The buds have swollen, trees are blossoming, and we're sipping a glass of pinot from Roche Family Winery as we sit around the warmth from a roaring fire burning in one of the many firepits on display on the sumptuous patio of Villa Terrazza Patio & Home in Sonoma, CA. We've finally finished setting up the displays of all the new arrivals of great cast aluminum, wood, woven and iron patio furniture onto our outdoor displays. 
Lots of folks ask me the advantage/disadvantages between natural gas and propane (LP) gas. Both are safe, reliable, and throw a great deal of warmth. LP gas soots a little more, so log sets may turn darker than with natural gas, but this is easily remedied with a dry paintbrush. Portable 20 lb LP gas tanks allow firepits and fireplaces to be located far from the nearest gas line, thereby saving the cost of running lines. Most of the firepits we sell have propane tank storage in the unit, under the burner. Some have a separate tank holder which doubles as a end table. (always handy to have a place to put a glass of wine down on) On the other hand, nothing can end the evening faster than a LP tank run empty without a backup. How long does an LP tank last in a firepit? A 20 lb tanks hold approximately 430,250 BTU's. worth of gas. Most firepits burn anywhere from 30,000 BTU/hr - 80,000 BTU/hr. this means a 20 lb tank should last on average, about (assuming 50,000 BTU/hr appliance) about 8 1/2 hours of burn time, or 3-5 nights of average usage. Natural gas never runs out. Natural gas costs less than LP gas, unless you are like a customer who came in today from Napa. His son owns a local propane business, so , as he put it, LP gas is VERY inexpensive for him.
There is something wonderful about sitting around a roaring fire with friends and family, swapping stories and jokes, and keeping warm on an otherwise cool evening. With a quality firepit on your patio, you'll get more use from your patios than you would without it - I guarantee it!
