Buying guide
A chiminea is a freestanding outdoor fireplace: a firebox with a mouth at the front and a chimney on top that carries smoke up and away from the people sitting round it. It takes up less space than a fire pit, throws heat forward towards your seating and suits a patio or courtyard. This guide covers materials, sizes, fuel, where to put one and how to look after it.
Chiminea or fire pit?
| Chiminea | Fire pit | |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Chimney lifts it above head height | Rises from the open bowl, and drifts with the wind |
| Heat | Thrown forward from the mouth | All round |
| Seating | In front and to the sides | A full circle |
| Footprint | Small: from 38 x 38cm (Piazza Junior) | From about 50cm upwards, plus space around |
| Cooking | Grill inside the mouth on some models | Swing arm racks, grills and plancha rings |
If you want a sociable circle round the flames, choose a fire pit. If you want smoke kept off a small patio and heat aimed at a bench or sofa, a chiminea is often the better fit.
Clay, cast iron or steel?
Traditional look
Fire clay
Gardeco's Chimalin AFC fire clay needs no curing, can take a big fire and is guaranteed for 5 years against cracking from thermal shock.
Heavy and durable
Cast iron
The Toledo XL is 100% cast iron in bronze with a grapes motif, with a swivel BBQ grill, mesh door and rain lid, and a 5-year guarantee.
Contemporary
Steel
The Firepits UK Piazza has a clean square mouth and a detachable swing arm BBQ rack, in 3mm steel (Piazza) or 2mm steel (Piazza Junior).
Clay gives the classic shape and a gentle, radiant warmth. Traditional terracotta needs careful curing with small fires and is easily cracked by sudden heat or a soaking; Gardeco's Chimalin AFC is a fire clay made to avoid that, so it needs no curing. Cast iron is heavy, heats up quickly and is very durable; it will rust over time if left out in all weathers, which does not affect use, and it can be repainted. Steel suits a modern garden and weathers to a rusty patina that Firepits UK says does not affect its use or life.
Sizes
| Chiminea | Material | Height | Width or base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firepits UK Piazza Junior | 2mm steel | 92cm | 38 x 38cm, 18kg |
| Gardeco Sempra large | Chimalin AFC fire clay | 105cm | 43.6cm across |
| Firepits UK Piazza | 3mm steel | 120cm | 50 x 50cm, 46kg |
| Gardeco Asteria XL | Chimalin AFC fire clay, glazed | 129cm | 51.6cm across |
| Gardeco Toledo XL | Cast iron | 129cm | 45cm wide |
Taller chimineas lift smoke higher and take a bigger fire; smaller ones suit courtyards and compact patios. The Piazza Junior was designed by Firepits UK for small gardens and courtyards.
What can you burn?
Gardeco says its Chimalin AFC and Toledo chimineas take wood, charcoal or coal. Firepits UK recommends seasoned logs or charcoal in the Piazza, never house coal. Whatever you burn:
- Use dry, seasoned or kiln-dried wood. In England, firewood sold in volumes under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn (20% moisture or less).
- Split logs small enough to sit comfortably inside the mouth, not poking out of it.
- Never burn treated or painted timber, rubbish or garden waste, and never use petrol or lighter fluid.
- Keep the fire a sensible size: a chiminea is not a bonfire.
Cooking on a chiminea
Two of our chimineas come with a grill. The Gardeco Toledo XL has a swivel cast iron BBQ grill that sits over the fire, plus a charcoal grill. The Firepits UK Piazza has a swing arm BBQ rack (31cm, or 22cm on the Junior) that swings in and out of the opening, so you control heat without reaching into the fire, and detaches completely when you just want warmth. Cook once the fire has burned down to glowing embers.
Where to put a chiminea
- A non-combustible base. Stand it level on stone, brick, gravel or paving. Gardeco says not to use the Toledo on grass or wooden decking, and Firepits UK notes grass under the Piazza may scorch.
- Open sky above. Keep the chimney clear of branches, roofs and awnings. Firepits UK says the Piazza must not be used under a gazebo.
- Clear all round. Keep it well away from fences, sheds, hedges and the house, and from anything a spark could reach.
- Facing the seats. Turn the mouth towards where people sit, and away from the prevailing wind.
In a small courtyard, remember that walls reflect heat back and can be scorched or stained by smoke. Keep the chiminea well away from them, never put it under a balcony, overhanging roof or awning, and make sure the chimney top is clear of anything above. Our chimineas range from 92cm tall (the Piazza Junior) to 129cm (the Asteria XL and Toledo XL), so check the height against anything overhead.
Smoke control areas. Government guidance says you can use chimineas in smoke control areas. Burn dry wood so the smoke does not bother your neighbours.
Lighting a chiminea
- Stand the chiminea in its final position, level and with the mouth facing your seating and away from the wind.
- Open the door or mesh guard and lay kindling and a natural firelighter on the grate, with a few small, dry logs on top.
- Light it and leave the mouth open so plenty of air reaches the fire while it gets going.
- Add logs a few at a time once the fire is established. Keep them inside the firebox, never stacked up into the neck or sticking out of the mouth.
- Close the mesh door where fitted to stop sparks escaping, and let the fire burn down naturally at the end of the evening.
Why is my chiminea smoking?
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke pouring out of the mouth | Damp wood, or the wind blowing into the mouth | Burn kiln-dried logs and turn the mouth away from the wind |
| Fire will not catch | Logs too big or wet | Start with dry kindling and smaller pieces, then build up |
| Lots of sparks | Softwood or wet wood | Burn seasoned hardwood and close the mesh door |
| Clay surface crazing | Big fires in traditional clay, or water on a hot body | Use gentle fires in traditional clay; Chimalin AFC is guaranteed against thermal shock cracking for 5 years |
Safe use
- Light small to start, using kindling and a natural firelighter, and build up gradually.
- Keep children and pets back: the body, chimney and mesh door get very hot.
- Keep water or sand nearby, never leave the fire unattended and let it burn out completely before you go indoors.
- Never move a chiminea while it is hot, and lift heavy ones with two people.
- Let ash go completely cold before clearing it into a metal container.
Covers and care
Water is the enemy of any chiminea: it soaks into clay, rusts metal and sits in the firebox as wet ash. Use the rain lid where supplied, clear ash regularly and fit a cover once the chiminea has fully cooled. Gardeco makes two woven polyethylene covers with brass eyelets and a drawcord: CHICOVER1 (99.5cm tall, for chimineas up to 45cm in diameter, including the Sempra large and Toledo medium and large) and CHICOVER2 (135cm tall, for chimineas up to 56cm in diameter). Cast iron can be touched up with heat-resistant paint if you want to keep its colour.
How to choose
- Space. Measure where it will stand. The Piazza Junior takes a 38 x 38cm footprint; the Asteria XL is 51.6cm across and 129cm tall.
- Look. Clay for a traditional, glazed or natural finish; cast iron for decoration and weight; steel for a clean, modern line.
- Cooking. If you want to grill, choose the Toledo XL (swivel BBQ grill) or the Piazza (swing arm BBQ rack).
- Upkeep. Chimalin AFC needs no curing; cast iron and steel will weather and can be left to patina or repainted.
Buying a chiminea from us
We are an independent UK online retailer stocking chimineas from Gardeco, a specialist importer of real fire products, and Firepits UK, who make theirs by hand in Wales. Delivery to England and Wales is free. If you are choosing between a chiminea and a fire pit for your space, contact us with a photo.
Common questions
What is a chiminea?
A freestanding outdoor fireplace with a firebox, a mouth at the front and a chimney on top that carries smoke up and away from the people around it.
Is a chiminea better than a fire pit?
It depends on the space. A chiminea suits a small patio and keeps smoke above head height; a fire pit gives a full circle of warmth for a group.
Does a clay chiminea need curing?
Traditional terracotta does. Gardeco says its Chimalin AFC fire clay needs no curing and can take a big fire.
What can I burn in a chiminea?
Gardeco says its Chimalin AFC and Toledo chimineas take wood, charcoal or coal. Firepits UK recommends seasoned logs or charcoal for the Piazza, not house coal.
Can I use a chiminea on decking?
No. Stand it on stone, brick, gravel or paving. Gardeco says not to use the Toledo on grass or wooden decking.
Can I use a chiminea under a gazebo?
No. Use it in the open air with clear space above and around the chimney.
Will a cast iron chiminea rust?
Over time, if left out in all weathers. Gardeco says this does not affect use and the chiminea can be repainted. A cover helps.
Can I cook on a chiminea?
Yes, on models with a grill. The Gardeco Toledo XL has a swivel BBQ grill and the Firepits UK Piazza a swing arm BBQ rack.
Can I use a chiminea in a smoke control area?
Yes. Government guidance says chimineas can be used in smoke control areas. Burn dry wood to keep smoke down.
Why is smoke coming out of the front of my chiminea?
Usually damp wood or wind blowing into the mouth. Burn kiln-dried logs and turn the mouth away from the prevailing wind.
Can I leave a chiminea outside in winter?
Yes, with care. Clear the ash, use the rain lid where supplied and fit a cover once it is cold, so water does not soak into clay or sit in the firebox.
Which cover fits my chiminea?
Gardeco CHICOVER1 suits chimineas up to 45cm in diameter, including the Sempra large; CHICOVER2 suits chimineas up to 56cm.
Prefer a fire pit?
For a full circle of warmth, see our steel fire pits, many with BBQ racks.