Its a common things in humid areas that you can get rust on your fire pits. Rusting decreases the life of fire pit. Its mostly happened with outdoor gas fire pit and other outdoor fire pits. This article is the complete solution of how to keep fire pit from rusting.
When you don’t live in a rust-prone area such as the east coast or Midwest, it’s safe to assume that you’re going to get your fire pit out at least once this year if not a few times. If you’re a prepper, you should plan to keep it outside year round and make sure that it’s ready for you when the time comes.
This sounds like an easy task but there are a few things that should be noted about steel products rusting:
1) It doesn’t take long at all if the conditions are right for it to start.
2) It can be surprisingly difficult or expensive to stop rusting once it starts.
So since this is an outdoor article, let’s talk about the environment. How you can protect your pit from rust at all costs. As a disclaimer, I’m not saying that you should leave your pit out in the rain. I’m just explaining how to keep it from rusting in a normal outdoor environment.
How the steel in your fire pit will react to the elements:
It starts with rain or humidity
Rain or humidity seeps into pits through cracks and even exposed bolts that hold accessories on. if you use bricks, mortar will get wet too.
Exposed bolts rust quickly
If water gets in through cracks, pits will start to rust from the inside out. it only takes a few days for this to happen if they are extremely small or if it’s humid outside.
Even after the outward signs of rusting stop (i.e., coloring), your pit can still be corroding on the inside.
The corrosion will keep going until moisture is no longer present (even if it takes 10 years).
How to keep fire pit from rusting
1) Always cover your fire pit when it’s not in use, even if you’re only leaving it alone for an hour. This means covering bricks with aluminum foil or some kind of sealant. Also, cover propane tanks so they don’t rust through and cause an explosion when you try to use them again.
2) If you plan to leave your pit out in the rain or snow, seal all cracks with silicone or polyurethane caulking from the inside. This will keep water from seeping through any gaps in the mortar joints.
3) Never leave your pit out if it’s going to rain or snow, period.
4) Don’t use the cheapest hardware store bolts you can find. They will rust fast and break easy when they corrode inside a bolt hole. Get good quality bolts from a hardware store, not a cheap box store that might as well be a dollar store.
5) If you use bricks, make sure the mortar between them is dry and falling apart before you take it down and reuse it. Never wash off mortar because this removes the calcium that makes it resistant to water damage (the parts of your pit that don’t get wet will rust faster).
6) During every season, inspect every square inch of your pit as well as the parts that were attached. if you see any rust forming, take it down and patch up the problem area.
7) Always buy a cover for your pit during winter months. This will make sure it doesn’t fall apart from freezing and thawing cycles. Also keep it under shed or porch just in case.
8) To protect your pit from salt damage, make sure you rinse it off with water after every use. Do not leave it out all winter- cover it up or bring inside if possible.
9) Fire pits can expand during colder months because of the materials they are made of. Use weather stripping and caps if possible to cover bolt holes and propane tank holes.
10) Never store your pit next to a house or building where air flow might suck superheated particles of rust into the walls (rust is conductive). Make sure everything is shielded from wind as well. All vents must face away from anything flammable such as wood or thatch.
11) Always put a grill or cooking grate on top of your pit when in use. This will prolong the life of your fire pit dramatically because it doesn’t have to absorb heat from the flames directly.
12) If you do need to cover up a pit for storage, make sure it’s clean and dry with a good cover. So, that won’t suck all the moisture out of it. Don’t use plastic tarps because they will melt onto the metal (and you don’t want to breathe in toxic fumes).
What to do if it rusts well
Once your pit rusts through, recycle it or take it somewhere where they will smelt down the steel and reuse it. Never leave them on the ground to rust away and pollute the earth.
Conclusion:
you must take good care of your fire pit to keep it from rusting. if you follow all these steps, your pit will last a very long time and have little to no maintenance costs. Just imagine how much better this is than purchasing an expensive one that will fall apart in less than a year.
Thank you for reading my article on how to keep fire pit from rusting. This was aimed at home owners who want something more than disposable items.
