Square Gas Fire Pits
When looking at the selection of Square Gas Fire Pits for your outdoor space, the Mainstays Laurel square gas fire pit will work great for a price of under $200. Add your 20-pound propane tank and you are ready for a relaxing fire.
The look of a fire pit that could be used as a table when a fire is not needed. The metal cover will give you a place to have a snack and your favorite adult beverage when a fire is not needed. On those cool evenings, just remove the cover and light your flame.
Follow along and I will give you some great information to get the most out of your new fire pit.
Product: Mainstays Laurel square propane gas fire pit
Price when the article was written: $164
Where to get the best price online: WalMart.com
What do you get in the box?
You will get a fire pit that weighs about 47 pounds without a propane tank. All steel construction with a stainless steel burner will give you a solid feel after assembly. It will sit on four legs that have a small amount of adjustment for those slightly uneven surfaces.
The top will be 28 inches across and 25 inches tall. A control panel with flame adjustments and the pilot light will be on one side. Another side will have a full-sized door for access to the propane tank.
The output will be 48,000 BTUs on the high setting, good for warming you up on those cool evenings. Because this is a gas fire pit, warming your toes will this fire pit will be something you will have to look elsewhere for. All of the heat will be going up beyond the top.
The burn pit will be filled with lava rocks, which will radiate heat very well. I did not see any recommendation for adding any glass rocks to this fire pit. Not all lava rock fire pits will make the transition to glass rocks.
No provisions to use Natural Gas with this fire pit.
Assembly of your unit
Some assembly is required. Make sure that you assemble it on a softer surface like a rug or towel, metal surfaces can be scratched easily on rough surfaces.
Attaching sides to the top, then the bottom tank rack will be the majority of the assembly. One person can assemble this unit, four hands will make the job go so much faster.
Make sure that the thermocouple connection is secure or you will have lighting troubles.
Use and care of your fire pit
This fire pit has a thermocouple that will have to be hot before the fire will stay lit. Some customers complained about the flame not staying lit. This is a safety feature that most home gas appliances have. Holding the down on the lighting button for at least 15-20 seconds even after the flame has started will help alleviate this problem.
Lava rocks will crumble over time. Make sure that the dust does not cover the burner holes, this will cause full flame issues. Taking a brush or rag to the burner before use will help with this issue.
This unit comes with a hardcover for the burn area, and no weather cover for the unit when not in use. Storage out of the weather will extend the life of this fire pit.
Cleaning should only be done with mild soap and water, any harsh chemicals can destroy the painted surfaces.
Pros
- Uses a standard 20-pound propane tank
- The tank hides behind the door
- Has metal cover for burn area when no fire is needed
Cons
- Advertised as natural gas, uses propane gas
- Comes with lava rocks, some customers had trouble lighting it with glass rocks
- Some customers had trouble getting it to stay lit, and have thermo-couple that needs to be heated to stay lit
For more information on this or other gas fire pits, follow this link
What do I think of this fire pit?
When looking at the Square Gas Fire Pits for your patio, this Mainstays Laurel gas fire pit for under $200 is a great buy. Having a top that makes it into a table will be a great bonus. Need to see more options for gas fire pits with a tabletop, look at my post here.
Thanks for looking at my post, if you have any questions or comments please use the forms below and I will get back to you shortly.
I love this fire pit. My only concern is what you have listed in the cons about the thermal couple that doesn’t stay lit. I had this same problem with my thermal couple for my pool heater. Replaced it twice within the same summer, and then decided to just hard wire it. In warmer climates, do you still think this would be an issue?
Leahrae,
The climate would not effect the thermo couple. The heat required for it to work properly is quite high. There are many other gas fire pits that do not use this feature if your are concerned about it.
John
I think it is a very good idea for your outdoors for your family and friends gathering. We have recently shifted to our new house and now we have a pretty big backyard where this will suit well.
My only concern is that as you said that some customers faced difficulty in keeping it lit. Any other alternative where this might be not the problem?
Hari,
Customers did state that when they had a problem and called customer service, they received answers very quickly. Holding down the starting button for 15 seconds worked for most. Some found that they had not secured the thermo couple properly and it did not get the proper heating that was needed.
John
Did it give a big flame? It looks like a small flame from the pit. Also, the link to Walmart to purchase is broken. They still sell it. Thank you for the review
Cara,
No propane fire pit will give the same flame level as the wood burners. This fire pit will give out a big flame for a propane-fired pit. A control knob will let you adjust the flame to different levels for your heat and enjoyment.
John