How to prevent a fire pit from rusting

There’s nothing worse than finding rust forming on your fire pit.  It can be unsightly, cause numerous issues, and eventually, render your fire pit useless.  Not to worry, however, as we will tell you how to prevent a fire pit rusting so you never have to worry about this issue.

How Does Rust Form?

Rust, or iron oxide, is basically formed when iron is exposed to oxygen and water.  The rate that rust forms changes, and this rate can be affected by a few different factors:

• Changes in temperature
• Humidity
• High salt content in the air
• The local weather (if it’s very wet!)

Why do we want to avoid rust

Rust can be an absolute nightmare if left untreated.

Rust will spread, and as it does it destroy the metal of your fire pit.  Eventually, the rust can and will cause holes to appear which will render your fire pit both useless and dangerous to use.

Rust can also cause other issues including damaging the ground the fire pit lies on.  If you keep your fire pit on decking or paving stones then the marks that the rust will cause are very hard if not impossible to remove.

While there are ways to treat rust, as we discuss below, the best thing to do is take preventative measures to stop rust from forming in the first place.

The one exception to the rule – Corten Steel

There are always exceptions to everything and if you have a corten steel fire pit then rusting is exactly what you are wanting.

Corten steel is an impressive material that forms a protective layer of stabilised rust that helps keep the metal safe.

There are some incredible benefits to using corten steel for fire pits, not least of all the longevity, its portability, and its gorgeous aesthetic.

If you’re looking for a fire pit with little to no maintenance where you don’t have to worry about the rust then go for a corten steel fire pit!

Our Top 5 Tips for Preventing a Fire Pit Rusting

1. Protect your fire pit from rain and moisture
2. Keep your fire pit clean
3. Use a natural heat barrier between the fire pit and the fire
4. A little veg oil can help
5. Keep a vigilant eye

Let’s dive straight in with the detail…

1. Protect Your Fire Pit From Rain and Moisture

This is arguably the most important thing you need to do to prevent your fire pit from rusting.

As mentioned above, moisture is one of the key reasons metal rusts, and there are a number of ways to protect against it:

• Protect your fire pit with a weatherproof cover – this is a quick and cost-effective solution to protecting your fire pit from the rain.
• Keep your fire pit indoors during the wetter, colder winter months – while this isn’t always possible as it depends both on how moveable your fire pit is and whether you have the space in a shed or garage, but moving your fire pit indoors is a very easy way to protect it from the rain.

2. Keep your Fire Pit Clean

Cleaning your fire pit is important for a number of reasons, not least of all because it helps prevent against rust.  

Any ash left in the fire pit will absorb moisture from rain (or the air if left long enough).  This moisture then has direct contact with the surface of the fire pit and will cause the metal to rust.

On top of this, the ash collects in the centre of the fire pit which is the area that gets the hottest and so is the most susceptible area to rust.

Making sure you extinguish your fire correctly, removing the ash and cleaning is very important.

3. Use a Natural Heat Barrier Between the Fire Pit and the Fire

While it is the common practice with a chimenea, not many people think to use a natural heat barrier like a layer of sand underneath the fire in a fire pit.

This protects the fire pit from being exposed to the extreme heat of the fire and will help protect the metal against rust.

4. A Little Veg Oil Can Help

There are of course treatments you can use to protect the metal from rusting, but these aren’t always advisable as they will likely release some toxic chemicals the next time you light a fire (and will burn away!).

An excellent alternative, however, is vegetable oil.  Adding a light layer of veg oil to your fire pit after cleaning helps protect the metal against rust.  

5. Keep a Vigilant Eye

At the end of the day preventing rust isn’t always possible.  Moisture has a way of finding its way in more often than not.  What you can do, however, is keep a close eye on your fire pit to catch any early signs of rusting.

Regular inspections of your fire pit are the key to detecting rust early, and the sooner you treat the rust the less damage it will cause.

How to Fix Minor Fire Pit Rust Damage

There are two primary ways to remove rust from your fire pit:

1. Using a chemical-based removal product
2. Using natural methods

We cover both methods in a lot more detail in our in-depth article on removing rust from a fire pit.

Final Thoughts

If you live near the sea or where it rains a lot (as we all do in the UK!) then rust can be a big worry for any of your outdoor metal products.  It doesn’t have to be, and our guide here on how to prevent a fire pit rusting will help make sure your fire pit keeps you warm for many years to come.