A Chiminea is essentially a small outdoor fireplace. They were invented by early Mexican peoples centuries ago and were used primarily for baking and providing heat.
Today, in the United States and around the world, chimineas are primarily used as outdoor patio furniture. Imagine setting around a chiminea with a crackling fire, your favorite drink, a good book or some close friends. Nothing is more relaxing.
Materials: Chimineas were originally made from clay or terracotta and many still are today. The advantage of a clay chiminea is that it is cheaper to buy, but they tend to have a shorter life span. The heat associated with extended burn times can cause the clay to crack over time making the clay chiminea nothing more than a pretty lawn ornament. Clay is also prone to water damage.
Modern chimineas are also made of metal like cast iron and aluminum. Although more expensive and sometimes heavier, the cast iron or aluminum chiminea will tend to outlast the clay version. Metal chimineas can rust or corrode and may need a cover and routine maintenance to keep them in good shape. Avoid the cheaper sheet metal chimineas as the tend to be mass produced throw aways.
Sizes: Chimineas come in many different shapes and sizes, but will usually have a larger, round bottom and a taller, slender top that acts as a chimney. Be sure that when you purchase a chiminea that you get one big enough to hold the size of wood that you intend to burn. Many of the smaller models will not hold more than a few little pieces of wood.
Safety: As with anything involving fire, safety must be a concern. A burning or recently burning chiminea can become very hot to touch. Be careful if you have small children. As with any fire, you must also be aware of sparks and embers. We do not recommend using a chiminea on a wooden deck, but if you do we recommend that you put it on a concrete pad or other non-flammable surface. Spark arrestors are a recommended accessory that is basically a mesh screen that goes into the chimney of the chiminea to help keep sparks from flying out the chimney into trees, decks, roofs and other combustible surfaces.
Always keep a fire extinguisher handy and or a bucket of water in the event of a fire where you don't want it. Never leave a fire unattended.
If a chiminea isn't quite what your looking for, a fire pit may be a better option. Check out our fire pit page to see another economical way to enjoy your backyard.
