Chimenea Useage & Care Guide

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What are Chimeneas suitable for?

There are so many reasons why Chimeneas are so awesome, but they’re mainly used for the following:

  • Create heat
  • Cook food
  • Decoration
  • Waste disposal
  • To create an epic environment for hosting guests/parties

Where do I put my Chimenea?

Put your chimenea anywhere in your garden or patio, but use common sense; there is going to be fire and there is going to be heat, so place it in a safe location where there is plenty of space. Don’t place it next to anything highly flammable.

If you’re placing your chimenea on your lawn, then place a paving slab underneath to avoid scorching the grass.

Be cautious if you have children or children visiting, and be aware of free-running pets.

Adhere to safety rules and regulations that come with your Chimenea, use sense and sensibility and enjoy.

Fuelling the fire/ Range of suitable fuels

Charcoal

Charcoal is suitable for both steel and cast iron chimeneas. DO NOT USE for clay chimeneas. It can become too hot and cause irreparable damage.

Charcoal is great for cooking when the coals are white hot.

Wood

Wood also works very well as a fuel for chimeneas. It’s easy to get hold of and comes in many varieties. However, avoid wet or green wood as it gives of large amounts of smoke which can take the enjoyment away from sitting around the chimenea.

Wood is ideal for clay chimeneas as it burns at a lower heat.

If you do not have a regular supply of wood you can use Heatblox, a slow burning refined wood.

Coal

If you have a cast iron chimenea and you are looking to create heat, then coal is a viable option. It’s not so great for the environment or your respiratory system so we don’t suggest using it regularly.

Can I reuse old fuel?

We strongly advise not to, it won’t burn for long or as strong! Old fuel may also cause thick black smoke, which is not ideal if you plan to chill out round the fire.

How do I put my chimenea out?

It’s best to allow the fire to burn out naturally if you can. However, if you need to extinguish the fire before it’s natural life, then use water to dampen and slowly put out the fire. Once your chimenea fire is out, let it cool down and dry off. It’s best practice to clean it out before using it again.

How and when do I need to clean my chimenea?

Never try to clean or empty after use, give it plenty of time to cool down, the chimenea itself will stay hot for hours. The best time to empty and and clean it out is before you use it again.

Use a dustpan and brush, some garden gloves, and a garden refuse sack to clear out the ash. The ash cleaned out of the chimenea can be used on your lawn or flower beds as fertilizer- it really works!

It never hurts to wipe down your chimenea with a damp cloth, but make sure you leave it in a cool dry place to dry off.

How do I keep my chimenea in tip top condition?

Over time your chimenea will suffer some degree of weather and corrosion from use. However, there are a number of steps you can take to minimise the damage. These steps vary depending on the material of your chimenea.

Cast iron & steel chimeneas

Rust commonly occurs on cast iron chimeneas. Surface-rust and deeper rust can be removed manually by using a wire brush, a set of gloves, some goggles and some good old fashioned elbow grease. Rust is very unlikely to occur with a steel chimenea but if it does the same process applies.

Once you remove rust patches use protective paint to reseal and repeat annually. Don’t wait for rust to appear buy the paint now and protect your chimenea.

Clay chimeneas

You can also buy a protective paint for clay chimeneas that you apply annually to give maximum protection from the elements.

Clay chimeneas do not take well to super high temperatures, so it’s best to temper the fire and build it slowly to avoid cracking and damage.

Do I need to protect my chimenea from rain/water?

To get as many years as you can from your chimenea you must protect it from some of the more extreme elements. Rain, wind, frost, and persistent sunshine (although unlikely in England) can all have a detrimental effect on both clay and metal chimeneas. A breathable custom size Chimenea cover is the best way of protecting your product from the elements.

If you are not ready to buy a cover, then it’s recommended to store your chimenea in a cool, dark, dry space when it’s not in use.

Is it safe to cook food on my chimenea? Do I need any special kind of fuel?

Definitely!

In fact, we’ve written an entire guide on Cooking Food on a Fire Basket or Chimenea. Check it!