Care Guide – Chiminea
Our traditional Mexican Clay Chiminea is a great way to add fun to your patio, deck or pool area. They’re made for
moderate climates like the southwest, but with minimal care, they’ll last for years.
-
- Placement. The location should be free of overhanging branches. If it’s on a deck – use a spark guard.
- Three Days Before using, seal the outside, and in & around the openings with a sealer, like FutureTM Floor Wax or Thompson’s Water Seal. Re-Seal every year.
- Before using, fill the bottom with sand to 2” below the lip – to keep burning logs off the clay (plus, raising the logs helps make the smoke come out through the neck)
- Before Using, put a couple of bricks on the sand. The wood goes on the bricks and helps air flow, making a better fire.
- Start with 3 Very small fires, to “season” your chiminea. For example…
-
- Fire #1: 3 Fatwood sticks, then let it cool. (5-ish minutes)
- Fire #2: 3 Fatwood sticks + 2 small pieces of wood, then let it cool. (10-ish minutes)
- Fire #3: Same as #2 (add another piece of wood for a slightly longer burn time.)
-
- Bigger Fires: Now you’re ready, but if flame comes out the neck, the fire’s TOO BIG
- Start with a Dry Chiminea. We recommend burning a smaller fire for 15-20 minutes first, to assure all moisture has been evaporated from the clay.
- Start fires with Fatwood. NEVER use lighter fluid or any other type of flame enhancing material. The clay can absorb the liquid.
- Pinion Wood. Pinion smells great and wards off mosquitoes. This makes it the most widely used Chiminea wood.
- DO NOT extinguish the fire with water. The sudden temperature change can crack the clay. Allow fires to burn out naturally.
- Cover when not in use, particularly in the winter.
- Cleaning: Easy – just empty excess ashes every so often. If you must, use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside. Remember to reseal every year!
