Smokeless Fuel for Fire Pits: The Pros and Cons

Enjoying the outdoor life during the summer is a goal for many people, and what better way to do that than to spend an evening outside gathered round a fire with friends or family? Whether you’re out camping, at an event or just in the back garden, a real fire creates a fantastic atmosphere every time.

For safety reasons – not to mention how much more convenient they are – fire pits have become a popular way of enjoying an outdoor fire. But too often, that enjoyment can be tempered when the smoke generated drifts right at you and into your eyes – and why is it always you it does that to?

So wouldn’t it be better if you could enjoy a fire pit that didn’t produce nearly as much smoke as the fuel we usually use?

Can you use smokeless coal in a fire pit?

The simple answer to this is yes – you can use smokeless coal in a fire pit. Of course, no fuel is 100% smokeless, but by using an approved smokeless fuel, you will reduce the levels of smoke considerably, and that will be much kinder to everyone’s eyes and throats.

What is the best fuel for a smokeless fire pit?

You may need to check any restrictions if you’re using a manufactured fire pit, but in most cases, any smokeless fuel that you use on an open fire in the home should also be suitable for use in a fire pit.

From our extensive range of smokeless coals, that could include Homefire Ecoal50, Newheat Briquettes and our new Irish product, Cosyglo. However, there are also wood products that will work just as well, including seasoned firewood, kiln-dried logs, sun-dried firewood and our ever-popular heat logs.

What you really want to avoid is using wet wood, because that will definitely produce lots of smoke that will almost certainly make you cough and your eyes water, and perhaps even draw the ire of your neighbours.

The benefits of using smokeless fuel in fire pits

• Your comfort: as we’ve already mentioned, less smoke in all means less smoke in your eyes and throat, so you can still enjoy the warmth and ambiance without the discomfort that too often goes with it.
• A longer lasting fire: modern smokeless coals and seasoned or dried wood burn for much longer than traditional alternatives. And although we know that some people like to look important by being the ones who keep the fire topped up, wouldn’t it be so much better if you could just relax and enjoy the evening more without having to do so?
• Less ash: when the time comes to clear up afterwards – usually the morning after if you’ve been enjoying yourself properly and stayed up far too late – you’ll find it quicker and easier with smokeless coals and wood because they leave less ash.
• It’s better for the environment: with less chemicals, less carbon dioxide and less smoke, smokeless fuel is always going to be a better choice for the environment.

Find out more about how you can better enjoy your fire pit with smokeless coals and wood from KG Smith & Son by getting in touch with us today. With an unbeatable choice, competitive prices and fast delivery across the UK – including in and around Cambridge, Northampton and Oxford – it’s no wonder why we’re one of the most popular suppliers of quality smokeless coals and other home heating solutions in the country.