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Fire pits?

99 replies

womanity · 02/04/2021 18:56

Are wood burning fire pits acceptable in a suburban garden?

I want one, with all socialising being outdoors and all, but I can’t get past that they create a lot of smoke and I’m not sure I’d like it if my neighbours were using one.

Are they okay or are they polluting, anti-social monstrosities?

OP posts:
CallSignCharlie · 02/04/2021 18:59

Watching this as I’m having the same thoughts.
I would love one but I have terraced house and small garden. I don’t want to be an antisocial neighbour.

Callmecordelia · 02/04/2021 19:02

My neighbours have one. Sorry OP I hate it, particularly on a summer night when we need the windows open for comfort. We're mid terrace, so are they.

lurker101 · 02/04/2021 19:05

Sorry I think they’re awful. Unless you live in a detached house with a very large garden surrounded by fields etc. I think it’s unreasonable, as there will be smoke carrying to neighbours who also want to use their garden/open their windows without someone else’s smoke. They’re different to BBQs for me as they tend to only be on for a limited time while cooking, but a fire pit is as antisocial as burning garden waste/ wood in a garden to me.

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dustydaffs · 02/04/2021 19:08

We have one but then our neighbours are extremely irritating and rude trials bikes in their garden so I don't give a damn about annoying them. Thankfully they are moving house next week 😀

BluntlySpoken · 02/04/2021 19:10

Our neighbour behind uses one and has done for the last Yr. It. Will be burning all the time. Stinks like a bonfire. Middle of day yesterday and had to run get washing in.

womanity · 02/04/2021 19:12

Yeah, I suspected as much. I don’t want to be a crappy neighbour.

Ah well. Blankets it is...

OP posts:
W3dontdoduvets · 02/04/2021 19:12

I haven’t got one for this reason. I’d hate to upset others with the smelly bonfirey smell on a Summer’s evening, however much I’d like one.

bennibooboo · 02/04/2021 19:13

Oh god no! We have one but only because we are very rural a d surrounded by fields.I imagine it would stink out neighbours houses and gardens. I have to close all my windows when we light ours.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 02/04/2021 19:13

Awful awful things.

Itsokthanks · 02/04/2021 19:14

We have one but use smokeless logs mostly. I think they're fine if you've got a big garden, I wouldn't use one close to the neighbors house.

KingstonTownThePlaceILongToBe · 02/04/2021 19:16

I have one and selfishly didn't even consider the neighbours until reading this thread 😬 I only have one neighbour that it would affect and she hasn't said anything but maybe I'll ask next time before lighting it.

PrincessMaryaBolkonskaya · 02/04/2021 19:16

Someone on my road has one and it stinks. We can’t have our windows open in the evening or washing out. I think they’re really anti social but not everyone cares.

5zeds · 02/04/2021 19:19

I like the smell of woodsmoke. I think this is one of those urban versus rural things. I honestly can’t think of anything nicer than a whiff of woodsmoke on a summers evening.

windisblowing · 02/04/2021 19:24

Uh they're awful for everyone else. Stink.

GrumpyTerrier · 02/04/2021 19:39

Bought one today! Rarely ever get the chance to use it, people can cope for 2 or 3 evenings a year.

LauristonLane · 02/04/2021 19:43

We had a log burning chimnea - we used it once because I was so worried about the smoke going into other peoples houses.

We replaced it with a gas version...brilliant, but costly.

www.firepit-online.com/happy-cocooning-fire-table-square-lounge-dining-anthracite.html

AphroditeGoddessOfLove · 02/04/2021 19:53

My bastard neighbours have a fire every Sunday night in summer and I hate them for it. The neighbours the other side seem to wait until we have washing out to set fire to things and during lockdown 1 the surrounding houses took turns having fires so there was one every day. They're antisocial and awful.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 02/04/2021 19:54

I cannot understand why coal burning fires are quite rightly banned, and bonfires in urban areas, but these middle class status symbols of wood burning stoves and firepits are still being sold. Climate crisis??? Quite apart from annoyance to neighbours.

womanity · 02/04/2021 19:58

Climate crisis??? Quite apart from annoyance to neighbours.
I just saw one that was a cut out globe with the fire inside so it looked like the world was burning. It was like a metaphor.

It was that that prompted the thread. I was hoping someone could tell me they weren’t nearly as bad as I thought. But it seems they are.

OP posts:
coogee · 02/04/2021 20:02

I cannot understand why coal burning fires are quite rightly banned, and bonfires in urban areas, but these middle class status symbols of wood burning stoves and firepits are still being sold. Climate crisis??? Quite apart from annoyance to neighbours.

So true. Like air travel. The sooner it is banned the better.

Eyevorbig0ne · 02/04/2021 20:03

We've got a weber one. Our house is one of those detached ones where the roofs are only about 6 inches apart.
Anyway, we used cheap bandm logs - filthy black smoke. Crap.
So now we use dearer Costco logs, much cleaner.
No need to stink everyone out.
Haven't got a fireplace and find pits so relaxing.

HelgaDownUnder · 02/04/2021 20:04

I love them and don't find the smell of woodsmoke unpleasant.

Brainfogisreal · 02/04/2021 20:08

Polluting antisocial monstrocities. In urban gardens anyway. The first time my neighbour lit theirs I genuinely thought my house was on fire, whole place smelt of smoke, I ran around the house like a mad woman till I realised where it was coming from.
Not really a fan.

queenofthenorthwest · 02/04/2021 20:11

Op have you looked at ethelyne fires?

No idea how much heat they give off though.

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