Fire pits will naturally accumulate a layer of soot and dust over time. If you want to get rid of that thick, black layer of dust and ash, you’re probably wondering if you need something like a pressure washer to remove the stains on your fire pit.
You can use a pressure washer on your wood-burning fire pit if it is made of steel or copper, and you wipe it down to dry it immediately after washing. If your fire pit is made of brick, stone, or cast iron, or if it burns gas, it is best to avoid pressure washing altogether.
In this article, I’ll go into detail about when it is appropriate to use a pressure washer to clean your fire pit and how to use a pressure washer to clean a fire pit without damaging the latter.
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When Can You Use a Pressure Washer To Clean a Fire Pit?
You can use a pressure washer to clean a fire pit if it is a wood-burning type made of steel or copper. If a pressure washer is used on any other type of metal or a gas-powered fire pit, it will ruin the fire pit and possibly damage it beyond repair.
If your fire pit is a wood-burning type made of steel or copper, and you want to get deep burn stains out of it, you can pressure wash those dark stains away as long you wipe the fire pit down with a clean and dry towel right after spraying it down to prevent rust. Even a single drop of water on your fire pit can spread out and cause all sorts of problems.
Alternatively, you can buy a wood-burning fire pit that isn’t too high-maintenance. For example, there’s the Yaheetech Multifunctional Fire Pit Table (available from Amazon.com). Its standout feature is an outer cover that protects it from the elements. The fact that it’s slightly raised above the ground also lessens the likelihood of dirt and other debris getting into it.
When You Should Not Use a Pressure Washer To Clean Your Fire Pit
As I mentioned, you can only use pressure washers on wood-burning fire pits made of steel or copper. If your fire pit burns gas or is made of stone, brick, or cast iron, you should not pressure wash them at all for the following reasons.
Gas-Powered Fire Pits
You shouldn’t use pressure washers on gas-powered fire pits because:
- Pressure washers will damage gas-fueled fire pits by destroying internal electronic components essential to the functionality of the fire pit. The damage will likely require replacement or repair of the parts if not the fire pit itself.
- The pressure washer could damage the gas lines. Defective connections and hoses can lead to gas leaks near an open flame — something that you don’t want to happen as it can cause a major explosion.
Stone or Brick Fire Pits
You should not pressure wash fire pits made of stone or brick because the pressure will erode these materials. Some may think that the erosion caused by fire pits isn’t a big deal. However, that corrosion can cause cracks in the fire pit over time. These cracks can become big enough to destroy your fire pit and even crack your patio if the fire pit is built into the patio.
Cast Iron Fire Pits
Cast iron fire pits rust extremely quickly, so using a pressure washer to clean them will corrode them even if you dry them. After all, cast iron is highly susceptible to rust due to the effects of oxidization. It’s best to clean cast iron fire pits with hot water and steel wool instead.
If you’re not sure what steel wool to use for your cast iron fire pit, I suggest the Esie Houzie 18″ Long Handle Grill Brush with Replaceable Head you can get from Amazon.com. Although it’s best used for BBQ grills, it’s also handy for cleaning the hard-to-reach areas of your fire pits.
How To Use a Pressure Washer on a Steel or Copper Wood-Burning Fire Pit
The best way to clean your fire pit is to vacuum it or simply dump out any debris. But if you need to use a pressure washer on a fire pit, here’s how to use it safely.
- Set the spray nozzle to a very low-pressure setting and gradually increase the pressure until the stains begin to subside. A pressure washer is a powerful tool, so you want to be careful while using it lest you end up damaging your fire pit.
- Use only water when pressure washing a fire pit. You don’t need to use detergent or bleach. The pressure of the water alone should be enough to remove the burn and ash marks on the fire pit. Also, additives like detergent or bleach will corrode your fire pit’s metal.
- Once you’ve managed to get rid of all the stains inside your fire pit, turn off the pressure washer and wipe the fire pit dry with a clean and dry towel. This will prevent the metal surface from rusting. You need to be thorough and ensure you’ve completely dried the surface.
For a pressure washer that won’t give you the heebie-jeebies while using it on your fire pit, I recommend the Briggs & Stratton 6202 Adjustable Pressure Washer Spray Wand (available on Amazon.com). The product is pretty easy to use, as a twist is all it takes to adjust the pressure. And since the pressure washer is relatively small, you don’t have to worry about the water damaging a large area (if it inflicts any damage at all).
Conclusion
If you’re going to pressure wash a fire pit, make sure it’s wood-burning and is made of steel or copper. Otherwise, you’re going to end up damaging the fire pit.
Even if you can use a pressure washer for a fire pit, you should do so with caution. Adjust the pressure to the lowest settings, and if you need to raise the pressure, you should do so in small increments. Dry your fire pit thoroughly after pressure washing it.
