How to Choose the Best Chiminea for Your Outdoor Living Space

A chiminea is an excellent option for an outdoor living space because it is more robust than a fire pit and offers a focused, controlled flame. Select models made of metal to withstand the effects of rust and high temperatures.

Make sure your stove comes with a log grate and a poker to ensure safe handling. Ideally, the grate should be able to be removed so that you can manage the fire without having to worry about burning your fingers.

1. Terrain Chiminea Angled Obesisk

This angled obelisk chiminea from Terrain is currently $33 off for a limited period and is the perfect addition to any backyard. It's made of weather steel, a heat-resistant metal that develops a cool rusty patina over time. It's lightweight enough to be portable and includes grilling grate so that you can cook your favorite burgers while enjoying the flames roaring while you cook.

This chiminea, while not as versatile as the top selection but it is a great choice to add warmth and ambiance to your backyard. The angled design not only looks great, but will help keep the fire burning. Additionally, it has an easy latch that opens the mouth for easy access to put logs inside, and closes when you're finished.

Like any other outdoor wood-burning fire pit, it's important to clean the ashes from time to time and dust your chiminea for security and long-term durability. You'll also want to apply a coat of paint to metal chimineas with high-heat paint specifically designed for grills or fireplaces to help keep off rust and extend the life of your investment.

It is important to make sure that the chimney is clear of obstructions, as well as cleaning it. A chiminea made from metal should be fitted with a rain cap to protect it from rain that is heavy which could cause water to splash into the chimney, which could cause an fire. It is essential to store your chiminea in an area that is dry in the winter.

Cast iron chimineas tend to be more expensive, but they are also sturdy and durable. They're also easy to maintain. They're less likely to rust than steel, and they often develop a beautiful natural patina with time. However they are heavy, and you'll need a sturdy back or help moving them onto your patio or deck.

You can also opt for a chiminea that burns gas if you don't want to carry around huge piles of wood. Many of these models have a tank built-in for propane gas, or can be connected to your natural gas line. Some, such as our top pick from the Blue Rooster Company, even include a grill grate and fire poker to allow you to cook on your chiminea.

2. Cuisinart Chiminea with Lava Rocks

Unlike dreary looking wood-burning fire pits and awkwardly-shaped propane tower heaters, this chiminea offers stylish, fiery ambience and cozy warmth for your outdoor dining space or lounge on your patio. A directional heat shield can push up to 40,000 BTUs outwards, bringing warmth to your guests at alfresco dining or sunset cocktails. The sleek painted steel frame and stainless steel base are sturdy, with a tip-over safety switch to provide additional protection. 8 lbs. of red lava rocks are included. They trap and disperse heat for warmth and ambience. Use the heat control system that can be adjusted to adjust your flames. Heats up to 200 square foot.

4. Kelly Clarkson Home Chiminea

When you're looking to bring warmth and ambiance to your outdoor space, Chimineas are a great alternative. These wood-burning vessels can project more heat than standard fire pits and their chimneys that are vertical aid in directing smoke away from seating areas. There are various sizes and styles to choose from as well as updated versions of traditional clay models while others are vintage-inspired options in cast iron or steel that develop a gorgeous patina over time. Chimineas are able to be installed on wooden decks. They are safe to use unlike traditional fireplaces that burn wood.

There aren't many chimineas that look contemporary, but this model by Kelly Clarkson Home is unique with its sleek lines and gray tone on tone finish. It has a wide opening that makes it easy to load logs. It also comes with an open-air cover and a log screen. Grill grates are also included for updated blog post cooking food on the fire.

Even though the curved legs on this chiminea don't work for uneven surfaces, they are strong enough to support its massive weight. It is one of our tallest and most massive chimineas and only weighs a little over 30 pounds. This means it will not require more than one person to remove it from your patio. It's among the lightest Chimineas we've reviewed. This makes it an ideal choice for smaller spaces, such as cement balconies or postal stamp-sized urban patios.

This obelisk chiminea with an angled design is another fashionable and affordable option from Terrain that is currently available for sale. It's a little larger and shorter than our other obelisk-shaped chiminea, and made of weatherproof steel. The dark oxidized finish develops a rustic patina with time. The wide opening allows for easy construction of large fires and the Chiminea comes with a cover made of mesh, a log screen, a poker, and a grate for cooking.

Although chimineas aren't as well-known as fireplaces with built-in outdoor units, they're a great option for adding a touch of elegance to your patio and making your backyard more inviting and cozy. With their distinctive design and practical features, these multi-purpose fire pits will become your new favorite method to enjoy the outdoors.