Learning Center Questions

Start from the inside of the fire pit opening, not the BTU figure. Warming Trends publishes a minimum opening for every CROSSFIRE burner, from 18 inches round for the smallest to 74 by 14 inches for the longest linear. Choose a burner whose minimum opening is the same as yours or smaller, and order the plate made for that opening.

Two burners are listed for a 36 inch opening: the CFBO320 Octagonal at 320,000 BTU/hr, for a round or square plate, and the CFBST400 Square Tree-Style at 400,000 BTU/hr for a square pan. Both take two flex lines. Burners listed for 30 inches, such as the CFB240 or the CFBCT240, also fit and run on one.

Only within the opening it was made for. Each burner is rated for a minimum opening, and that rating keeps the plate, the flame and the surrounding material in proportion. Pick from the burners that fit your opening first, then compare output among them.

The part number tells you the family. CFB is the Original round, CFBO is Octagonal, CFBCT is Circular Tree-Style, CFBST is Square Tree-Style, CFBDT is Double Tree-Style, CFBH is H-Style, CFBL is Linear and CFBT is the Tree-Style linear. Tree-Style and H-Style are not finishes, they change where the flame sits in the pan.

Yes, and it is a separate item. The plate is sized to the opening rather than to the burner, so the part number follows the opening: the CFBH240 is listed for openings of 46 by 17 inches or larger and pairs with the ALPL4617 plate. A burner that arrives without its plate cannot be installed that day.

The Warming Trends manual calls for 36 inches from the burner edge to anything combustible at the sides and at least 84 inches overhead. Inside the enclosure, leave at least 3 inches between the burner and every wall, and set the burner 4 to 6 inches below the top. The enclosure itself must be non-combustible.

Every CROSSFIRE burner we carry is solid brass, and Warming Trends backs the burner with a lifetime warranty regardless of ownership. Brass does not rust the way lower grades of steel can when water sits in a burner pan. Many listings also carry the WATERSTOP fitting, designed to keep water out of the burner.

By output, the CFBST500 Square Tree-Style at 500,000 BTU/hr, listed for square openings of 42 inches or larger. By length, the CFBT470 Tree-Style linear at 470,000 BTU/hr, listed for openings of 74 by 14 inches or larger. Both take two flex lines.

Warming Trends states that all of its products are designed, engineered and assembled in the USA. The company is based in Englewood, Colorado. If a contract needs origin worded a particular way, ask us and we will request it in writing from the manufacturer.

Warming Trends publishes a lifetime warranty on the burner, regardless of ownership. The Platinum and Mercury ignition systems carry 3 years residential and 1 year commercial. Labor is not covered, and pairing an ignition with a burner it is not specified for voids its warranty.

Use natural gas if a line already reaches the patio or can be run without a long trench, because you never refill anything. Use propane when there is no gas line or the feature has to stay movable. Most of the fire features we carry come in both, as separate part numbers.

Plan on no. CROSSFIRE burners and most concrete fire features are built with a fuel-specific orifice, and the fuel is chosen when you order. Prism Hardscapes asks owners to contact its technical support if an orifice change is ever needed, and sells a conversion kit for its own features. Confirm the fuel at the site before the order goes in.

Prism Hardscapes publishes approximately 8 to 10 hours per 20 lb tank for its fire tables, which are rated 65,000 BTU/hr on most models. As a rule of thumb a 20 lb tank holds about 430,000 BTU, so dividing by the burner rating gives the hours at full flame, and turning the flame down stretches it.

On a few models. The Prism Portos 58 and 68 take a 15 lb tank behind an access door, the Pentola 3 pedestal takes a 20 lb tank and the Porto 60 has a tray for a 10 lb tank. Most other Prism tables use a matching tank enclosure that doubles as an end table and is sold only with a fire feature.

A single flex line model takes one 3/4 inch gas connection. A double takes two, which means two penetrations through the enclosure, two valve decisions and a supply sized for the whole load. In most CROSSFIRE families the crossover sits at 240,000 BTU/hr.

One 36 inch flex line of 3/4 inch diameter, two 3/4 inch flared fittings, one 3/4 inch key valve, a 3 inch and a 12 inch key, and a 1/2 by 2 inch nipple. Every burner is offered with the kit or without it, so know what the kit replaces before buying the same fittings twice.

Check it on paper before you order. If the key valve has to sit outside a wide enclosure, or the gas stub comes up far from the burner center, 36 inches disappears quickly once you allow for the bend. It is a cheap thing to measure and an expensive thing to discover on site.

Yes. Warming Trends requires at least 18 square inches of venting on each of two opposite sides of the enclosure, 36 square inches in total, for natural gas and propane alike. Fire by Design asks for propane vents at the very bottom of the feature and none in the burner pan, because propane is heavier than air.

A licensed gas technician. The gas line has to be sized for the whole load and the length of the run, and installed to the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1 and NFPA 54. Many cities also require a permit for a new gas line, so ask your installer to pull it.

Yes, for the people sitting around them. Most Prism Hardscapes and Slick Rock tables are rated 65,000 BTU/hr, enough to warm hands and faces at the table on a cool evening, not to heat a whole patio. If heat matters more than looks, compare BTU between models or pair the table with a mounted heater.

A fire table has a wide ledge you can set a drink on and usually sits at coffee table height. A fire pit is a lower, more open feature you gather around. A fire bowl is a single vessel, often on a pedestal or a pool wall, that works as a focal point. All three run the same kind of gas burner.

It depends on the line. Most Prism Hardscapes and Slick Rock tables are 65,000 BTU/hr, with a few larger Prism models at 90,000 or 125,000. Fire by Design rates by burner size, from about 31,000 up to 406,000 BTU/hr. The American Fyre Designs Legend is 65,000, or 75,000 with its Bluetooth ignition.

Match lit has nothing electronic to fail but someone has to light it at the valve. Electronic lets you start it from a switch or remote. Prism uses a key valve and match, with its 12 volt PH Ignite as an add-on. Fire by Design and Slick Rock offer 24 volt systems rated to stay lit in rain and up to 55 mph winds, with automatic relight.

These are decorative gas appliances, not grills. Food and grease dripping into the media and burner can clog ports and void a warranty claim, so treat the flame as a fire to sit by rather than a cooking surface.

None of the manufacturers we carry give a deck rating, so check two things with your installer. Weight: the American Fyre Designs Legend is 360 pounds and the largest Prism tables 1,050, and Slick Rock asks you to confirm the base carries the finished weight. Heat: the side and overhead clearances in the manual still apply, and the enclosure must be non-combustible.

Only with the overhead clearance the manual sets, and the figures are large. Prism Hardscapes calls for 6 feet above the fire to anything combustible and 4 feet at the sides. The Fire by Design and Slick Rock ignition manuals list 96 inches to a combustible ceiling, and Warming Trends at least 84 inches above its burners. All of these are made for outdoor use only.

Start with the manual. Prism Hardscapes calls for 4 feet at the sides to combustible surfaces, and Fire by Design, Slick Rock and Warming Trends list 36 inches from the burner to a combustible wall. Your local fire code may ask for more, and the stricter rule wins, so confirm with your building or fire department before you pour a pad.

Glass fiber reinforced concrete, a mix where alkali resistant glass fibers run through the material instead of steel sitting inside it. That lets the shell be thinner and lighter while handling heat and weather. Slick Rock casts in 15,000 psi high-performance concrete reinforced with micro-glass fibers. Prism Hardscapes uses glass fiber reinforced cement and now offers a lighter material on many models.

It is built for outdoor use, which is why the brands we carry cast in it. Durability comes down to drainage in the enclosure, a breathable cover when the piece is off and cool, gentle cleaning and resealing when the manual calls for it.

Small surface marks are part of cast concrete. Slick Rock states that air voids, seams and small non-structural fractures are normal, and its warranty covers structural cracks, not hairlines. Fire by Design likewise excludes small stress cracks and surface crazing. A crack that goes through the wall or leaks is a defect claim.

Not exactly, and that is the nature of the product. These pieces are hand finished, so color and texture vary from one to the next. If a project needs a close match across several pieces, tell us before ordering so they can be made together.

It depends on the line. Slick Rock offers 12 stained colors. Prism Hardscapes offers 5 standard colors, plus Ultra White at an added cost on some models. Fire by Design typically offers 19, and the count varies by model. American Fyre Designs offers 5.

Heavier than people expect, and the weight is published per model. The Prism Tavola 42 is 214 pounds, the American Fyre Designs Legend 360, the Slick Rock Oasis 60 480, the Fire by Design Aura 60 inch 650, and the largest Prism tables 1,050. Plan the route and the hands before delivery day.

Most Fire by Design pieces list 6 to 8 weeks, with some models shorter or longer. Prism Hardscapes lists 3 to 5 weeks where it states a figure. Slick Rock builds to order without a published lead time. Ask us for the current figure on the model you want before you set an install date.

These pieces are made to live outdoors, but none of the brands publish a freeze-thaw rating, so the job in winter is keeping water out. Slick Rock and Fire by Design require drainage in the enclosure, Prism asks that vents and drain holes stay clear and that you never light the fire while the media is wet, and a breathable cover keeps snow out of the pan.

A breathable one made for fire features. Slick Rock warns against rubberized, plastic or other non-breathable covers, because trapped moisture can lift its sealer, and it does not cover damage from third-party covers. Prism recommends a designated fire pit cover. Only cover the feature when it is off and cool.

It differs by brand. Prism Hardscapes' manuals give 2 years against manufacturer defects. Slick Rock covers its concrete for 1 year against structural cracks and sealer failure, as long as its care guide is followed. Fire by Design gives 2 years on GFRC bowls and lifetime on stainless burners and rings. American Fyre Designs gives 3 years on the GFRC body. The product page governs.

Prism Hardscapes asks owners to clean with mild soap and water and reseal with a water-based concrete sealer, every 1 to 2 years depending on the model. Slick Rock seals its pieces at the factory and asks that resealing be done by Slick Rock or a concrete professional, with no acid cleaners or pressure washers. Where a manual says nothing, ask us before you seal.

Both are made to sit over a gas burner. Lava rock is the natural, lower cost option with a rustic look. Fire glass reflects the flame and comes in colors, and costs more per pound. Many installs use both: lava rock to fill the pan, glass on top where it shows.

Warming Trends asks that media cover its burners by no more than 1/2 inch above the jets, with pieces 1/2 inch or larger. Fire by Design recommends filling with lava rock to the fire ring and topping with about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of glass. Too much media smothers the flame, so follow the manual for your burner.

It is the usual way to do it and it saves glass. Fire by Design recommends lava rock beneath the glass, filled to the fire ring, with the glass layered on top. Fire by Design also suggests a stucco lath between the two so the glass stays on the surface.

Not ordinary river rock. Warming Trends lists gravel, pebbles and river rock as not allowed over its burners, because stones can hold moisture and crack or burst when heated. Use media made for fire: glass, lava rock, ceramic logs, or ceramic stones like the American Fyre Designs Creekstones, where 140 pieces cover about 1.8 square feet.

Wind strips the flame off the burner faster than gas can feed it. A tempered glass wind guard is the simplest fix, and Prism Hardscapes makes guards for its Tavola and Porto models, required with several of them. In strong gusts Warming Trends advises turning the feature off, because the flame can behave unpredictably.

On an open, breezy site, yes. A guard helps the burner make a taller, steadier flame and keeps it lit. On a sheltered patio it is optional. Where a model lists the guard as mandatory, it ships as part of the order.

Some systems are rated for it. Fire by Design rates its 24 volt ignition to stay lit in rain and up to 55 mph winds, and Slick Rock tests its electronic models in rain and high winds with automatic relight. The Warming Trends 24 volt Platinum ignition protects its pilot with a wind cage.

A gas burner runs in the top of the bowl while water enters from below and spills over a lip or spout into the pool. Gas and water are two separate systems in one vessel, so the bowl needs a gas line and a water line, plus power if you choose electronic ignition.

Usually it is fed from the pool system, and the connection is set per brand. Prism Hardscapes uses a 3/4 inch NPT connection at 15 gallons per minute on its fire and water bowls. Slick Rock uses a 1 1/2 inch PVC water supply. Share the model with your pool builder so the plumbing and valve are sized before the deck is poured.

Yes, in most cases. The work is running a water line from the pool equipment, a gas line and, for electronic ignition, low voltage wiring to the bowl location. A pool builder and a licensed gas technician usually handle it together.

A low voltage system built for it. Prism's PH Ignite runs on 12 volts AC and can sit within 5 feet of pool water. Fire by Design and Slick Rock offer a pool-certified system at 30 volts DC for installs within 5 feet of a pool or spa, alongside their standard 24 volt AC ignition.

Reach usually decides it. Match lit has nothing electronic in the weather, but someone has to reach the valve, which is awkward on a bowl out on a pool wall. Electronic lets you light it from a switch, a remote or, with Prism's system, the pool controls.

Sealed concrete handles pool water well. The real issue with salt and hard water is scale and mineral deposits drying on the bowl, so a sealed surface and regular rinsing matter more than the salt itself. Check the metal parts too, since stainless grade matters near chlorides.

It varies by line. The Fire by Design Geo Round Essex comes in 31, 36, 48 and 60 inch diameters. Slick Rock builds round, square and conical bowls. Prism offers bowls and pedestals in several sizes. Tell us the space and the pool wall width and we will come back with what fits.

Divide the area you want warm by the coverage of one heater. Eurofase publishes about 64 square feet for the EF30 and about 121 for the EF60, and Schwank about 150 to 350 square feet for its supremeSchwank models mounted at 10 feet. A 12 by 20 foot seating area of 240 square feet takes two EF60s. Add more where the space is open to wind.

Electric infrared is clean, quiet and easy to place under a roof, and needs a dedicated electrical circuit. Gas infrared delivers high output without a large electrical circuit and suits big open spaces and restaurants, and needs a gas line and ventilation.

Eurofase publishes about 8 by 8 feet, 64 square feet, for the 3,000 watt EF30 and about 11 by 11 feet, 121 square feet, for the 6,000 watt EF60. Treat it as a still-air figure, because wind removes heat faster than any heater replaces it.

Schwank publishes coverage at a 10 foot mounting height: about 150, 250 and 350 square feet for the supremeSchwank 2312, 2313 and 2352, and about 200, 300 and 500 square feet for the three phantomSchwank sizes. The portable parasolSchwank radiates over a circle of roughly 8 to 20 feet.

Eurofase sets a 6 foot minimum in the US, with 7 to 9 feet best for the EF30 and 8 to 10 feet for the EF60. Schwank's supremeSchwank heaters need 8 to 9 feet minimum depending on the model, and the bistroSchwank 96 inches, with 8 to 12 feet recommended. Mounting too high spreads the heat too thin.

For Eurofase: 12 inches to the ceiling when wall mounted, 6 inches when ceiling mounted, 18 inches to side walls and about 3.3 feet in front to anything combustible. For Schwank gas heaters the clearances are set per model in the installation manual, and nothing should be stored directly under the heater. We will send the manual for the model you choose.

It is published per model. The Schwank 2150, 2152 and 2352 are rated 50,000 BTU/hr, the 2135 and 2313 35,000, and the 2312 25,000 on natural gas or 23,000 on propane. The phantomSchwank comes in ranges from 35,000 up to 115,000 BTU/hr.

Voltage is part of the model, not a setting. The Eurofase EF30 is sold in 240, 277 and 480 volt versions and the EF60 in 208, 240, 277 and 480 volt versions. Confirm what your panel supplies before you order, because it cannot be changed afterwards.

Eurofase publishes the draw: the EF30 pulls 12.5 amps at 240 volts and the EF60 25 amps, with 14.4 and 28.8 amps at 208 volts. That makes each heater a dedicated circuit, sized by a licensed electrician to the National Electrical Code. Eurofase also requires licensed installation to keep the warranty.

Multiply the wattage by your electric rate. A 6,000 watt EF60 uses 6 kilowatt hours for every hour at full output, so at 15 cents per kWh it costs about 90 cents an hour. A 3,000 watt EF30 costs half that. Dimming the heater lowers it further.

Electric is the simpler choice: Eurofase heaters are built to UL 2021 and CSA standards for indoor and outdoor use, and are rated IPX4 against splashing water. Schwank gas heaters may go under an overhead cover with no more than two side walls, or three walls if at least 30 percent of the perimeter stays permanently open. Gas heaters are never for use inside a home.

Infrared, in almost every open or breezy situation. Infrared heats the people and surfaces it reaches rather than the air, so a gust does not take the heat away with it. Convection heats air, which works indoors and disappoints outdoors.

Up to a point. Schwank rates its gas heaters for winds up to 10 miles per hour. Above that, a windbreak or a sheltered mounting position does more for comfort than extra output.

Eurofase uses medium wave quartz elements and describes them as operating without harsh glare, so the light is a soft warm glow rather than a bright red. Gas infrared heaters show a glowing ceramic face when running.

The Schwank 2100 and 2300 series are built in 316 marine grade stainless steel, the grade to choose near salt air or a pool, and the 2300 has an insulated cabinet for lower clearances. The Eurofase heaters are 304 stainless steel.

Yes, on the Eurofase electrics. Replacement quartz elements are stocked and the element is rated for 5,000 hours, so the element is a consumable rather than the end of the heater.

Eurofase gives 3 years on parts to the original owner, provided a licensed contractor installs it, and asks you to register within 30 days. Schwank's manuals give 1 year on components and 3 years on the burner and ceramic tiles, with annual service required. The phantomSchwank gives 3 years on components and 10 years on the burner cup and tubes.

Often, yes. Many cities require a permit or a fire marshal review for commercial patio heaters, especially gas. Schwank positions its heaters for restaurant and hospitality use and Eurofase offers relay boxes for commercial zoning, but the approval itself comes from your local authority, so check before you buy.

Yes, with the right control. Eurofase dimmers and timers run at 120 volts, adjust in 1 percent steps and work through a control box rather than wiring straight to the heater. A hardware store dimmer is not built for this load.

With Eurofase, through a contactor box. The boxes accept other 120 volt controls such as timers, thermostats and smart switches, which then switch the heater load safely. Schwank's electric automation panel works with Lutron, Crestron and Control 4.

For Schwank's 24 volt controls, yes, sold separately. Size it at 40 VA for the first heater and add 20 VA for each additional heater, with one transformer per zone.

Yes. Eurofase offers contactor and relay boxes in 1, 2, 3 and 4 zone versions, recommended for commercial patios. Schwank offers relay panels and zone controllers for its gas heaters.

Eurofase heaters include a 6 inch stainless mounting kit for wall, ceiling or pole. Schwank mounting is a separate item: the wall arm kit holds the heater 30 inches from the wall at a 30 degree angle, and there are pole and ceiling mounts. Choose the mounting before you order so the bracket ships with the heater.

A pole mount, or a freestanding heater. Eurofase pole mounts come with a single or double crossbar so one pole can carry two heaters. The parasolSchwank 4005 is a propane-only patio heater that runs on a 20 lb cylinder at 38,000 BTU/hr and needs no house power, its igniter runs on a single AAA battery.

The phantomSchwank has Wi-Fi app control with schedules, and Schwank offers a remote receiver kit for single-stage gas heaters. For Eurofase, a contactor box lets you add the smart control of your choice.

They run at different heats. Golden Designs rates its infrared saunas at 118 to 132 degrees Fahrenheit, up to 140, warming you directly with panels. Its traditional saunas heat the room with a stove to 170 to 185 degrees, up to 190, and allow steam from water on the stones. Infrared is gentler and plugs in more easily; traditional is the classic hot room.

Golden Designs puts infrared saunas at about 15 to 20 minutes and traditional saunas at about 30 to 40 minutes. In a cold room or outdoors in winter, expect longer.

Smaller infrared models, yes. The 1 to 2 person Golden Designs saunas run on a 120 volt, 15 amp outlet, and 3 person models need a dedicated 120 volt, 20 amp circuit. Traditional saunas need 240 volts, 30 amps for a 6 kW stove or 40 amps for 8 kW. The manufacturer says not to use extension cords or GFCI outlets with any of them.

No. Every infrared model we carry is listed for indoor use only. For outdoors, choose a model built for it: the barrel saunas and the Narvik, Kaarina and Carinthia are listed for outdoor use, and the Sundsvall, Andermatt and Hanko for indoor or covered exterior use.

Golden Designs recommends a concrete slab, concrete pavers, gravel, cinder blocks or a solid wood deck, level and dry. Barrel saunas use a rain cover and the Carinthia has an asphalt shingle roof. Models without outdoor roofing cannot sit directly in the weather.

It refers to the electromagnetic field measured near the heating panels. Golden Designs Near Zero models publish under 2 milligauss at 2 to 3 inches from the panels, and Dynamic models less than 3 milligauss at 6 to 8 inches. Compare figures measured at the same distance.

Golden Designs infrared saunas use reforested Canadian Hemlock. The Maxxus cedar line uses Canadian Red Cedar, and the Andermatt, Engelberg and barrel saunas use Pacific cedar.

Golden Designs says two adults can assemble an infrared sauna in about an hour with a screwdriver and a ladder. Outdoor cabins and barrels are bigger builds, for 2 to 4 adults with a mallet, hammer, level and two ladders. Indoors, leave 1 to 2 inches around the sauna and 10 to 12 inches above it.

Golden Designs publishes 5 years on its infrared saunas for residential use. Outdoor models list 5 years on the wood, and the stove carries its own maker's warranty. Coverage is parts only and must be registered within 60 days.

Ice works for occasional use, but daily plunging takes a lot of it. A chiller holds the temperature for you and filters the water. Dynamic Cold Therapy sells its chillers separately from the tub, while Dreampod ice baths include a 3/4 HP chiller.

The Dynamic Cold Therapy chillers set the water anywhere from 37 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, cooling about 1 to 3 degrees every 30 minutes depending on the room or weather. The same unit also heats, so the tub works as a warm soak too.

The Dynamic Cold Therapy chillers run on a standard 110 to 120 volt outlet and have GFCI protection built in. Place the tub where an outlet can reach without an extension cord.

Dynamic Cold Therapy chillers use two-stage 20 micron filtration with an automated ozone system, and include two spare filters. Dreampod uses UV filtration. Water still needs replacing regularly, more often with heavy use.

Dynamic Cold Therapy chillers are rated for indoor and covered outdoor use, and the manual says not to store or run the tub below freezing, and to drain it before storage. Plan a covered spot with an outlet nearby.

Stainless lasts longest and is easiest to clean. Dynamic Cold Therapy offers PVC and 304 stainless barrels and cuboid tubs. Dreampod's standard bath is fiberglass on an insulated base at 410 pounds, and its FLEX models are inflatable at 165 pounds, easier to move and place.

Dynamic Cold Therapy rates its chillers by tub size: about 120 gallons for the 0.6 HP, 135 for the 0.8 HP and 150 for the 1.0 HP, which covers their own tubs and most single-person plunges.

Dynamic Cold Therapy gives 1 year on the tub and 1 year on the chiller, with lifetime product support.