Chiminea - Buy It For The Versatility Of Enjoying Both Fireplace
By Nicole Martins, Fri Dec 9th

I recently visited friends who served me a dinner of grilledsalmon and baked potatoes, done to perfection in their chiminea.The sun was setting and it was cooling down but overall awonderful summer evening. We wanted to converse and eventually,eat our meal outdoors. The bonus: the chiminea offered us warmthand the smoke kept some of the mosquitoes at bay (some still gotus). I must say, as well as being a great evening, that was oneof the most delicious pieces of salmon I’ve ever eaten.

Chimineas date back to 17th century Mexico, where they were usedas ovens to bake bread, were for cooking and also a source ofheat. The chiminea was usually placed near a window or in thecenter of the hut to allow smoke to escape. They were made ofclay since it was the most readily available material in thearea. Today cast iron, copper and cast aluminum are thematerials of choice for most chimineas although you can stillpurchase ones made of clay.

What to consider when choosing a chiminea

Chimineas really are for outdoor use only. If you need afireplace for indoors this is not a good choice. So where tostart? Chimineas are tall and narrow and really make sense ifyou don’t have a large space but want an area for a fire. Don’tgo too small on the fire area though, or you will be choppingyour wood into bite-sized chimenea pieces to fit the opening. Ifdon’t need portability you can go heavier and larger. You mayalso want to choose a model that has a grate that can be addedor removed for cooking.

Some of the more popular patio and deck chimineas are made ofcast iron. Choose from round, leaf, and designer cast ironchimineas designed for year round use. These cast ironfireplaces are designed to be sturdy and provide long lastingheat retention. Deck, patio and outdoor chimineas store easilyand should be covered with a chiminea cover during the offseason for protection. Copper and cast aluminum are also popularchoices with the latter being the heaviest, most ornate andneeding the least maintenance. See:http://www.outdoor-fireplaces-and-patio-heaters.com/chiminea.htm

Another consideration is the type of wood you burn. Best choiceis pinon wood or other hardwoods. Pinon has the added advantageof helping to repel mosquitoes. Mesquite is also another option.Definitely stay away from pressure treated woods or anythingthat has been chemically treated – especially if you areplanning to cook on the fire. Once you are ready to use yourchiminea, start out with a small fire and build from there. Andeven if you don’t live in the more fire prone regions of thecountry it is always a good idea to have some water or a fireextinguisher nearby, especially if you are in a small backyard.

Outdoor chiminea fireplaces are great addition for the poolarea, garden, deck, or patio where you will be kept warm outsideto enjoy the immense pleasures of a fire as well as cookingoutdoors with friends or family.

About the author:Nicole Martins is a contributing author and publisher tohttp://www.outdoor-fireplaces-and-patio-heaters.com an onlineresource that provides you with information, articles ofinterest and reviews of the best outdoor fireplaces and patioheaters online.