Blue Rhino Fire Pit Review – An Honest Look at the Blue Rhino GAD860SP LP Gas Outdoor Firebowl with Slate/Marble Mantel
Manufacturer: Blue Rhino
Propane or Natural Gas: Propane
List Price: $599.95
Best Price: Click here for the best price.
Availability: Click here for availability.
There is nothing better on a clear late summer or early fall night in the backyard than your very own firepit.
But what to choose? A gas fire pit or a wood burning fire pit? While each has their own advantages (and disadvantages), we prefer the propane fueled gas firepits.
Why? Ease of use and a constant flame.
You are not worrying about chopping or stocking firewood; and you are not wearing the ash, soot, and other fire residue created from a wood burning firepit when you go to clean your firepit out.
There are a multitude of gas firepits available to you online; and with prices raging from a low of $200 to a high of $1500, making your decision can become an arduous task with information overload.
We have tested several different models of propane fired outdoor firepits with various prices, and we wanted to focus on three main areas…
1) Ease of use (which is why you want a gas firepit in the first place)
2) The amount of heat and flame created by individual gas firepits
3) Appearance and portability
Under review is the Blue Rhino GAD860SP LP Gas Outdoor Firebowl. Out of all the models reviewed, we found this to be the best overall gas firepit for both value and ease of use; and it is hands down the most attractive and functional gas firepit we have tested.
This is a high quality propane powered gas fire pit with…
- A porcelain steel bowl and slate/marble mantel
- A 40,000 BTU cast iron burner
- A hidden control panel with electronic ignition for easy starts
- A handcrafted slate/marble mantel
The Blue Rhino GAD860SP LP Gas Outdoor Firebowl Assembly
We found this Blue Rhino Gas Firebowl online for just under $500. It shipped quickly, and arrived in four days; and shipping was paid for by the seller.
Assembly of this outdoor gas fire pit takes a little time; and while a little laborious, the end product is worth it in the long run.
However, learn from our mistakes when ordering this firepit, and your assembly will be easier than ours. It says about an hour for assembly of this firepit; but budget closer to two. And you will not need anything more than the included allen wrench and a handy screwdriver.
Here’s what we discovered when we unpacked his firepit….
The assembly instructions were pretty complete; but we had issues with the fact that they were not the most detailed instructions we’ve ever received.
They mainly consisted of pictures with no text; which meant we were constantly referring to the diagrams as we put this firepit together.
And one other trick with this model to think about as you are putting it together… As you assemble each section, do not tighten the screws completely until you have all of the sections attached to each other.
You will need a little slack in the various parts to be able to get all of the screw holes to line up. Once you have the parts attached to each other, you can then tighten the screws down completely.
Once you actually tighten everything up, you have a rock solid, well constructed firepit; but allow yourself a little play when attaching the various parts together or you will be backtracking to get everything lined up.
Another tip… Save a chunk of the cardboard shipping box to lay the marble/slate top on when you are assembling. The top is the last part of the assembly process, and if you are putting it together on your stone or brick back patio, laying it on the cardboard will save it from getting scratched.
Finally, assemble this unit in the vicinity of where you plan on using it.
The Blue Rhino GAD860SP comes in at 42 inches by 42 inches by 28 inches high and about 170 pounds; so you are not going to be able to pick this gas firepit up and carry it around the backyard by yourself.
While the assembly of this firepit sounds like a real chore, it actually isn’t. Learn from our mistakes, and you’ll find that assembly is actually pretty easy; and the end product is well worth it.
Once assembled, this is an easy to use, functional fire pit that is a rock solid, extremely stable, and ready for years of backyard enjoyment.
The Blue Rhino GAD860SP LP Gas Outdoor Firebowl Throws Off Some Heat
The Blue Rhino GAD860SP Gas Firebowl is a beautiful addition to any backyard.
The slate/marble top is gorgeous, and has more than enough room to place plates and glasses on; or even kicking back and resting your feet on if you choose to.
The base is a wide weave rattan that completely encloses the bottom of the firebowl; and there are easy access side doors that make access to the controls and the propane tank very easy.
And the Blue Rhino GAD860SP puts off a surprising amount of heat; especially with a 40,000 BTU cast iron burner. While not as beefy in BTUs of some of the other models we tested, this Blue Rhino firepit cranked out enough heat that could be felt from several feet away.
The ceramic logs and the included lava rocks look very attractive, and there is even an included black vinyl cover that fits over the butane tank; so the propane tank is invisible once installed.
It starts up with push button ease, and the gas controls are simple and easy to operate; but it works a little differently than you expect.
To get this Blue Rhino GAD860SP started, you have to turn the knob to the start position and then keep it pressed in to insure a regular gas flow. While holding it in, you then press the electronic igniter.
And you have to keep pressure on the gas knob in until it lights up (which could be three or four seconds); and continue the pressure on the gas knob until the fire actually gets going.
If you release the gas knob too early, the fire will go out; and you will have to start all over. In essence, this firepit ignites more like a gas fireplace than your average gas grill.
But once started, the Blue Rhino GAD860SP will burn away effortlessly for hours; and the glow from the lava rocks and the ceramic logs look great on a cloudless, starlit night.
The Blue Rhino GAD860SP LP Gas Outdoor Firebowl – A Few Tweaks
This Blue Rhino gas outdoor firebowl is not perfect; but the flaws are minor. The propane tank is a very tight fit inside the firebowl, and you will struggle a little swapping them out.
Also, you have to supply your own propane tank; so depending on where you get yours, budget another $25 to $35 for a filled tank.
Last, they provide you with a rather cheap, thin vinyl cover for the firepit. This could have been made of a little stronger material; and in cold weather, it stiffens (and has the potential for ripping) very quickly.
A little stronger fabric for the cover would have been a nice addition; but it does not detract from the actual firepit itself.
But as stated, those are very minor faults in an otherwise superior product. The Blue Rhino GAD860SP gas outdoor firebowl is an attractive, easy to use, enjoyable backyard gas fire pit.
And the price paid for this quality of workmanship is a real deal; the Blue Rhino GAD860SP is a better value than comparable firepits that will cost you hundreds of dollars more that are not as attractive or as easy to use as this Blue Rhino firepit.
Hands down, the best gas firepit we have tested to date.
Tagged: 1 Year Warranty, 40000 BTU, Blue Rhino, Featured, Gas Fire Pits, Gas Fire Pits Under $500
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