The first cold snap brings the same question to our showroom: can the pizza oven stay on the patio until spring? It depends on what the oven is made of and whether you can move it. If you are still choosing one, start with our outdoor pizza oven buying guide or browse our outdoor pizza ovens.
The short answer
Many ovens can stay outside, but only dry, fully cool and under their own fitted cover, and both Gozney and Alfa prefer covered or indoor storage for winter. Ovens you can lift should come inside. Brick ovens that cannot move need a roof and a slow first fire in spring. The propane cylinder always stays outdoors.
Key takeaways
- Water, not cold, cracks ovens.
- Cover only a fully cool oven, with the cover made for your model.
- After storage, start with a small curing fire.
- Never store a 20 pound propane cylinder indoors or in a garage.
In this guide
Can each type of oven stay outside?
| Oven | Our winter plan |
|---|---|
| Gozney Dome and Dome XL | Full length cover; dry storage in harsh weather |
| Gozney Arc XL and Roccbox | Garage or shed where possible; cover otherwise |
| Alfa | Fitted cover under a roof, or garage |
| Brick and cast refractory | Roof overhead, door on, slow first fire |
Gozney Dome, Arc and Roccbox
Gozney says the Dome should be stored out of the elements, or under a heavy duty weatherproof cover once cool, and moved to dry storage in adverse weather. It adds that weather damage is not covered under warranty. So for a Dome XL on an open patio, a cover is the minimum, not the plan.
The Arc XL and Roccbox run on propane, so there is no wood to keep dry, and Gozney's cold climate advice is a shed or garage. Where there is room, we do exactly that. Our Gozney Dome vs Arc vs Roccbox guide covers the rest.
Alfa
Alfa pairs a stainless steel dome and ceramic fiber insulation with a refractory floor and a double powder coat. Alfa says the ovens withstand weather, but should be kept in a covered space during winter, with no water left pooling on top. A Moderno 2 Pizze on a covered terrace is fine. An Allegro in the open wants its cover and a roof. See Alfa vs Gozney for how the two are built.
Brick and cast refractory ovens
We do not currently carry Chicago Brick Oven or a live WPPO line, so here we install Forno Classico. The Napoli 80 weighs about 1,500 pounds, so it winters in place. Its manual calls for a slow, staged curing schedule and says never to put ice or water on the oven floor.
Why do pizza ovens crack in winter?
Stone, firebrick and refractory are porous. Rain and snowmelt soak in, then expand when they freeze, or flash to steam when a damp oven is fired hard. Gozney notes that hairline cracks from normal heat cycles are expected and do not affect performance. The goal is keeping the oven dry so hairlines stay hairlines.
After a long break, Gozney recommends a 30 minute curing fire, small wood or low gas, before building to full heat, especially in colder months. A Gozney infrared thermometer shows the floor coming up gradually. For a brick oven that sat wet, call us before firing.
From our install team
The winter damage we see is rarely cold alone. It is a cover that let rain pool, an open oven mouth full of blown snow, or a first spring fire built big and fast. Keep the door on, the cover taut, and start small.
Which cover fits my oven?
Covers are cut to one oven family, so match the model on your oven.
- Dome Gen 2 or Dome XL Gen 2 on the stand: stand cover. Dome XL Gen 2 on a counter: Dome XL Gen 2 cover.
- Original Dome: Dome cover, Off Black or oven and stand.
- Arc XL: Arc XL cover or full length stand cover. Roccbox: Roccbox cover.
- Alfa 2 Pizze: countertop or freestanding. Allegro: freestanding cover. Moderno Portable: its cover.
Gozney describes its Dome cover as breathable so moisture can escape, but no cover makes an oven waterproof. Lift it on a dry day after a wet spell.
Pizza oven accessories Gozney accessories Alfa
Can you use a pizza oven in the cold?
Yes. A clear January night is a fine time to bake. Alfa notes ovens take longer to reach temperature in freezing weather, and Gozney recommends a low, slow fire up when it is very cold. Brush snow off the cover before lifting it, never light an oven with the cover on, and keep kiln dried wood or Alfa cooking wood dry; Alfa says wood above 20 percent moisture burns poorly.
What happens to propane tanks in the cold?
Propane vaporizes more slowly as the tank chills, so pressure and flame drop. Gozney warns that below freezing the gas can affect flame size, and Alfa advises keeping the cylinder full. The tank stays outside: fire codes built on NFPA 58 do not allow 20 pound cylinders inside a home or garage.
Not sure what fits your space? For a built-in oven, a roof or pergola is the best winter protection there is. Book a free design consultation and we will help you plan it.
Winter care in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and New Jersey
New York City. NYC Buildings guidance says a standard 20 pound propane grill cannot be stored on the balcony, roof deck, roof, rear yard or courtyard of a multiple dwelling, and one and two family homes may keep no more than two 20 pound tanks. It is written for grills, but a propane oven uses the same cylinder, so plan accordingly. Co-op and condo rules are often stricter than city code.
Long Island. In Nassau and Suffolk, and near the water in the Hamptons, salt air is part of winter. Gozney lists salt among what its Dome cover guards against. Rinse and dry the shell before covering for the season.
New Jersey and Westchester. Same rules of thumb: dry, covered, cylinder outside. Check your town and HOA before a permanent install.
From our install team
On Long Island built-ins we plan the oven's winter on day one. A short roof over the oven bay does more than any cover.
Our recommended covers and accessories
Each of these is made for a specific oven. These are the pieces we reach for most when customers ask how to winter their oven.
Gozney ovens Gas pizza ovens Wood-fired ovens
Store it or leave it?
Bring it inside if:
- It is a Roccbox or Moderno Portable.
- You have garage space for an Arc XL.
- It has no roof overhead.
Leave it out, covered, if:
- It is a Dome, built-in Alfa or brick oven.
- It sits under a roof or pergola.
Our recommendation: if it can come inside, bring it in. If not, give it a roof, its fitted cover and a dry hearth, and treat the first spring fire as a curing fire.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave my Gozney Dome outside all winter?
Gozney says to store it out of the elements, or under a heavy duty weatherproof cover once cool, and in dry storage during adverse weather.
Will freezing temperatures crack my pizza oven?
Cold alone rarely does. Trapped water that freezes, or a damp oven fired too fast, causes most cracks.
Do I need to cure my pizza oven after winter?
Yes, gently. Gozney recommends a 30 minute small curing fire after a long break.
Can I keep my propane tank in the garage?
No. Fire codes based on NFPA 58 do not allow 20 pound cylinders inside a home or garage.
Talk to a specialist
An oven that is ready whenever you are
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We can match the right cover to your oven, or plan a covered oven bay that bakes in every season.
Book a free consultation Call 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens. Our Greenvale, Long Island showroom at 13 Glen Cove Road opens winter 2026. Plan your visit.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources: Gozney: How should I store my Dome, Gozney: first firing the Dome, Gozney: Dome stone cracks, Gozney: using your oven in winter, Alfa: weather resistance and covers, Alfa: oven not reaching temperature, Alfa: Forninox technology, Forno Classico installation and operation manual, NYC Buildings: barbecue tool kit, State fire marshal sheet on LP gas inside buildings (NFPA 58). Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.