Stainless steel fire bowl and table

The heat radiating downward is enormous and can burn grass or cause stone slabs to crack. Place the bowl on a fireproof, insulating base or choose models with sufficiently tall legs and an integrated ash pan.

• Always remove ashes after the bowl has cooled, since ash combined with water has a caustic effect.
• Simply wash stainless steel with warm soapy water.
• Wipe cast iron bowls dry after cleaning and rub them lightly with cooking oil to protect against rust.

Resin-free hardwood offers the best burning behavior. Use only dry (below 20% residual moisture), well-seasoned beech or oak wood, as it burns very long, hot, and almost smoke- and spark-free.

Infrared heaters are significantly more efficient and economical. They do not heat the ambient air (which is immediately carried away by wind) but radiate the heat energy directly onto the bodies they are aimed at.

An open fire always carries the risk of sudden flying sparks. A safety distance of at least 3 to 5 meters from house walls, trees, and any flammable materials should be maintained.

Consumption depends on the heating output in kilowatts. A common 12 kW gas patio heater consumes about 0.8 to 1.0 kg of propane per hour at its highest setting.

Outdoor pellet stoves often burn the fuel using wood gasification technology. As a result, they burn extremely efficiently, almost ash-free, and above all without annoying, acrid smoke.

Burning a cozy wood fire in commercially available bowls (up to approx. 1 meter in diameter) is generally permitted in private gardens as a warming and ambience fire. However, make sure there is no excessive smoke that disturbs the neighbors.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with repurposing the bowl. With a suitable food-grade stainless steel grill grate or in combination with a tripod swivel grill, almost any fire bowl can be used as a charcoal grill.

Electric infrared heaters are generally unproblematic and permitted on your own balcony. Gas-powered patio heaters, on the other hand, are often explicitly prohibited by the lease or house rules because of the open flame and fire safety concerns.