Burn In a Fire Pit?
Both wood and charcoal are excellent sources of energy for an outdoor fire pit. However, wood would be the right choice for you when it comes to fuel efficiency. Woods tend to burn for a longer time compared to charcoal. However, you must deal with a bit of smoke when burning wood.
On the other hand, using charcoal in your fire pit would be the best option when you prefer an even fire and want less mess. You can also mix charcoal and wood in your fire pit to enjoy their benefits.
Can You Use Charcoal In A Wood Fire Pit?
Woodfire pits usually offer two options for fuel, wood, and charcoal. And if your wood fire pit has such fuel options, you can use charcoal to light up a fire in it.
How to Keep a Charcoal Fire Burning?
After you ignite the fire in your charcoal fire pit, you must maintain it properly to keep burning for extended hours.
After burning for quite some time, when the charcoal in your fire pit starts to turn gray and dim the fire, move it around a few times with a poker device to ignite it again. This will increase the airflow in between the coal particles and influence them to heat up again for a smooth, consistent fire.
Can You Use Charcoal In A Metal Fire Pit?
No, you shouldn’t use charcoal in a metal fire pit. It might be dangerous for you. As metal is a good conductor of heat, the pit will get hot very quickly, making it dangerous to be around. You can still feel the heat even if you are a few feet away.
Avoid burning charcoal in a metal fire pit if other options are available.
Best Use for Charcoal Ashes
After the charcoal in your fire pit turns into ashes because of burning, don’t through it away. You can use this ash in many other ways to make every last bit of it useful.
Let’s discuss some of the best uses for charcoal ashes so you never throw them again.
- Use it as garden fertilizer. If the charcoal is from fresh wood and you didn’t add any additives to it during burning, the ash from it can be used as a fertilizer to increase the pH levels in your soil. However, make sure to put it in a moderate amount to enjoy the best results.
- Sprinkle it to deter pests. Ashes from your outdoor fire pit can successfully remove bugs and other pests and insects from the area and make it safe and healthy again. All you need to do is mix an ounce of charcoal ash, one ounce of hydrated lime, and one gallon of water together and spray it over the intended area. This mixture will keep pets at arm’s length.
- Make lye soap with the ashes. With the ashes of burnt charcoal, you can make more than a few batches of useful lye soaps. These soaps will help you to shine up utensils.
- Try controlling algae using these ashes. Algae are one of the most common problems you face when you have a pond or a water tank in your yard. You can use the ashes from your charcoal fire pit to remove these algae and make the water body clean and sparkling again. Sprinkle one tablespoon of ash for every 1000 gallons of water and see the magic for yourself.
Safety Tips to Remember when using the charcoal fire pit
Even though charcoal is safer than burning in a patio fire pit, you must still follow a few safety precautions to keep yourself and your surroundings safe.
- Never, ever put any fuel on any ignited charcoal. It will result in a hazardous event.
- Place your coal-burning fire pit at least ten feet away from your sitting area, house, or any low-hanging trees for maximum safety.
- Keep your children away from a burning fire pit.
- Let the fire pit cool down completely before you touch it. Otherwise, the hot parts of the pit might burn your hands.
- Refrain from lighting up your patio fire pit during any strong winds. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast.
- Don’t forget to screen your fire pit regularly. It will help to avoid any flying embers.
- It is important to keep the fire away from any flammable objects, such as wood, paper, or fabric.
- To protect yourself from the heat and sparks, it is important to wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants, and heat-resistant gloves.
- It is important to have a fire extinguisher on hand in case the fire gets out of control.
- When using charcoal in a fire pit, it is important to ensure that the area is properly ventilated to prevent smoke from becoming a nuisance.
Final Words
Charcoal in a fire pit can be a great way to enjoy an outdoor fire experience. Charcoal is easy to light, produces long-lasting and intense heat, and generates significantly less smoke than wood.
However, it can be slow to burn and requires additional tools for lighting and controlling the fire. It also produces a large amount of ash that must be regularly removed. To safely use charcoal in a fire pit, it’s important to keep it away from flammable objects, wear protective clothing, and ensure proper ventilation. With the right precautions, charcoal can be an enjoyable and efficient fuel source for fire pits.
Henry Jurk is an experienced architect with over 20 years of expertise in paving. He shares his knowledge and provides solutions through his blog posts at OkPatio.com. If you have any questions about patios, gardens, and outdoor spaces, you can find the correct answers from Henry. You can contact him via email at ar.henryjurk@gmail.com or through the website’s contact page.
