WARNING
Open air burning is considered a fire hazard and does
pose a risk to nearby combustible materials such as homes, sheds, decks, landscape material, etc.
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Play it safe and have a fully charged fire extinguisher stored nearby. |
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Always place the chiminea on a fireproof surface such as patio interlocking paving stones or, if it is placed in the yard, on a patio stone. |
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Egg cartons make an excellent fire starter. They burn slow but generate a lot of heat. As soon as the carton is lit, place some kindling wood and larger pieces of wood on top and in no time you will have a roaring fire. |
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Patio chiminea
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| Patio Chiminea |
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Patio chiminea
A chiminea is a type of patio heater which burns wood instead of gas. Chimineas are generally intended for backyard bonfires and are not designed or intended for cooking applications.
Chimineas have become a popular backyard and patio accessory. Fires start very quickly in chimineas after ignition with (news)papers and kindling wood. When in full burn after just 15 minutes, they give off tremendous heat due to their design which allows much more air to be drawn in than, for example, a fire basket.
Chimineas made from cast iron or aluminum are also available. They can be traditional shaped as shown in top picture or of other design. Most have a total height of about five feet and are about two feet across the firebox. Some metal chimineas have a grated door to close off the fireplace opening and a spark arrester atop the stack. Metal chimineas are much more durable than their clay cousins but are more expensive.
Are chimineas legal?
Before purchasing your chiminea check with your local municipality if they are legal or if a permit is required. The following has been taken from the City of Burlington Ontario website.
"Open air burning is not permitted in the urban area of Burlington (South of Dundas Street / HWY 407), open air burning permits will not be issued for this area. The use of fire pits (chimineas?) that do not meet the regulations for outdoor wood stoves is considered open air burning. An open air burning permit is required. The City of Burlington also has the ability to charge a fine for cost recovery of Fire Department responses to a residence where the activity has not been approved by the Fire Department"
NOTE: In most municipalities chimineas using natural gas or propane as a fuel are permitted but it may be illegal to use wood burning chimineas .
Maintenance
- The chiminea should be covered with a waterproof cover when it is not used for long periods of time or for winter storage. Before doing so make sure that the chiminea has completely cooled down!
- To protect a clay chiminea from the elements a chiminea sealer should be applied regularly, preferably once a month.
- Does your chiminea has that weathered look? Try using a re-finishing kit specifically designed for cast iron chimineas and clay chimineas.
TIP
Egg cartons make an excellent fire starter. They burn slow but generate a lot of heat. As soon as the carton is lit, place some kindling wood and larger pieces of wood on top and in no time you will have a roaring fire. |
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WARNING, BAD INSTALLATION
This chiminea should have been placed on a patio stone or concrete base. There is a potential danger of the unit tipping over if the legs sink into the soil after a rain storm
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