Chimineas

Chimineas – Serving You Your Bowl Of Heat

Chimineas are a favorite among outdoor fireplaces. These come shaped with a bowl shaped base and an opening at the top leading to a short neck like chimney. Originally designed as a chiminea bread oven in Mexico, today, the chiminea is a charming and decorative heating option.

A chiminea comes in a variety of materials. You get cast iron chimineas, clay chimineas, cast aluminum chimineas, ceramic and terra cotta chimineas. The large cast iron chimineas can provide fairly large fires. It is better to remember that cast iron chimineas are quite heavy and can break if you drop them. They also get very hot quickly. Clay chimineas also get heated very fast, so it is a good idea to get a good pair of heat resistant gloves to handle these chimineas. Cast aluminum chimineas are more durable than cast iron since they are resistant to rust, easy to maintain and portable in case of shifting. Also, cast aluminum chimineas do not stain your patio. Usually chimineas are used in summer and stored in winter since very cold temperatures can crack clay or terra cotta when heated.

It is important to use a chiminea cover as it can lengthen the life of your chiminea. Chiminea covers keep your chiminea paint looking new for a lot longer. Keeping the chiminea cover on when not in use is a good idea. Since cast iron can rust, it is better to use a cast iron chiminea cover.

Before you do buy a chiminea, consider your requirements. Your options range from size, style, design and material in which it is made, plus maintenance required. Small cast aluminum chimineas are ideal if you have a small fireplace, but there is the problem of cutting wood into tiny pieces to make them fit. But along with the convenience of portability, you can opt for chiminea gas logs to avoid the hassle of cleaning wood ash and handling wood. The small chiminea gas logs comfortably fit into a ten-inch opening. Most people however prefer the standard size that can take the regular log size, as these are more economical. As materials go, cast aluminum is rust proof though you can always use a chiminea cover during the winter months when you don’t use it.

You can explore various chiminea sites online and read chiminea reviews to compare features, prices and ratings by users before you buy your chiminea. Chimineas are available from many wholesalers. Cast iron chimineas and chimineas made of clay, copper, steel are usually not considered as safe as the cast aluminum.