You sit back and get ready to relax around your favorite fire pit, only to realize moments later that you’re greeted with an annoying whistling noise that puts your soothed state of mind into panic mode. What could it be? Should I be worried? Is my fire pit dying?
We’ll go over why your fire pit whistles, and what you can do about it?
A fire pit whistle is usually going to be caused by the flex line or the gas supply. Flex lines can create an annoying whistle sound due to the material not being wide enough or kinked in some areas. The gas supply may also be too high, causing the whistling sound.
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If you notice that there’s a distinguishable whistling noise when you turn on your gas fire pit, you need solutions to the problem. Luckily the fixes are fairly simple, but you may need a professional’s help to get the complete the job.
Pay Attention to Your Flex Line
The flex line is almost always the culprit when it comes to whistling noises. Flex lines are designed with a number of different materials to handle the load, but some aren’t as good as others when it comes to reducing pent up pressure.
Pent up pressure in your flex line will likely cause the whistle noise. For this reason, it’s highly suggested to always make sure you purchase a whistle-free flex line, and yes they are named this way appropriately.
What is a Whistle-Free Flex Line
Whistle-free flex lines are designed with the proper materials to reduce the build up of pressure within the line, otherwise known as bottlenecking. They ensure that the pressure runs smoothly throughout the line.
If you’re worried that you haven’t purchased a whistle free flex line, the Midwest Hearth Whistle Free Flex Line is a great option. The benefit of this flex line includes the following:
- Flexible pipe is CSA approved for fire pits.
- Includes a multi-pattern corrugation, which ensures no buildup of pressure that causes vibrations and whistling.
- It is made of black coated stainless steel to ensure durability, stability, and longevity.
- It is easily installed- even for those who may not be savvy with machinery and equipment.
With this simple fix, you can ensure there will be no more annoying whistling noises coming from your fire pit. It’s a quick and simple fix that should only take a few minutes to install, and you will be back to enjoying your fire pit in a flash.
Check for Kinks in the Flex Line
Another major cause of whistling in the flex line is due to kinks and bends in the line. These kinks and bends create “bottlenecking” at certain points, which means that the pressure is being built up in a single location. This gives off major vibration which comes across as a whistling noise.
The simplest way to make sure that a kink is not causing your whistling problem is to take a good look at the flex line. Your flex line should have a smooth, straighter route from start to finish. If you notice any bends or kinks, especially sharper ones at a 90 degree angle, you need to straighten it out immediately.
If you flex line needs to curve at any point, you should consider using hard piping or specialized fittings that will help the flex line to handle the curves without causing bottlenecking.
Choose a Flex Line with A Wider Diameter
Sometimes the cause of whistling is that your flex line is simply too thin and skinny. With a smaller sized flex line, pressure has less room to flow through the line. This can cause points where there is a buildup in the line, creating the whistling noise.
If you think you’re dealing with a flex line that’s simply too small for the load, you need to purchase a new one immediately. Your new flex line should have a wider diameter to ensure the proper flow of pressure from start to end without any buildup.
The Stanbroil ½” X 24” Non-Whistle Flexible Flex Line is a great choice for a wider diameter. Not only does this flex line offers flexibility and durability, but it has a staggered pitch to avoid whistling noises. To put it simply, it’s the do-it-all flex line that’s made of stainless steel, so it has the ability to last a lifetime with your fire pit.
Gas Supply Issues
If you have thoroughly investigated your flex line and find that you are still struggling with a whistling sound, you may have to check the gas supply.
The reason why you may hear whistling noises that aren’t associated with flex line problems is likely that your gas supply pressure is way too high. Take a look at the table below to see what pressure your gas should be set at:
| Type of Gas | Pressure of Water Column |
| Natural Gas | Between 3.5 and 7 PSI |
| Propane | Between 8 and 11 PSI |
*Water Column, or just W.C., is a unit of measurement that resembles PSI.
*For a stronger flame in your fire pit, it’s recommended to be on the high side of these measurements.
If you are unsure of how to check your gas pressure, you should always contact a professional. Dealing with gas pressure brings in a lot of different variables to come to the right pressure, therefore it should not be touched if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
Call in a Professional
When all else fails and you’re certain your gas supply is way too high, you need to contact a professional. They will be able to come and determine how much gas pressure you need, with the ability to bring it down right there and then.
Make sure you communicate with the professional before and throughout the process. Let them know that your fire pit is making a whistling sound and you’re fairly certain it’s because the gas pressure supply is too high.
Throughout the process of finding a better gas supply pressure, check your fire pit often. Wait until the professional informs you that it’s okay to test the fire pit before doing so. Continue the process until your fire pit is no longer making the whistling noise.
Contact the Manufacturer
Still having trouble? It may be a problem with the product as a whole. If you’re experiencing issues even after checking and switching out the flex line and dealing with the gas pressure supply, give the manufacturer a call. They may be able to help you fix the situation or supply you with a new fire pit altogether.
Faulty equipment is a mistake that all companies make. When you call, make sure you inform them that you have tried all other solutions to fix the whistling noise to no avail.
Conclusion
A gas fire pit making a whistling noise isn’t uncommon, and it is not something to panic about. There are several simple solutions that can fix your fire pit instantly. Always make sure that your flex line does not have any bends or kinks, especially at a 90 degree angle.
Ensure that the flex line is wide enough in diameter to allow for proper flow and that it is designed to be non-whistling. Check your gas supply pressure to ensure it’s not too high, and if it is, contact a professional to bring it down to a normal amount.
Be sure to check out our article on how long fire pits last and other maintenance tricks to help them last longer!
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