The Outdoor Plus · Installation
The Outdoor Plus Match-Lit Fire Pit Installation
Match Lit is TOP's simplest ignition — a manual key valve, no battery, no spark pack, no plug. You turn the key, hold a long-stem match near the burner, and it lights. The install is the easiest in the TOP lineup, but there are three things that trip up first-time installers: the key-valve extension, the flex hose routing, and the burn-in before you call it done.
By Ash · Updated November 8, 2026
What you need
- Long-stem match or butane fireplace lighter
- 1/4-turn key valve wrench (ships with the pit)
- Spirit level
- Soap-water leak test solution
Step by step
Confirm the key-valve extension reaches the exterior
Match Lit uses a manual key valve mounted on the pan side wall. The valve stem needs enough extension to clear whatever stone, tile, or GFRC panel wraps the pit. If the extension is short, the key won't seat flush — order a longer extension from TOP before you mortar the wrap in place.
Dry-fit and check the flex hose routing
The flex line runs from the gas inlet to the burner. Verify it isn't kinked, pinched, or touching the burner plate (heat migration will fatigue the hose jacket). Keep at least a 6-inch bend radius.
Connect to the gas supply
LP: QCC-1 regulator to a 20-lb tank, hand-tight. NG: licensed contractor connects to the house line via the shutoff. Air-mix fixture closed for LP, open for NG — same rule as the general reference.
Leak test every joint
Soap-water spray with gas on at the source, knob OFF. Bubbles = leak. Do not fire until the test passes dry.
Load decorative media over the burner
Max 1 inch deep on the burner surface. Use fire-rated media — the manual is explicit: lava rock, fire glass, or TOP ornaments only. Household gravel cracks and spalls into the burner holes.
First-light and burn-in
Insert the key, turn 1/4 turn to ON, hold a long-stem match near the burner surface. Flame catches, the first few minutes run yellow as the air purges. Let it run 15 minutes on first light to bake off manufacturing oils. Turn the key to OFF to shut down.
Common mistakes
- Missing the key-valve-extension order. Standard extensions are short; many stone wraps need 2-4" longer. Measure your wrap thickness and call TOP support before ordering — adding one later means dismantling the surround.
- Running the flex hose through a hot zone. 6" minimum from open flame. The hose jacket is rated — the gas line inside isn't invincible.
Hands-on tips
- Buy two butane fireplace lighters and store one under the pit's access panel. Long-stem matches get damp in coastal climates.
- Mark the key with reflective tape — easier to find after dusk.
Questions people ask
Does Match Lit have any safety shutoff?
Manual shut-off only — close the key valve. There's no thermocouple, no automatic cutoff. That's the trade for its commercial rating: fewer failure points. If you want auto-shutoff, step up to Match Lit Flame Sense (-FSML).
What's the difference between Match Lit and Match Lit Flame Sense?
Flame Sense (-FSML) adds a thermocouple — if the flame blows out, gas automatically shuts off within seconds. Same manual lighting procedure, same no-battery operation. Flame Sense is still commercial-rated and poolside-ready per TOP's flyer.
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