Do propane fire pits put out any heat?

[opnspaces]

I like the heat and ambiance of a good wood fire when camping. But after more than 35 years of camping I'm finding that I'm starting to not enjoy constantly moving around the fire pit to stay out of the smoke. So I've been considering a propane fire pit, but I'm concerned about the heat output.

What are your thoughts? Do the propane pits put out a decent amount of heat compared to a modest wood fire?

[way2roll]

Bird Freak wrote:
I need the coals in the fire for the heat.

Our LP firepit has a bed of lava rock that act as coals. They get glowing hot. When I turn it off they dissipate heat quicker than wood or charcoal coals, but they do hold/give off heat.

[bucky]

Terryallan wrote:
Kind of hard to make stick biscuits over a gas fire? Or Smores either.

Our grand children would debate your statement haha.

[cmarkj]

wa8yxm wrote:
Does a fire give off heat: YES does not matter if propane or wood.

HOW MUCH.. Well that matters more on the size of the fire than the fuel.

Different fuels give off different amounts of energy (heat). So it does matter if it’s propane or wood or butane etc.

[gtnsmlr]

opnspaces wrote:

gtnsmlr wrote:
A friend stands up a piece of 14x18x1/2 steel plate in his pit and it puts out a lot of heat when it heats up.

Is that heat bounced off the steel plate? Or do you think the steel just gets hot and then radiates out in all directions?

Probably the latter...

[Bird_Freak]

I need the coals in the fire for the heat.

[mr_andyj]

a LOT of HEAT!

[dedmiston]

IAMICHABOD wrote:
But for the same ambiance and about the same amount of comfort of a real fire I think I will get one of THESE :B

For those nights when you just want to stay indoors with your friends while you sing and enjoy Photoshopped sparklers.

[opnspaces]

gtnsmlr wrote:
A friend stands up a piece of 14x18x1/2 steel plate in his pit and it puts out a lot of heat when it heats up.

Is that heat bounced off the steel plate? Or do you think the steel just gets hot and then radiates out in all directions?

[opnspaces]

2oldman wrote:
Fire is fire I would think. Perhaps the glowing wood embers contribute to more heat, at the expense of all the nasty smoke.

Definitely what I was kind of thinking.

[opnspaces]

Thanks for all the great feedback, there are may things such as the glowing embers that I hadn't considered. And yes Wopachop I definitely agree on the coals under the chair. In areas where you can do so, it will definitely keep your rear end warm.

[Chum_lee]

Wood (coals) radiate heat in all directions because they generate a lot more infra red energy which is what warms you up. A burning/glowing flame tends to heat the air around the fire pit which then goes straight up. Unless you stand directly OVER the fire, most of the heat is wasted. It looks good though.

Chum lee

[wopachop]

Smudge pot might work for you.
Or start the fire early. Come dark its mostly hot coals that you can put under your chair. Add wood for the look of fire. But the heat comes from the coals. Way less smoke.

[2oldman]

Google: Wood vs gas

[gtnsmlr]

A friend stands up a piece of 14x18x1/2 steel plate in his pit and it puts out a lot of heat when it heats up.

[BurbMan]

YES they put out a fair amount of heat. Here is a clicky to the link that richclover provided, we have the same firebowl.

The lava rocks do retain heat and it's easy to make s'mores and toast hot dogs. The fire is hot enough to enjoy in all but the coldest conditions.

A wood fire will put out more heat but ONLY after it's been burning several hours and has established several inches of ember bed.

Comparing to a wood fire is like comparing a gas grill to charcoal. For most of us the convenience tips the scales, but there will always be purists that won't cook over anything but charcoal.