Sometimes, there is nothing better than relaxing next to the mesmerizing ambience of your outdoor fire pit. If you are planning on spending a sunny afternoon or peaceful evening on your patio, the crackling sound of a fire is guaranteed to enhance your experience. There are few downsides to a get together around the fire pit. However, one of the most common problems is excess smoke.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to enjoy your fire when thick smoke is blowing all over the show. While there is no way of preventing this completely, there are ways of minimizing your fire from smoking, and today we tell you how.

Use dry firewood:

Dry firewood is guaranteed to minimize the amount of smoke that your fire produces. All firewood contains some moisture, but that’s not the end of the world. Just steer clear of wood that is abnormally damp, because it will produce a lot of smoke upon burning. It’s always a good idea to protect your firewood from the elements. Consider storing your wood in a covered area where the rain can’t reach it.

Never use green wood:

Just to clear up any confusion, the term “green wood” doesn’t necessarily refer to wood that is green in colour. Instead, it refers to any type of wood that has recently been cut. Freshly cut timber typically contains more moisture, which means it will produce more smoke when you burn it. It would help if you allowed your wood to sit and season to prevent it from smoking.

Don’t burn debris:

It’s a big no-no to toss leaves, grass clippings, pine straw and other debris into your fire. This will cause a lot of thick, eye-watering smoke. Use locally sourced firewood instead.

Allow airflow:

In order to achieve the best possible outcome, stack your firewood to encourage maximum airflow. Proper airflow allows for more combustion, which effectively reduces the amount of smoke that your fire produces. Remember that fire needs three things to burn properly: heat, oxygen and fuel. By feeding your fire with a lot of oxygen, it will naturally burn hotter and more effectively.

It is essential to remember that all fires will produce at least a little bit of smoke, and while it may never be possible to stop your fire from smoking altogether, the techniques mentioned above should help you to keep smoke to a minimum.