How To Care For Your Cast Iron Chiminea in Autumn and Winter

Chimineas are a perfect addition to small patios and gardens, where space is limited. They serve effectively as both a fireplace and a decorative accent. After installing one outside your home, you'll need to take some special measures when operating and maintaining it. Here are some helpful tips:

Do you have plans to buy a chiminea and to use it outdoors this fall and winter?  You should, because they are cute, and they are useful for heat and cooking.  They can be a great conversation piece, and a great for gathering around with guest.  But, you need to take care of it, especially since you'll be keeping your chiminea outdoors.  Here are some tips to consider:

1. Store the chiminea in an area with enough sunlight

You need to make sure that your chiminea is in the sunlight, so that it won't become too cold and brittle.  It might look ok on the outside, but the cold wind and the lack of sun will damage your investment.  This will cause the chiminea to start to crack.  You can avoid this by storing this in the sun, this way your outdoor fireplace won't crack.

2. Remove rust spots immediately

If you start to notice that your chiminea is starting to rust then you need to get the rust off immediately.  It's common for rust to develop in the fall and winter months, so you should treat the rust as soon as you notice it.  Simply sand down the rusty area, and then add some heat-resistant paint

3. First heat the chiminea from the outside

Here's how to cure your chiminea. First, put some charcoal bricks in an aluminum pie plate.  Light the bricks and then let them burn underneath the chiminea.  Let them burn for about 15 minutes.  The outside of the chiminea should be too hot to touch.  When this happens, dump the bricks, and then add some firewood.  When you heat the outside of the chiminea, then you allow it to tolerate heat. Then you don't have to worry about cracks from extreme temperature differences.

4. Clean your chiminea properly

This becomes very important during the fall and winter months.  Rain and the cold air can ruin your outdoor fireplace.  You need to get rid of all of the old ashes, and clean the grill completely as well.

5. Use cold ashes to extinguish a fire

This works out better than using water.  Water will cause the temperature to change extremely and then the chiminea will crack.  Ashes will avoid this issue. So keep a bucket of old ashes closeby, and use them to put out a fire.

6. Use a cover on your chiminea

If you find that the chiminea didn't come with a cover, then make sure to buy one.  A cover is useful for keeping out water, and therefore rusting the chiminea.  You want to take measures to make sure your chiminea doesn't rust.

By taking these aforementioned steps, you can use and maintain your chiminea properly during the autumn and wintertime. That will ultimately increase the lifespan of your outdoor fireplace-which is a good thing!

If you take these steps, then you will get lots of great use from your outdoor fireplace during the fall and winter months.  Plus, you'll expand the life of your chiminea, which is something that you want.