A chimenea is a usually portable, front-loading fireplace that is freestanding. It has a chimney coming out of the top to vent the smoke, and usually has a bulbous -looking body. People today use chimeneas to warm up their outdoor patio areas, to warm their garden plants, and to provide a nice fire feature for their outdoor living space.

Chimeneas originated in Mexico, and they reportedly go back centuries. Invented by tribesmen to provide a place to cook meals, and means to keep warm on cooler nights, the reason for the enclosed fire was so that they could have a fire even when it was raining outside.

Today, chimeneas are used in America as deck, patio, and porch accessories. Sometimes they are placed purely for decoration, and nobody uses them for fire. They are even used as planters – especially the more decorative ones.

Sometimes, people burn specific types of wood because that particular wood repels bugs. Pinonwood is one of the types of wood that repels bugs. It also has a pleasant smell, when burned. Other times, people will just build traditional fires to keep the area warm, or to provide ambiance on the patio during a party or get-together.

Mexican chimeneas were made of clay, and many people have clay chimeneas in their yards today. The problem with clay or terra cotta is that it cannot withstand sudden temperature changes. You can get a nice big fire going, and if a cold rain kicks up you can end up with a cracked chimenea.

Luckily, there are many chimeneas available for purchase that are made out of tougher material than clay – like cast iron. Many body styles are available, and they also make chimeneas that are hooked up to propane so that they function like a gas fireplace. No worries about building or stoking a fire yourself, that way.

Many people still choose the traditional wood-burning chimenea. In a cast iron body, it can withstand temperature changes, and a wood fire is always more satisfying than a gas one. You can have many a hot dog roast or smores party without having to worry about firing up the grill, and a chimenea is an attractive addition to an outdoor space that does not require a large investment, or a permanent setup like a permanent ground installed heater, for example.

Most chimeneas come with a spark screen, so that your guests don’t get assaulted by random sparks from the front, and modern metal chimeneas even have a spark arrestor on the top, so that sparks don’t shoot out of the top and potentially damage your patio furniture, or your guests.

Compared to other outdoor heating options, chimeneas are relatively inexpensive. You can get a cast iron, wood-burning chimenea for less than a thousand dollars, and it will last you many seasons to come. Your outdoor living space is an extension of your home, so why wouldn’t you invest in an accessory that makes it possible to use that outdoor space when you normally wouldn’t be able to?

Author Bio: Jack Labens works for Empire Patio Covers, a leading provider of patio furniture covers such as patio chair covers and patio table covers. Empire Patio Covers can be found online at: EmpirePatioCovers.com or at their blog EmpirePatioCovers-Blog.com .

Category: Home Management
Keywords: chimenea, chimeneas, outdoor landscaping, outdoor accessories, patios, patio covers