Updated October 27, 2026

Get Winter Ready: How to Prepare Your Solus Fire Pit and Water Bowl for Winter

Not planning to use your Solus fire pit for a few months? Storing it for winter? Follow these instructions. (Your fire pit can also be enjoyed year round!)

Preparing your Solus gas outdoor fire pit for winter is essential to its longevity and safe operation. By following these steps, along with any specific instructions provided by Solus or your retailer, you can keep it safe and functional for years to come.

Looking for water feature instructions? Skip to Part 3: Preparing Your Solus Water Bowl for Winter.

Part 1: Preparing Your Fire Pit for Winter Storage

Step 1: Shut off the gas supply and electrical switch

• Locate the main shut-off valve and close it to prevent gas flow. This avoids accidental ignition.
• Turn off the electrical switch (if equipped).
• Remove leaves and stones inside the cage (if necessary).

Step 2: Remove accessories and store them indoors

Remove accessories like the wood top and glass shield. If your fire pit has removable components such as glass wind guards, store them indoors for the winter to prevent damage and to allow the cover to fit snugly.

Clean and dry all components before storing them.

Step 3: Clean the exterior

Remove all debris, leaves and soot from the fire pit. Wipe away moisture, dirt, dust and other surface contaminants using warm water and soap.

Step 4: Clean the burner

Use a soft brush. Avoid abrasive materials that could damage the burner.

Step 5: Clean the ignition (if equipped)

• Electronic ignition: Use emery cloth or very fine sandpaper (above 400 grit) to gently buff the igniter, the pilot assembly and the thermosensor, but only if they look discoloured or sooty. If they look clean, leave them alone.
• Manual ignition with a flame supervision device: If dirty, use the same method with emery cloth or very fine sandpaper.

Step 6: Check the pilot assembly (if equipped)

Check for and remove any debris and soot inside the pilot cage and within the burner. Debris can trap moisture during storage and result in a clogged or blocked orifice.

Step 7: Inspect the fire pit

Inspect the burner, gas lines and ignition system for signs of wear, corrosion or damage. Look for rust, cracks or loose connections. Ignition issues can often be a simple loose connection.

To inspect the connections underneath:

1. Remove the rocks and put them in a bucket.
2. Pull the burner up via the burner manifold.
3. Inspect the connections underneath.

Place a blanket or some sort of fabric over the rim or surface of the fire table first. The metal stand of the fire pit burner can scratch the surface, so please be careful.

Step 8: Protect gas lines

If the gas lines are exposed, consider insulating them with pipe insulation to prevent freezing. Freezing temperatures can cause gas lines or hoses to contract and split, which can potentially lead to damage.

Step 9: Cover your fire pit

Cover your fire pit with a high-quality, weather-resistant Solus cover to protect your investment. You must keep the burner dry.

• Make sure the cover is securely fastened to protect the fire pit from snow, rain and debris.
• If you have a table surface, the cover must be tented so water does not pool on top, which would affect the surface negatively.
• All-metal covers will also protect the fire pit over the winter.

If you no longer have your Solus cover, or your all-weather cover is old and has started to lose its shape (water can pool on top of it in winter), you can purchase a replacement from our online store.

Part 2: Using Your Fire Pit This Winter?

Step 10: REMEMBER to test run

If you are going to use your fire pit this winter (and why not!), do this first.

It is not uncommon to leave a fire pit unused for some months and then decide to throw a party. The same goes for the first use of the spring. If you plan to run your fire pit, do a trial run beforehand.

Step 11: “Purge” the gas line of air

If the fire pit is started after some time off, air can become trapped in the line or hose. In this case, the fire pit needs to be purged.

Step 12: Perform a leak test (reverse and sequence plus)

Before the first use, conduct a leak test to make sure there are no gas leaks.

• Use a soapy water solution to check all connections. Bubbles indicate a leak.
• If you find a leak, contact a professional for repairs.
• We suggest using compressed air on the burner jets prior to ignition.

And remember: for electronic ignition, take off the cover!

Part 3: Preparing Your Solus Water Bowl for Winter

Preparing your Solus water bowl for winter is crucial to protect it from potential damage caused by freezing temperatures.

For regions with cold winters, please follow these steps:

1. Drain the water

Completely drain the bowl to prevent freezing.

• Disconnect the hose from the bottom side of the dome to use the pump, or use a sponge or towel to soak up any remaining moisture at the bottom.
• The bowl must be completely dry before covering, as ice formation can break the bowl.

2. Clean the bowl

Thoroughly clean the bowl to remove debris, algae or residue using a mild detergent or specialized water feature cleaner. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

3. Clean the dome

Remove the dome from the bowl to clean it. This may require disconnecting the black hose and placing the pump outside the dome.

• Stainless steel domes: Use Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser, Zep or Brasso. Remove any green algae before applying the cleaner, test the cleaner on the underside first, and make sure the dome is dry.
• Brass domes: Brass will continue to patina based on your water type. Cleaning will remove some, but not all, of the green and brown discoloration.

4. Protect the pump

The pump can remain in the bottom of the bowl as long as it is dry and completely disconnected. Disconnecting it prevents potential damage from power surges or accidental dry operation.

5. Cover the feature

Cover the empty water bowl with a weatherproof cover specifically designed for water features. Make sure it is secure against snow, rain and debris.

6. Winter inspection

Periodically check the cover throughout the winter, especially after heavy snowfall, and remove any accumulated snow or debris.

Following these steps will ensure your water bowl remains well protected and ready for use when warmer weather returns. Please let us know if you have any questions!

For further help, see our troubleshooting guide: Guide: Troubleshooting

Shop online for parts, accessories and fire and water features: www.solusdecor.com/shop-online