FAQs

No, these units on not wood-burning. The benefits of a gas fire appliance include a smoke free experience, turn on instantly, and provide instant heat.

Yes you can, however this appliance is UL listed as a decorative gas appliance, not a cooking appliance. Any residue from the food should be cleaned off the gems/burner, as it will clog the burner ports and prevent a proper burn.

Yes, all OGC fire pits & fire tables are ok to use on a wood deck. OGC Crystal Fire Burners are UL tested and listed. These burners are used in all of our outdoor fire pits. They are ok to use on concrete patios, wood decks, composite decks, etc.

It is not mandatory to cover the fire pit table. It is designed to allow moisture to flow down through the burner and the unit is constructed of durable outdoor rated materials to withstand the elements. However we do recommend covering if not using for extended periods of time. This will prevent any unwanted debris from falling into the burner or onto the top. Protective Covers are available here.

The Crystal Fire® Burner Design does not require High Altitude Adjustments. Complete explanation below: In the standards today there are requirements for de rating the input of a gas appliance in high altitude applications. The reason for this is gas appliance performance is affected by the available amount of oxygen in each cubic foot of air as you increase elevation. The requirement in the US for a 4% de rate for every increase of 1000’ of elevation has been around some time. But there are a number of things that make the calculations and need for this more complicated than just changing the orifice to reduce flow by 4%/1000’. Things like the gas being de rated by the gas company (by adding nitrogen to the mix to reduce the actual BTU content), pressures altering the amount of flow through an orifice, the type of appliance being power vented or open atmosphere. The actual tested input rate performed by the lab. In Canada you are allowed to increase your input for combustion to simulate high altitude installations. Regulations have some appliances exempted from the reduction in rate such as outdoor BBQ grills. Some manufactures de-rate their appliances at the factory to allow for a not having to de rate in the field.

The technical reason for the de rate is the reduced amount of oxygen can cause more CO creation during combustion than during normal elevation operation. This is caused by restricted amounts of air being supplied to the combustion area for primary and secondary air. Other issues causing a higher CO production can be the design of the burner, combustion chamber and the heat exchanger. The manufacturer is designing to meet government requirement for efficiency, safety standard requirements along with the need to be price competitive. So a product can become complex trying to accommodate every situation without requiring some modifications for the environment it is installed in.

When it comes to outdoor- free air- no combustion chamber- appliances, the need for de rate becomes less important. There is plenty of air for combustion, the combustion chamber is limitless so no impingement from slower burning taller flames, no heat exchanger or vent to restrict air from entering or exhaust from escaping. And all the outdoors for dilution of combustion products to prevent the possibility of high CO or exhaust concentrations anywhere. If you compare to a wood burning fire pit that may be burning closer to 2 million BTUs/hr. and a natural gas or LP gas burning appliance at 100,000btu/hr. There is virtually no exhaust to contend with or CO of any comparison to wood.

It is of course important to start with a listed product, these are tested to ensure proper lighting, combustion, and construction. Where a non-listed burner will not provide a known starting point for these safety areas.

At OGC we start with a listed burner and increase input well beyond the rated input of the burner to ensure that our burners are not going to require a de rate in the field for altitude. But we are not the final authority when it comes to installation in the field. You must follow all the requirements of your local jurisdiction when installing any gas appliance in the field. If the local authority requires de rate we can help you meet those requirements.

Light scratches may be removed from the composite decking surfaces of this fire pit by gently sanding with 2000-grit sandpaper in the same direction as the grain then cleaning with Pledge furniture polish. Sanding too deeply or not following the grain of the material could result in permanent damage. 

• After cleaning ALL dust and debris from the top, allow the top to dry. Then spray with SC-SEALER spray sealer. Do a test area first to ensure there is not a reaction. Follow instructions on can for spraying.

• Allow the surface to cure for 24 hours before exposing to water or use

• First clean using a diluted solution of vinegar and water to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on the surface.

• If the top remains dull, reseal your top with SC-SEALER from The Outdoor GreatRoom Company.

• After cleaning all dust and debris from the top, allow to dry. Then spray with SC-SEALER spray sealer. Do a test area first to ensure there is not a reaction. Follow instructions on can for spraying.

• Allow the surface to cure for 24 hours before exposing to water or use.

Instructions for staining Supercast™

1. Clean affected area before attempting to stain. Make sure area is clear of dirt, dust or debris.

2. Use dropper to apply generous amount of stain to exposed Supercast™ material. Only apply stain to exposed Supercast™, stain will not penetrate Supercast™ sealer.

3. Allow stain to soak into the Supercast™ for 30 seconds to 1 minute and use a clean rag to wipe off excess stain.

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 until desired stain color and darkness is achieved.

5. For larger areas it is recommended to seal the re-stained area with an acrylic based sealer to protect it from the elements. SC-SEALER is available through The Outdoor GreatRoom Company.

The Vintage Fire Pit Table features a cedar wood base that is intentionally left unsealed to age naturally. If left unsealed, the wood will become grayer as time continues.

If you would like to stop the natural aging of the wood or if you would like to seal in the “vintage” finish, the base can be sealed with a wood sealer. To maintain the appearance of the finished base, a new coat of sealer will need to be reapplied every few years.

Before sealing, clean with a pressure washer or deck washer but be careful to not damage the surrounding framework, tile, or other finishes.

It is not necessary to seal the wood and the final finish is left up to your preference.

Typically you can operate for an average of 8 hours when burning on high and up to 20 hours when burned on low.

The BTU rating for each burner varies by size and fuel type. For the exact BTU rating consult your Crystal Fire® Burner Manual.

Propane tanks are not included with any purchase. A 20 lb. LP tank can be purchased typically from hardware stores and gas stations.

Yes, we include Clear Tempered Fire Glass Gems with each Crystal Fire® Burner (some exceptions apply.) The glass used is a heat-tempered, tumbled glass gem.

The unit itself is not UL approved for this application, but there should not be any problem provided the following guidelines are followed:

• minimum porch area: 96 sq. ft.
• minimum ceiling height: 92 in.
• minimum of two walls must be screened
• minimum of screen height side walls: 6 ft. 8 in.
• Minimum screen area: 64 sq. ft.

Keep the top clean do not allow dust, dirt, water to stand on the top. Your top is very similar to your kitchen counter except for outdoor use. Use a mild mixture of dish detergent and warm water.

• Do not put the cover on when the table is wet.

• Cover the unit to protect from buildup of water, snow, dust, dirt, and debris.

• Ensure the top is dry prior to covering for an extended period.

If the fire pit table is uncovered, water will drain through the gas port holes in the burner, into the burner neck below, and out of the air shutter. Water will not build up in the burner, it will drain out the bottom.

Supercast™ is a proprietary blend of fiber glass and polymer fortified concrete. We offer a variety of colors and finishes. 

The following information describes installation, general care and maintenance for OGC fire pits when putting away for winter and setting up in the spring. Your fire pit is built to last and by caring for it correctly, you will enjoy it for years.

Spring Checklist

• Remove protective cover

• Remove burner cover

• Remove glass gems from burner. The burner can be cleaned by removing all of the glass gems and wiping down the edges and surface of the burner. A wet cloth/paper towel can be used to clean off any dirt. The glass gems can also be cleaned with a wet cloth/paper towel. These can be cleaned as needed depending on the amount of dirt and debris that land in the burner. Clean burner using damp cloth checking burner for any clogged port holes. Port holes can be unclogged using a toothpick or something similar. Put glass gems into burner.

• Remove Crystal Fire® Burner from fire pit top. Untighten the metal flex hose to orifice connection.

• Unscrew orifice from burner to check and see if there is any debris/frozen water/etc in the neck of the burner. Use a pliers or finger to remove any excess debris. An air hose may be needed to clean out this burner neck as a last resort. All blockages should be removed before next step.

• Screw in orifice and tighten with metal flex hose using two wrenches.

• Check other gas connections to make sure they are tight. If tightening is needed, make sure to use two wrenches.

• Check the sparker connections from the burner to the sparker box. Make sure they are plugged in and the AAA battery works. Check electrode in burner for blue spark, should be spaced at 3/16” apart.

• Make sure gas valve on base is in off position and hook up LP tank, open up valve on LP tank or turn on NG gas valve.

• Push in sparker button and slowly open gas valve.

• Check flame for any irregularities or any smell of gas. If gas is smelled shut off immediately and check gas connections.

• Clean off fire pit top and base with damp cloth. If top is stainless, stainless steel cleaner is recommended. If top is supercast, resealing with concrete sealer may be needed.

• Tighten screws on glass guard clips and set on fire pit top. Clean glass guard with windex and paper towel.

Winter Checklist

• Remove any debris (leaves, dirt) from the burner

• Close gas valve on fire pit base or shut off gas for NG.

• Shut off and remove LP tank from base

• Remove glass guard and store

• Cover Crystal Fire® Burner with OGC burner cover 

• Wipe down fire pit top and burner

• Removing glass gems from burner to clean – optional – can be done in winter or spring

• Cover fire pit table with OGC protective cover 

Your top is handcrafted from Portland cement concrete and reinforced with glass fibers to provide exceptional strength and durability compared to traditional concrete. Supercast™ is typically 1/3 of the thickness of traditional concrete with 3 times the strength. Each piece offers its own uniqueness; you may notice color variations in your fire table top or outdoor kitchen countertop. This is intentionally done during the molding process in order to create a unique natural appearance which mimics natural stone. One factor that may slightly affect coloration is thickness. On fire pit table tops, the burner cover may appear slightly different than the rest of the top due to the difference in thickness.

Due to the physical properties of concrete, small hairline cracks may appear in the surface over time. This is normal and does not affect structural integrity of the top. If cracking is severe or deep, repair or replacement may be required. A minimum of two coats of solvent-based acrylic sealer are applied during the manufacturing process. Because of varying porosity in concrete sealer, it may be absorbed differently throughout the top. Due to this you may notice varying luster.

You can choose from either LP (liquid propane) or NG (natural gas.) The Crystal Fire® Burner unit comes set-up for LP, unless otherwise noted, and can be converted to NG with a NG conversion kit that comes with the unit.

As a result of the casting procedure, air becomes entrapped within the Supercast™ mix and on the surface of the molding material. Supercast™ uses a high cement to water mix ratio; this creates a very thick, dense composition making it difficult for trapped air to escape. Thorough processes are incorporated into the casting process in order to minimize the number of pits visible on a finished Supercast™ piece. Plasticizer additives are used in the Supercast™ composition in order to create a more fluid mixture without increasing the percentage of water, as water decreases the strength of the composition. Agitation of the piece is also performed during the process to allow trapped air to escape.

While the composition and casting process is designed to allow air bubbles to escape, surface tension on the surfaces of the piece prevent a small percentage of smaller air pockets from releasing. The pitting is an inherent component of casting Supercast™. The presence of pitting does not compromise the durability or strength of the piece but adds to the distinctive look.