How do I winterize my gas fire pit at the end of the season?
In Mills River, most homes on those big rural lots run on propane, so winterizing starts at the tank: close the valve, disconnect the regulator, and store the cylinder upright outdoors, away from the house. Then clear and dry the burner and pan and cover the pit before the first hard freeze so moisture can't sit in it all winter.
Propane country, tank first
Out across the Mills River valley — Horse Shoe, Banner Farm, the farmland-and-forest stretches — a lot of properties aren't on a gas main, so the fire pit runs off a propane cylinder. That makes the tank the first thing to deal with. Close the tank valve, disconnect the regulator, and set the cylinder upright in a shaded, well-ventilated spot outside. Never bring a propane tank into a basement, a shed you'd call living space, or an attached garage for the winter.
Once the fuel is handled, a freestanding pit body can come indoors to ride out the season completely dry.
An outdoor-living town, so shut it down clean
Mills River's open valley is made for outdoor living, and pits here get heavy use right through entertaining season. Heavy use means more soot, ash, and debris to clear out before winter, so give the burner ports and pan a proper cleaning rather than a quick brush.
Plan the reverse for spring — we tell folks here to schedule any gas fire pit work for late spring, before the entertaining calendar fills up. We're 25 minutes south in Henderson County; if yours needs a burner or line looked at, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Mills River
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
- Should I cover my gas fire pit when I'm not using it?
- Should I leave the propane tank hooked up to my fire pit between uses?
- Can I use my gas fire pit in the winter?
- What's the proper way to shut down a gas fire pit after using it?