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Montana Fire Pits

Montana Fire Pits

Your go-to outdoor design specialists.

What is the Best Gas Fire Pit Burner?

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What is the Best Gas Fire Pit Burner?

Choosing the best gas fire pit burner for your needs depends on a number of features. Shape, flame style, size, BTUs and more, should all be considered before ordering your burner. We believe that the best fire pit burner system is the Crossfire by Warming Trends. Almost everyday we get inquiries like this: “I have a fire pit with a stainless steel burner but I’m not happy with the flame. It’s only 5″ high and it doesn’t put out any heat. What can I do?” This is the reason why we ONLY carry Warming Trends Crossfire brass burners; because we don’t want to have that difficult conversation with our customers. If you have an adequate fuel supply, you WILL be satisfied with our burners! You may pay more upfront for an all brass burner, but you will pay less over time for these reasons:
  • Brass does not corrode over time like stainless steel
  • You won’t feel the need to “upgrade” to get a better flame… you will already have THE BEST
  • Limited LIFETIME warranty!
  • Twice the flame
BTU Ratings This part is simple: just make sure your gas line can supply at least 60-70% of what the burner is rated at. Example: 
  • Desired Burner: 180K BTUs
  • Minimum Required Fuel Volume: at least 108K BTUs
How Hot?
  • All of the burners we carry are HOT
  • All Crossfire models have the same “jets”; providing hotter, brighter, taller flames
Why do Warming Trends burners have so many more BTUs than others?
  • The secret is in the jets (no, you can’t just buy the jets. Nice try!)
  • Other burners are made by poking small holes in stainless steel tubes. Gas just seeps out without mixing oxygen. The flame is small and not as hot or controlled, hence the smaller BTU ratings
  • Going with a stainless steel burner greatly increases the risk of being bummed with your fire 🙁
  • Crossfire burners produce twice the amount of flame with the same amount of fuel as conventional stainless steel burners

Shape

Before choosing the best fire pit burner for your pit, determine if the inside opening is round, square, rectangular, or custom. Gas burners come in a variety of shapes including:
  • original
  • octagonal
  • double tree
  • tree style
  • linear
  • H style
  • custom
If you have a round opening, the burner you need will be either original, octagonal, or radial. Those shapes are going to lend themselves very well to a round opening shape. Double tree styles are similar to original and tree styles, they simple include more jets for larger flames. Warming Trends also makes some unique designs including the centipede or serpentine Cross Fire Burners. Choosing the burner shape/size requires you to answer several questions about your fire feature and fuel line:
  • Shape & Size
    • Square, Round, Rectangular, Custom
    • Standard Round & Square Opening sizes
      • 18″, 24″, 30″, 36″, 42″, 48″, 60″
  • Do you need a plate/pan?
    • See PLATES & PANS to help answer this question
    • If YES, choose a burner that has a plate size that works with your opening
    • If NO, make sure you keep 5-6″ of clear space around the burner so that the heat doesn’t harm your top
    • Custom cut plates are available

Flame Style

We love Crossfire burners. The angle of the flame inward creates a strong flame that is impressive. The shape of your burner will influence the flame style but all Crossfire burners have jets that direct toward one another. For square openings, we recommend the Double Tree. Any one of those burners is going to lend itself very well to a square opening. crossfire burner  

Finally…

The third most popular shape is rectangular. The important thing to know is that the dimensions are arbitrary. Whatever works for your build. If your opening is rectangular, the best gas fire pit burner you will want will be linear. It is not a Crossfire burner. All jets on a linear burner sit straight up. This results in a wall of flame. The second burner style for a rectangular opening is the H style. With an H style, your jets are all going to be pointing in and creating a Crossfire flame. The third, most popular, and best flame pattern (in my opinion) for a rectangular opening is the Tree style. double tree burner With a Tree style, depending on the overall size and the BTUs, the widths may vary wildly. Plan around the opening so you know what size plate you need. The opening should correspond to the plate. The plate just drops right in to the opening easily. Round, square, rectangle, original, octagonal, double tree, tree style, linear, and H style are the most popular. 

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Fuel Requirements

Fuel = Flame

There are various pros/cons of Liquid Propane (LP) and Natural Gas (NG). The difference between LP and NG Warming Trends burners are the “jets”. If, down the road, you need to convert from LP to NG or vice-versa, you can do so by purchasing replacement jets from us at $25 each. 

Propane – pros

    • Flexibility/portability
    • Opens up new location possibilities
    • Sometimes NG is not available

Propane – cons

    • More expensive to burn than NG
    • Heavier than air, so it sinks down. This makes ventilation more important.
    • Requires refilling the tank
    • Hiding the propane tank can present new aesthetic challenges
    • Black soot tends to build up faster on fire media such as ceramic logs and cannonballs (it can be cleaned off)

Natural Gas – Pros

    • Cheaper to burn; you probably won’t even notice an increase in your gas bill. Clients of ours have reported $0.25 – $0.75 per hour
    • You won’t run out, so burn to your heart’s content without the dreaded “we’re out of gas”
    • Since it’s lighter than air and rises, there’s less likelihood of unwanted fuel accumulation in the vessel
    • Slightly cleaner burning; less soot build up

Natural Gas – Cons

    • Limited to what’s available in your area
    • May require upgraded meter or larger diameter fuel lines to provide adequate BTUs
    • The volume and pressure can be affected by other appliances
    • Might require a longer gas line, depending on where your fire feature will live  
    • Would be difficult to change the fire feature’s location after installation
    • Check the side of your gas meter for a BTU rating. Most commonly they are rated at 250K BTUs

Even though the standard key valve inlet is 3/4″, you may need a larger gas line to span long distances.

In order to get the proper volume and pressure of fuel, you need a gas line that is large enough in diameter to carry it sufficiently. For the most accurate assessment, consult a fuel professional. For a rough estimate, utilize our gas line sizing charts below. 

*Make sure the BTUs from your line can supply at least 60-70% of what the burner is rated at.

Propane Gas Line Sizing Chart

Natural Gas Line Sizing Chart

Gas line sizing variables

    • Using angled couplings can reduce the volume/flow of fuel
    • Adding a 90 degree angle in your line adds the equivalent of 5 feet of distance
    • Running different sized lines over various distances is acceptable, but for maximum fuel volume, run larger lines over long distances
    • Number of appliances, whether it’s a dedicated line or not; all these factors play a role in volume and pressure
    • Pro Tip: if you haven’t installed your gas line yet, consider running it in conduit so that if you ever need to repair or change it, you won’t have to dig it up

You can have great gas pressure, but if your line is too small, you may not get the desired flame. Think about it like filling up a swimming pool. If you reduce the nozzle size significantly, you may have a ton of pressure, but it’s going to take longer to fill up the pool. You need both pressure and volume to get a great flame. This is why the size of the gas line is so important. 

Now that you understand the importance of volume (BTUs), let’s talk pressure. 

Optimal Pressure:

  • LP: 11″ water column (w.c.)
  • NG: 7″ water column (w.c.)

Water Column is the term used to measure pressure. There are 27.7 inches of water column pressure in 1 PSI of pressure. So 7″wc is about 1/4 PSI. This is the normal pressure that household natural gas is delivered.

The device used to measure pressure of this type is called a Manometer

Pressure too High? You may experience unwanted noise

Pressure too Low? The flame will not be as tall and hot

Location of Gas Stub

  • Most commonly the gas stub is positioned underneath the fire feature so that you don’t see it
  • It can be off-center or on-center, depending on the size of your fire feature
  • You may want to go off-center if you’re using electronic ignition
  • The key valve is generally located on the side of the fire pit, so if it makes sense for your build, place the gas stub off-center to reduce the distance of gas stub to key valve
  • Most often, the plumber will use hard pipe to connect from the gas stub to the key valve. However, if they decide to use a flexible line, most lines are 36″ long, so it makes sense to try and keep the gas stub within 36″ from the key valve location
  • Instruct the contractor to keep the gas stub as low as possible to make room for electronic ignition, or in the case that the plate sets fairly low
  • On some builds, the plate sits only 8″ off the ground

You DO NOT need an air mixer with any of our burners. Air is mixed at each jet. 

LP Regulators

    • For optimal regulation for burners over 250K BTUs, contact a local propane supplier
    • For regulators 250K BTUs or lower, purchase our REGULATOR KIT
    • From the tank, propane is HIGH PRESSURE, so it must be regulated down, because the burners are low pressure
    • For longer gas lines, we often use a high pressure (10psi) regulator at the tank end, and a “2nd stage” regulator on the other end of the line to bring the pressure to 11-13″wc

NG Regulators

    • Consult a professional (plumber/HVAC)

Standard 20lb Tank

  • A standard 20lb/5 gallon BBQ propane tank can be used for burner systems 180K BTUs and under
  • The Canyonlands Fire Table is a complete unit that can have a self-contained propane tank
  • Burn time varies from 6-12 hours, depending on how hot you run it
  • Results may vary, and it is common for the fuel to “freeze up” with burners 180K BTUs and up. What that means is that after 45 minutes or so, the flame only goes to about half. Remedy this by using two tanks connected together

40lb Tank

  • This is a better option for most of our burners from 100K to 200k BTUs
  • It will give you longer burn times
  • Still relatively small and easy to move

High Volume Tanks

  • Contact your local propane supplier

Hiding the Tank

  • You can always run a larger diameter line and hide the tank in an inconspicuous location
  • You can purchase 20lb propane tank covers that make hiding the tank a cinch

Gas Consumption

  • All of our burners burn with incredible efficiency due to the engineered jets. They mix fuel and oxygen at the flame which makes it taller, brighter, and hotter using less fuel
  • Read all about how much fuel you might be burning at full capacity – Learn More

Compliance with the following standards:

  • ANSI Z21.97/CSA 2.41 Outdoor Decorative Gas Appliances
  • The burner system is certified nationally, however, it is up to the customer or contractor to verify local requirements

Certified Burners

Massachusetts

Effective May 5, 2021 over 100 Warming Trends CROSSFIRE burners will be approved for use in Massachusetts. 

All gas products approved for use can be found on the Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) website: Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). To confirm the approval of a product, simply:

  1. Visit the OCABR website.
  2. Select “Product Information” from the drop down, then click “Go.”
  3. Enter Product information.
    1. Select “Gas” 
    2. Manufacturer: Warming Trends, LLC
    3. Model Number: Enter the burner type and BTU output (i.e. CFB180, CFBT290, CFBO140) If you do not have the model information, you may search using only the manufacturer name to bring up all Warming Trends burners that are accepted. 

Click “Find Products” and see the listing of accepted products. 

Canadian Customers

Most metropolitan areas in Canada will require an automatic shutoff for fire pits over 65K BTUs in order to get a permit or certification.

  • Our Premium Electronic Ignition system has the proper fuel and flame censors to automatically shut down the fire when needed. Combine it with a dial timer to increase safety and ease. 
  • You can still purchase higher BTU burners without the premium ignition, and we will ship it with a fitting that limits the burner to 65K BTUs in the case that you’d like to have it certified.

 

Plates & Pans

Do you need one?

The main purpose of the plate or pan is to hold in the media (lava rock, glass, etc). It also acts like the hood of a car, in that it can be lifted up and out in order to access the gas line or key valve underneath. 

What’s it made of?

  • Aluminum
  • Aluminum does not rust

Is it ALWAYS necessary?

  • No, in some cases a plate is not necessary
  • You may decide to fill up the space with some gravel or lava rock and set the burner on that instead of a plate or pan
  • Using a plate/pan is the most convenient for installation and maintenance

Plates (No Sidewalls)

  • Appropriate for most builds
  • Sidewalls are not necessary when the burner is in the common position- recessed 3-5 inches below the finished top
  • Use stacked cinder blocks, bricks, or pavers under the plate. This makes for a simple and sturdy plate mount

Pans (2″ or 3″ Sidewalls. 2″ is Standard.)

  • If the top of your fire table overlaps, or encroaches into your opening, and its thickness is less than 3 inches, you may want a pan instead of a plate (since the pan has to be smaller than the smallest part of the inside diameter) 
  • The sidewalls help contain the fire media/lava rock

Drop-In Pans (2″ or 3″ Sidewalls + 1″-2″ Lip)

  • Sometimes necessary if you plan on building a portable fire feature and aren’t able to stack up blocks under the plate
  • Bar-height or uncommon builds might benefit from a drop-in pan
  • You will see a brushed aluminum metal band on the top of your fire feature when you use a drop in pan
  • Drop-in pans are available as a custom order – CLICK HERE
  • We recommend 3″ sidewalls with a 1.5″ lip in most cases

Does the plate attach to the burner?

  • In most cases, yes
    • When you order a package from us, most of the time it will come with a threaded piece welded on to the plate/pan
    • The burner screws onto it
    • It’s very simple to remove or attach the burner (righty-tighty, lefty-loosy… make sure to re-apply pipe dope/tape!)
  • It’s not required that the burner attaches to the plate/pan. You can set the burner directly on the plate/pan. This will reduce the height of the burner by 3/4″. This might be beneficial if you want to cover your fire feature with a flat cover

There are many methods to mount a plate/pan inside your fire feature. We’re just going to tell you our favorite way to do things because… well, it has worked well so far! With that being said, these methods may not work in all situations, so put your problem-solving hat on and get creative.

*Complete & RTF Systems:  you won’t need to worry about plate/pan mounting; they’re designed for simplicity

Mounting the Plate/Pan

  • Consider stacking up cinder blocks, bricks, or pavers inside the fire feature cavity
  • Place the plate/pan directly on the blocks
  • Adjust the block height by either adding some fill, or by digging underneath
  • Most commonly, plates/pans are mounted 3″-5″ below the finished top of the fire feature

Plate/Pan Depth

  • 4-5″ below the finished top is recommended
  • Recessing it deeper may make the fire seem smaller, and you won’t see the media as well
  • Recessing it to be more shallow can give it a “proud” look; where all the parts stick up high and make a statement. Though you may have to ‘mound’ the fire media up higher in order to cover the jets. It’s not a bad look, but you won’t be able to use a flat metal cover if that’s.
  • The depth at which the plate sits is really up to you. Keep in mind, the burner sits 3″ high from plate to the tip of the jet

If your fire feature is already built and you can’t use a standard sized plate, you have a few options:

Cut your plate to size on-site

    • Use a jig-saw with metal blade, or a grinder wheel with cutoff
    • It’s 3/16″ aluminum and your cut doesn’t need to look pretty

Make your plate bigger

    • Use concrete board to extend the size of the plate
    • Watch THIS VIDEO to get an idea

Order a Custom Size

*TIP: Give yourself about 1/2″ of space around the plate so that it’s easy to insert into the fire feature opening

Determining What You Need

Key Valve/Flex Line Kit (Fk1 or FK2 or FKM1)

(Recommended)

Enables easy flame height adjustment as well as the ability to turn the gas on or off.  All flex lines are stainless steel and whistle free.

FK1

  • For use with any 121K – 249K BTU Burner
  • Kit Includes: (1) 36” L x 3/4” Diameter Flex Line + (2) 3/4″ Flared Fittings + 3/4” Key Valve + 3” and 12” Key + 1/2” x 2” Nipple

FK2

  • For use with any burner 300K+ BTU
  • Kit Includes: (2) 36” L x 3/4” Diameter Flex Lines + (4) 3/4″ Flared Fittings + 3/4” Key Valve + 3” and 12” Key + (2) 3/4” x 3” Nipple + (2) 3/4” Tee + (1) 3/4” x 1/2” MM Reducer Fitting
FKM1 – Specific to the Mercury Ignition. Allows fuel connection from the ignition to the burner.

Key Valve Extension (6" - 12")

  • If the walls of your fire pit are 6″ or thicker, you may need this accessory
  • Trimmable
  • Closes the gap from the key valve to the decorative faceplate (escutcheon)
  • Can also be made onsite with hard pipe or sprinkler pipe

Vent Kit

Recommended Ventilation

  • 18 square inches on opposing sides (for cross-breeze)
  • Keep the vents lower towards the ground
  • Dimensions: 3 7/8″ x 12″

Types of Ignition

Match Lit (Most Common)

  • To light, turn your fuel valve (most commonly a key valve supplied by us) to a low volume
  • Use a lighter or match to ignite the flame manually
  • Gradually turn up the key valve so that the other jets light

Push Button Battery Powered (PBIK3.0)

Push Button Battery Operated Control Module + Spark Igniter Rod and Wire

  • AA Battery operated
  • Spark rod is mounted to the plate
  • Spark rod must be within very close proximity to a jet on the burner
  • To light, turn the key valve (separate product) to get gas flow going and press button until spark ignites the fuel
  • Without a mounting bracket, the button most commonly mounts to a metal fire pit

Push Button Battery Powered (PBIK3.0MBRK)

Push Button Ignition Kit + Mounting Bracket

  • The bracket allows for more mounting options
  • Can be used in place of a paver
  • Should be combined with a Key Valve/Flex line kit

Dimensions of bracket:

    • Width: Adjustable 8″-12″
    • Height: 3 7/8″ 
    • Depth: 5″

Honeywell Spark Ignitor

24 Volt Spark Ignition System – High Capacity: Spark Igniter + Control Module + 24 Volt Transformer + up to 400K BTU

  • Requires electrical
  • Comes pre-installed under the burner plate for easy drop-in installation
  • Must be covered when not in use
  • Can be used with any type of electrical switch, timer, remote, or home automation
  •  Turns fire on/off, does not adjust flame height
  • Recommended: add the Key Valve/Flex Kit if you want flame height adjustability

If your climate is damp or windy, you may consider the hot surface ignition instead

electronic ignition for fire pit

AWEIS Premium Electronic (Hot Surface)

Hot Surface Igniter with Dual Pilot Tubes + 50VA/24VAC Transformer 

  • Requires electrical
  • Comes pre-installed under the burner plate for easy drop-in installation
  • Must be covered when not in use
  • Can be used with any type of electrical switch, timer, remote, or home automation
  • Great for lighting in damp or windy conditions
  • Standard Capacity Version: Up to 290K BTUs
  • Max Capacity Version: Up to 780K BTUs
  •  Turns fire on/off, does not adjust flame height
  • Recommended: add the Key Valve/Flex Kit if you want flame height adjustability

If your climate is damp or windy, this is the BEST ignition option

Mercury Battery Powered Ignition
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-13
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-8
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-7
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-6
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-5
Mercury Battery Powered Ignition-4
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Mercury Ignition (Battery Powered)

Mercury Ignition Spark Igniter with Internal Safety Shutoff + 3 FT Pilot for use up to 240K BTU

  • Pilot assembly comes pre-mounted to the plate
  • Only available with burner and plate combo orders or the Venture Series
  • No key valve required
  • View INFORMATION PDF

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Prices are Changing

Beginning February 1st, 2023

Prices for our products will increase about 3% starting on February 1st. As always, with Montana Fire Pits you’ll enjoy:

  • Products made in the U.S.A
  • Highest quality materials and design
  • High customer satisfaction ratings
  • The best fire in the industry

Thank you for considering Montana Fire Pits!

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Lead Times & Shipping

Updated

Lead Times

Transit time not included. Expect 1-2 weeks for the shipment to arrive.

  • Standard Burners: 2-5 Business Days
  • Custom Burners: 8-10 Business Days
  • Venture Series (Steel): 6 Weeks
  • “Ready to Ship” Fire Tables: 1-2 Weeks
  • Gather Series (Concrete): 8 Weeks
  • Fire Media: 2-4 Weeks
  • Backordered Fire Media: 3-4 Weeks
  • Ready to Finish Kits: 4-6 Weeks
  • Color Samples: 5-7 Days
  • Fire Pit Parts: 5-7 Days

Shipping Costs

Please add products to your cart and enter your address at checkout to see detailed shipping costs

*Free Shipping: Applies to most orders over $99 in the continental U.S. with the following exceptions:

  • Burners/Plates over 36″:  $279.00
  • Electronic Ignition: $279.00
  • Ready to Finish Kits: $279.00

**Shipping to Canada: You may be charged additional border fees and taxes when you receive your product. Montana Fire Pits is not responsible for those fees.

**Please add products to your cart and enter your address to see more information on shipping costs to Canada

Our burners and fire features are hand-made in the U.S. and good things take time. These lead times are based on our best estimates and are updated weekly. Thank you for your patience as we strive to ship your fire gear as fast as possible.