Why isn't my flame larger? How do I make my flame larger?

Improving the height of your fire pit's flames

Discover how to troubleshoot and improve flame height in your fire feature. Our expert tips will help you address issues like gas leaks, burner obstructions, regulator limitations, and more, so you can get your fire feature blazing beautifully again.

It's finally time to start enjoying your fire feature, but when you go to turn it on you find that the flames look less than enthusiastic. But why is that happening? Whether it's a fire feature you've had for a while or it is brand new, a less than optimal flame can be disappointing. But fear not, we'll walk you through some steps to get that blaze back in your fire.

We hope these tricks of the trade will assist you in getting your flame back up to par, but we always recommend working with a local certified contractor to work with your specific setup. Stay toasty!

Your fire glass or media may be covering your burner.

This issue is the quickest to fix, so we'll start with it. Whether you're using a fireplace burner or a fire pit burner, there are holes in the top of it that release the gas you're utilizing for your setup. Too much fire media, whether that's fire glass, lava rock, or another medium, on top of the burner can restrict flame height. especially true for Propane gas as it is a much heavier gas than Natural Gas. Also make sure that there is nothing between your fire media and your burner; the fire glass or media should rest directly on the burner. For your safety, ensure your gas is turned off and then simply brush away some of the media from the holes in your burner. Once cleared, turn your gas back on and your flames should be vastly improved.

You may have a gas leak.

Be sure to check all your fittings to ensure that they are secured tightly. Once you have done this, if after some time you do not see an improvement in your flame, you should consider the other fixes outlined here. If, however, you smell gas at all after you have tightened your fittings, you will need to bring in a professional to isolate the leak and fix it.

Your regulator might be limiting your fuel's pressure

If you're looking to have a brilliant flame, you need sufficient pressure to enable your fuel to reach your fire feature. This is heavily dependent on your gas source's pressure as well as your gas regulator. If you have sufficient pressure being supplied from your meter, you can upgrade your regulator for a better flame. Generally located at the base of your fuel source or included in your connection kit or flex line setup, the regulator acts as a gateway that fuel must pass through to reach your fire. The higher the pressure a regulator can maintain, up to the BTU pressure at your fuel source, the better your gas flow and resulting flame. If you find that nothing else is working to provide you with the impressive fire you seek, consider upgrading your regulatorto one with a higher BTU capacity.

Your hose or fuel line may need a larger inner diameter.

When you're preparing to install a fire pit, you will want to work with a professional to find out what kind of PSI output your fuel source will be providing. They regularly do these installations, and will breeze through the calculations. Based on the information they find, they may suggest you upgrade the diameter of your hose or flex line, which supplies your fuel to your burner. For sources that provide higher PSI, you can upgrade your hose to a high capacity line, which tend to be about 1/2" inner diameter as opposed to the more standard 3/8". If you have an existing in-ground fuel source, be sure to check that your hose is the appropriate diameter. Increasing the hose diameter without having the appropriate PSI will not improve your flame.

I've tried all the above and nothing helped.

Sorry to hear that none of the above worked for you! Please feel free to reach out to our NFI Certified staff. They'll be happy to assist you in getting your fire feature fixed back up to give you those flames you crave. You can reach us via phone at (866) 578-8538, by visiting our contact us page, or chat with us live on our website during normal business hours. We look forward to assisting you!