Wood Now, Options Later
Every Ohio Flame fire pit ships as a wood burner with an integrated rain drain at the base of the bowl. What owners do after that is their call. Free shipping on all orders.
Shop the Patriot Call 833-777-2962Talk it through first: info@smokeforges.com
The Short Version
Ohio Flame sells its fire pits as wood burning only. The company states plainly that because of liability concerns it does not make or sell any natural gas or propane fire pits, and does not make or offer conversion kits for them.
What Ohio Flame does say is that it has heard from customers who had their pits professionally converted, and that those customers found the rain drain at the base of the bowl convenient for running a pipe to supply a gas burner inside the bowl. Ohio Flame's guidance is that any modification of its product be done by a licensed professional, and that the company is not liable for damage or injury resulting from modification of its products.
So: possible, done by owners, not offered or supported by the manufacturer, and not a project to hand to a handyman.
That is the whole thing, stated the way the manufacturer states it. Everything below is the detail you need to decide whether it is worth doing in your yard, and what it costs you if you go ahead.
Why the Rain Drain Is the Whole Story
Every Ohio Flame bowl is a welded steel vessel with a drain opening in the base. It exists so rain runs out instead of standing in the bowl and sitting against the steel. That is its actual job, and it is why these pits can live outside uncovered.
It happens to be the one existing opening through the floor of the bowl. That is what makes a conversion physically feasible without anyone cutting into a welded fire vessel. A gas line comes up through the drain from underneath and terminates at a burner sitting inside the bowl. No new hole, no compromised weld.
Who Should Actually Do This Work
A licensed gas professional. Not a general contractor, not a landscaper, not you on a Saturday. This is worth being blunt about, because the failure modes here are not cosmetic.
Running natural gas to a fire feature means a permanent line from your meter, correctly sized for the run length and the burner's demand, with a shutoff valve, correct fittings and sealant, and a pressure test at the end. In most jurisdictions it requires a permit and an inspection. Propane brings its own set of requirements around regulators, tank siting, and the fact that propane is heavier than air and pools in low spots rather than dispersing.
Permits and inspection
Most jurisdictions treat a new outdoor gas line as permitted work. Your installer should be pulling the permit, not asking whether you want one.
Burner selection
The burner has to suit the bowl diameter, the fuel type, and the supply pressure. Natural gas and propane are not interchangeable settings on the same burner.
Media and drainage
Gas burners are usually covered with lava rock or fire glass. Water still has to get out, so drainage has to be solved rather than blocked.
The pit stops moving
Once a fixed line is run, placement is permanent. Decide the location the way you would for a built-in, not the way you would for furniture.
What You Give Up
This is the part that gets skipped in most conversations about conversions, so read it before you decide.
| Manufacturer warranty | Altering the product voids it |
| Manufacturer liability | Ohio Flame is not liable for modification outcomes |
| Conversion kit from Ohio Flame | Not offered |
| Certification of the converted assembly | None. It is not a listed gas appliance |
| Portability | Lost once a fixed line is run |
| Wood burning | Effectively given up once a burner is installed |
The warranty point is the one that surprises people. Ohio Flame's lifetime warranty covers the structural integrity and durability of the steel bowl and welds, and the terms state that altering the product or using it other than as intended voids the manufacturer's warranty. A converted pit is a modified pit.
The certification point matters too. A purpose-built gas fire feature is engineered and listed as a gas appliance. A wood-burning steel bowl with a burner added to it is not, no matter how well the work is done. That is not an argument against doing it. It is an argument for having it done by someone whose license is on the line.
The Case for Just Burning Wood
Worth saying, since we sell both kinds of fire feature and have no reason to push you one way. The thing an Ohio Flame does better than almost anything else in the category is burn wood. Thick plate steel, a deep bowl, no burner to protect, no media to keep clean, nothing to service. Full warranty intact. Move it whenever you want.
If what you actually want is a gas flame at the turn of a valve, that is a real and reasonable preference, and there are fire features engineered from the start to do it, listed as gas appliances, with the manufacturer standing behind the whole assembly. We carry those too. Call and we will point you at the right one rather than talk you into modifying a wood burner.
And if you want wood now and are keeping the option open for later: buy the wood burner, enjoy it, and have the conversation with a licensed gas professional when you are actually ready. Nothing about owning it today closes that door.
Common Questions
Does Ohio Flame sell a gas conversion kit?
No. Ohio Flame states that because of liability concerns it does not make or sell natural gas or propane fire pits, and does not make or offer conversion kits. Its fire pits are sold as wood burning only.
So how do people convert them?
Ohio Flame notes it has heard from customers who had their pits professionally converted, and that those customers found the rain drain convenient for running a pipe to supply a gas burner inside the bowl. The company suggests any modification be performed by a licensed professional and states it is not liable for damage or injury resulting from modification.
Will converting void my warranty?
Yes. Ohio Flame's warranty terms state that altering the product, or using the fire pit in a way other than intended, voids the manufacturer's warranty. Review the current terms directly with Ohio Flame before you commit to any modification.
How big is the rain drain?
Ohio Flame's own documentation describes a 1 inch diameter rain drain. Some retailer spec sheets list 1.25 inch. Measure the drain on your unit, or contact us, before anyone specifies pipe or fittings.
Can I convert it to propane instead of natural gas?
Owners have reportedly done both. Propane and natural gas run at different pressures through different orifices and are not interchangeable settings, and propane carries additional requirements around regulators and tank placement because it is heavier than air. Either way this is licensed professional work.
Can I still burn wood after a conversion?
Practically, no. Once a burner and media are installed in the bowl, the pit is set up as a gas feature. If you want to keep burning wood, keep it as a wood burner.
What surface does it need to sit on?
Regardless of fuel, Ohio Flame fire pits are for outdoor use on a hard, level, non-combustible surface such as concrete, stone, or pavers, in an open, fully vented area. Never use one indoors, in a garage, or in any enclosed space.
Not Sure Which Way to Go?
Smokeforges is an authorized Ohio Flame dealer and we also carry purpose-built gas fire features. Tell us how you want to use the space and we will tell you straight whether a wood burner or a gas unit is the better buy for it.
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Call 833-777-2962 or email info@smokeforges.com
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