to think that a fire pit would be lovely in our garden?

[KingscoteStaff]

Me: Imagining lovely spring/summer/autumn evenings with the family sitting round glowing flames, toasting marshmallows. It would encourage us to use the garden more after 5pm. The teenagers and their friends would love it.

DH: Everyone's clothes would smell of smoke. Your front would be scalding and your back freezing (like at Guy Fawkes bonfires). All the teenagers in the world would collect around it, particularly the smokers. Those teenagers would clomp mud on their enormous feet through our kitchen as they went in and out from the loo. It's probably bad for the environment in some way.

Me: But I want one!!! Look how lovely!!

Burning wood - even dry seasoned wood is massively problematic in terms of the health risks it creates. Prolonged exposure is linked to cancers, miscarriage, copd, heart disease and dementia. Short term exposure can trigger asthma and other respiratory incidents. If you can smell wood burning, you are breathing in the particulates that are linked to all these health conditions. It’s not a message that is popular, but burning wood should only be done for essential heating for people living off-grid. Thermals, water bottles and hot drinks are a safer option for outdoor entertaining!

Friends have one and if there is wind - just a slight breeze- you get a face full of smoke.

We have a chiminea which is much better for avoiding smoke face.

We live in a v rural location so don’t piss off the neighbours.

We use ours in the spring and autumn evenings but not much point in the summer because its usually warm enough to sit outside without the fire. Sometimes use it during the day in the winter if I'm outside gardening.

Before I moved house my neighbour used to light his on the patio every evening in the summer, I had to shut all my windows to stop the smoke coming in.

I would have happily buried him under it.

If you absolutely must sit outside on nights when it is too cold to do so without a heat source you could use heated overblankets plugged into extension cables, and light a few candles.

May as well have a bonfire - what's the difference?

Make sure the wood is completely dry (if it's just wood you've collected you really need to leave it for a year for the sap to dry out (if it's thin sticks) and two if it's thicker logs). Then do it on a day when it's not windy. There should be little smell then.
Why don't you just get a cheap £30 metal one and see how it works out for you.

I'd like one but am also in a terraced house so there's no way it's appropriate.

If you have a detached house/massive garden then fine, a terrace in an urban street no way!

You lot are weird. Wood smoke smells fabulous. I love when my neighbours use theirs.

I have a chiminea but only use use it to burn sensitive paperwork as I have nowhere to store logs anymore.

Went to a friend's house during semi-lockdown and we sat outside around her fire pit.

Your DH is absolutely right - my front scorched, my back was freezing and the next day I had to wash all my clothes, including my coat and bag.

Don't bother!

I agree that it mostly smells nice at the time, its awful afterwards on clothes though!

We've got one but ever use it because your DH is right!

I bought one. After one use I deeply regret it. Throat felt terrible all next day, clothes smelt of smoke and even washing hasn’t got rid of it l, and it wasn’t even that warm. Reality did not live up to my expectations which were exactly the same as yours.

Fire pits are horrible.

We bought a small one when we lived in our old house (terrace with looooong gardens). We lit it at the end at the garden but it really did smell smoky and it lingered in the soft furnishings. We asked both neighbours in passing if they minded us lighting it and neither were overly keen. They were both brilliant neighbours and we didn’t want to ruin that so didn’t use it again. Not to put you off, just for us having great neighbours in every other sense outweighed the desire for the fire pit.

We use smokeless logs with ours. Once they’re burning well, they’re really good.

My family member has one that is smokeless once it gets going. Very pricey, but much less antisocial for neighbours etc...and it looks good.

Why does everyone need "a firepit" all of a sudden? Can't you just light a bloody bonfire and call it what it is?

We've got one but haven't used it much. Best tip is spend money on smokeless logs. The cheap ones stink and that's unpleasant for you and neighbours.

Ours

I wanted one and was put off by the reasons mentioned here. I concluded that patio heaters were probably bad for the environment. Shame, my favourite part of camping is having a camp fire on the go. I'd love it home.

Hate these things. Neighbours have no concern for my child with asthma, it triggers her every summer when we can't close the windows due to the heat. Our entire house stinks of their smoke.

You are polluting the air for everyone around you. Have some consideration for those with disabilities and don't force your smoke on them.

We have one .. it's amazing!! Super cozy at night and gives off a nice glow & lots of warmth. So many of our friends have bought them after hanging out at our place (pre-CoVid). Ours takes a propane tank (like a bbq) so no mess or bad smells. But I do love the smell of a real wood-burning campfire and would also love that.

Dreadful idea- smoke and smell everywhere, and utterly selfish to neighbours- and the mere idea of crowds of smelly teenagers congregating in your garden....(And yes why are their feet so massive?)

Do you tend not to think things through?
And want to act impulsively?

Help must be available for you somewhere!

@CutsOffCorners

Why does everyone need "a firepit" all of a sudden? Can't you just light a bloody bonfire and call it what it is?

I think people have been watching too much American TV and wanting to ape the lifestyle - some aspects of which don't translate too well to suburban UK.

The pollution in woodsmoke is similar to that in traffic fumes: NO2, particulates etc. Pretty antisocial really (as, sadly, are woodburners). You can't escape the pollution yourself, and neither can any near neighbours.

I suspect OP you are less keen now, but a bit depressing to see some posters who don't appear to be considering their neighbours.