Imagine that you want to stay warm in your backyard on a cool, starry night. One of
ways you can do so is to invest in a clay or cast iron chiminea. A chiminea is nothing more than modern version of a traditional Mexican outdoor fireplace. This type of outdoor fireplace was used for hundreds of years as a source of warmth and a place to cook. Nowadays you see them in many backyards as sources of warmth and as accent pieces adding charm to a patio or garden. You can find chimineas made of clay, aluminum and cast iron. Which one you choose depends on what style fits your patio or backyard and how much money you are willing to invest. (Note: There are several accepted spellings for a Mexican fireplace. The common spellings are: chiminea, chimenea, chiminia, chimenia.)
Choosing a Clay Chiminea
When choosing a clay chiminea, you should look to see if fireplace was air-dried or kiln-dried. In general, an air-dried fireplace is usually “untreated.” This means you would need to paint it and seal it before use. Kiln-dried versions are typically prepainted and sealed.
Clay chimineas are constructed in two pieces. The bottom piece, called “bowl” is largest piece, and looks like a potbelly stove. The smokestack, or “neck” is attached separately on top of bowl. The joint where two pieces come together is usually rather weak, so you should never lift a clay chiminea from neck.
In general, clay chimineas are not designed to handle large fires for extended periods of time. They are also more likely to crack and break than a cast iron or aluminum model.
Finally, remember that a clay chiminea is nothing but a combination of water and dirt. If you let it sit in water long enough, it will turn back into mud. Therefore, cover it during rainstorms and never let your clay fireplace sit in a pool of water!
