A fire pit, a fountain and a concrete table are not commissioned in the same way – and with gas, the order of the steps decides safety. This FAQ article describes the setup in the sequence in which it actually happens: first the fire pit, then the fountain, and finally the furniture. All three share the same first principle: read and check first, then assemble.
The instructions summarise what is written in the supplied operating manuals and what customers ask the ELEMENTI service team most often. When assembling a fire pit, gas work is only permitted with the relevant qualification – you will find the note on this in the section on the gas fire pit.
Read and check first, then assemble – with gas, always the leak test before ignition.
Installation and gas connection only by an approved gas fitter.
Refuel only with a cold burner, up to 80 % capacity maximum, using a safety can.
Keep the water level below the pipe height, pump only on the basin floor, keep electricity dry.
Components needed for the setup can be found in these areas:
1 What applies before every setup?
Unpacking and assembling is a work step of its own that takes time. Plan considerably more time for a gas fire pit than for a table, because a test follows the connection. Also decide where the unit will stand before you open the packaging. Anyone who is assembling a fire pit clarifies the location first, and then which ignition the model has.
Which tools should I have ready?
- A spirit level for aligning the installation position
- Two people for moving heavy components
- A spanner or pliers for the hose clamp on the gas cylinder
- A spray bottle for the leak test: 1 part washing-up liquid, 3 parts water
- Soft cloths and a hand truck for the route to the installation spot
Do I have to do the assembly myself?
Furniture arrives fully assembled and only has to be unpacked and set up. Fire pits and fountains are modular and are put together following the instructions. For the gas connection itself, a different rule applies than for positioning the housing.
Does a gas fire pit have to be connected by a specialist?
Yes. All work on the gas line must be carried out by an approved gas fitter. Installation, a modification to the gas line or an improper repair by unauthorised persons is not permitted and is excluded from the warranty. Also observe your country’s requirements for installation, minimum clearances and connection.
2 Setting up a gas fire pit: check first, then ignite
The assembly itself is manageable: position the housing, insert the burner and the decorative layer, connect the gas cylinder, check for leaks. The last step decides whether the fire pit may go into operation – here there is nothing to estimate, only to measure.
What is the first step after unpacking?
First make sure that the gas shut-off valve is closed and the control knob is set to “OFF”. Then insert the AAA battery for the ignition. Before igniting, all connections must be made and the leak test completed – nothing is ignited before that.
How is the gas cylinder connected?
The hose is pushed onto the gas inlet, the hose clamp tightened and the fit checked: no damage to the thread or to the sealing surfaces, no kink and no contact with hot surfaces or sharp edges. Then connect the gas pressure regulator to the cylinder – the regulator is country-specific and must comply with local regulations. Always close the cylinder valve before loosening the hose.
How is the leak test carried out?
Fill the spray bottle with 1 part washing-up liquid and 3 parts water. With the regulator set to “OFF”, open the gas supply and spray the soap solution onto valves and connections. If bubbles form, close the gas supply immediately, reconnect and test again; if bubbles remain visible, shut off the gas supply and contact your specialist dealer. A test with an open flame is never permitted.
How is the fire pit ignited?
Turn the knob to “OFF”, slowly open the gas supply and press the ignition button until sparks appear. Keep the ignition button pressed and at the same time push the knob to “LOW” to ignite the gas. After ignition, keep the knob pressed for a further 20 seconds, check that all burner openings have ignited and then regulate the flame size.
If the fire pit does not ignite within 5 seconds, turn the knob back to “OFF” and wait 5 minutes so that the gas can escape. Only then attempt ignition again.
Can I light it with a long match or a lighter?
Yes, but only with heat-resistant gloves – and never with your upper body above the fire pit. Push the decorative material aside with a small shovel until the burner is exposed. With the glove on, bring the flame to the burner from the side, turn the knob anticlockwise to “LOW” and then remove the ignition source again. Afterwards, put the lava stones or fire glass back in place using the shovel and gloves.
How much lava stone or fire glass goes into the tray?
For a standard tray we recommend around 5 kg of lava stone. The material is placed by hand, not poured from the sack – dust can clog the burner openings. Top up so that the top layer sits about 1 to 2 cm above the upper edge of the burner, and keep the ignition box clear. Before rearranging or cleaning, the material must have cooled down completely. More on choosing the decorative layer is in the guide Fireplace filling materials: lava stone & fire glass.
How is the gas fire pit switched off?
On cylinder operation, push the control knob to “OFF” and then close the cylinder valve. On natural gas operation, also push the knob to “OFF” and then close the gas shut-off valve. If the flame goes out during operation, turn immediately to “OFF” and wait at least 5 minutes before the next ignition attempt. A step-by-step introduction to safe operation is given in the guide Understanding gas fire pits: How they work, benefits and how to choose.
3 Ethanol fire pit: refuelling, lighting, extinguishing
With ethanol there is no gas line and no leak test – instead, the condition of the burner decides safety. Two rules always apply: only refuel with a cold burner and use only approved fuel.
How is the manual ethanol fire pit refuelled?
Wait until the flame has gone out and the burner has cooled down for at least 60 minutes. Refuel exclusively through the filling opening and never directly onto the burner. Fill to a maximum of 80 % of capacity and use a safety can with a flame arrester. If fuel spills, first wipe it up with a dry cloth, then with a damp one – ignition only happens once everything has dried completely.
Which fuel is permitted?
Only bioethanol with a purity of at least 95 % is permitted. Ethanol of lower purity as well as methanol, petrol, kerosene or other substitutes are not permitted. Methanol is harmful to health, and the wrong fuel damages the unit immediately – in that case the warranty is void.
How is the manual fire pit lit?
Open the slider completely and wait 60 seconds so that residual gases can escape. Dip the tip of the long lighter into the burner area, take it out again so that no fuel drips onto the floor, and light it like a candle. Guide the burning rod back into the burner area; with long burners it is best to ignite from the two short sides. Let the residual flame on the rod burn off completely before putting it down – and always keep your face and hands at least one lighter-length away.
How are the flame and the extinguishing controlled?
With round burners, place the lid on and check that it sits fully; with linear burners, push the slider with the handle to the front closing position – several times if necessary. Set the flame size before igniting or after cooling down; the metal plate is not removed during operation. After extinguishing, wait 30 minutes and let the burner cool to room temperature before igniting again.
How is the smart ethanol fire pit commissioned?
Press the cover so that the lid opens and the control panel becomes visible. Before first use, switch on the main switch and connect the hose to the filling port while the other end is in the fuel container. Once the connection is firm, start the automatic filling with the “FUELING” button; filling stops automatically. Ignition is via the “ON/OFF” button.
What do the indicators on the display show?
The display provides information on the ethanol level (E3 minimum to C4 maximum), the fill level (L1 and L2), the flame air (F0, F1, F2) and the sound level of the wood crackling (S0 to S3). Fill levels L1 and L2 are relevant for automatic refilling, so they should be kept in view. An empty or incorrectly filled indicator is not a defect but an indication of the operating state.
How is the smart fire pit connected to the app?
Download the Tuya Smart app and switch on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your smartphone. Hold down the SOUND button on the remote control for 5 seconds to activate the Bluetooth module. As soon as the app finds the device, add it and enter the credentials of your Wi-Fi network. In the app you can see the fill quantity, device status, error causes and ambient temperature, and you control ignition, switch-off, refilling, flame, sound and child lock.
Which protective functions does the smart version have?
The child lock blocks all controls and is released again by pressing for 5 seconds. The tilt protection switches off from an inclination of 3° and above, and the over-temperature protection requires a device temperature below 50 °C for a restart. In addition the device monitors the ambient temperature and stops below −20 °C or above 60 °C; overflow and overfilling are reported via E1 and E2. Do not leave the installation location without switching off the main power supply.
What are the requirements for the smart fire pit?
A socket with 220 to 240 V is required, and it must be installed inside the housing. The unit must stand level – from 3° of inclination it reports an alarm and stops operation. When positioning it, also make sure that the area around the unit stays clear and that the ventilation openings are not covered.
4 Setting up a fountain: assembly, filling, commissioning
A fountain is assembled in six steps: feed the cable through, insert the plug, connect the transformer, connect the hose, fit the lid, fill with water. This order matters, because the water-carrying part has to be complete before the first water connection.
How is the fountain assembled?
Place the fountain on a level surface and feed the mains plug down and out through the pipe in the basin. Press the supplied rubber plug onto the pipe in the basin so that no water can escape. Then pull the power cable downwards on the outside, plug the transformer into the connection and tighten the locking ring, connect the water hose to the pump – without kinks – and place the upper fountain top onto the basin.
How is the fountain filled?
Fill the water in slowly so that nothing overflows or splashes. The pump must be fully submerged and the circuit must run clearly. Do not exceed the height of the pipe in the basin – if the water level is too high, water runs over and the fountain appears to leak.
What should I watch out for with the power connection?
No water may stand around the plug, and the power supply always stays in a dry place. A drip loop in the cable protects the socket from water ingress. Before any work on the fountain, disconnect the power supply.
The fountain is tilted or the pump is humming – what helps?
Use the supplied levelling shims to align the basin horizontally. The pump may only touch the basin floor and must not rest against the wall, otherwise the vibration is transmitted as a hum. Also check whether the pump is fully submerged and free of algae or dirt.
What if the fountain does not pump water on the first start?
On the first run it can take a few minutes before water comes out. If nothing happens after that, disconnect the power supply and check: is the pump fully submerged? Can the pump cover be removed – is the impeller free and does it turn easily? Only after these checks is the power switched on again.
How is a leaking fountain checked?
Check in this order: water level too high? Hose connected fully and correctly? Rubber plug inserted properly – sealed with transparent silicone if necessary? Basin damaged or cracked over winter? The last point is directly connected with the winter care described in the FAQ article Care and Winter Storage.
How often does the pump need cleaning?
Clean the pump every 2 to 3 months with soapy water or a mixture of vinegar and water and a small soft brush. Remove dirt, deposits and algae from the pump housing. Make sure that the pump always stays fully submerged during operation – dry running is the most common cause of pump damage.
5 Setting up furniture: position, surface, everyday use
GFRC furniture is built for the outdoors – even so, the surface decides how long it keeps looking good. Two things matter more than anything else: the furniture must not stand in water, and it should not overwinter outdoors without protection long term.
Can the furniture stay outside all year round?
Yes, GFRC is designed for permanent outdoor use and withstands rain as well as freeze-thaw cycles. Two conditions come with it: no water may collect underneath the furniture, and a cover makes sense during longer periods of non-use. After heavy rain, wipe the surface dry so that no rims form.
What surface do the furniture pieces need?
The installation position should be level, load-bearing and non-combustible. On lawn or soil, remove the turf and roots, level the ground and apply a 2.5 to 5 cm thick, compacted layer of gravel. For gas fire pits the following also applies: the surface must be level and stable so that the housing cannot tip over.
| Surface | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Terrace slabs, paving | Clean, level out unevenness, check water drainage |
| Lawn, soil | Remove turf and roots, level out, compact 2.5–5 cm of gravel |
| Gravel, chippings | Compact and level off with a slab or slab support |
| Indoors | Level, dry floor; felt glides under the feet to prevent scratches |
May I use the furniture as a workbench or cutting surface?
No. GFRC table tops are not a workbench and not a cutting surface – scratches, structural damage or heat cracks are the result. Work on a cutting board or a mat. It is also better to avoid dragging objects across the top, because that leaves permanent scratch marks.
Can hot pots stand directly on the surface?
That is not advisable. Hot pots and pans can discolour the protective layer and leave round rims. Up to about 100 °C no damage occurs; above that you should use trivets. The same applies to glasses: a coaster prevents water marks under the glass.
There is dust or a mould edge on the surface when unpacking – is that normal?
Yes, that is part of the handcrafted production process. After unpacking, wipe the surface with a dry or slightly damp, soft cloth. Slight mould marks, individual pores and an uneven texture are typical features of the material and not a defect. For surface care in detail there are the Care instructions for GFRC furniture.
What should I watch out for on the coast?
The metal parts are tested with a salt spray test over 72 hours – that corresponds to around three years outdoors. In very salty air, for example close to the coast, metal parts nevertheless corrode faster than inland. Check the metal parts more frequently there and treat the first signs of corrosion promptly.
6 What happens after the setup?
Everyday life begins after the setup – and with it, care. The FAQ article Care and Winter Storage explains cleaning, stain removal, resealing and winter storage for concrete, fire pit and fountain. Which claims fall under the warranty and how spare parts are ordered is set out in Warranty and Service.
If you are preparing the setup and would also like to check installation space, minimum clearances or dimensions, the guide Differences between indoor and outdoor furniture offers the relevant notes. The whole series is collected in the FAQ section of the guide; for choosing before buying, start with the FAQ Buying Guide: Material, Fire Pit, Furniture, Fountain.