Does A Chiminea Freeze? Winterizing Tips

Chimineas have changed the way people heat their homes and outdoor living spaces. Because of their ability to burn wood or propane, they offer a clean and reliable way to heat while leaving no smoke or soot in the air. But, are chimineas a good option for heating spaces in winter?

Clay is a porous material that can expand once frozen. It can freeze, but it is entirely dependent on how much snow you get. If it’s a heavy winter, it can freeze, but if it’s a light winter, it will resist.

Chimineas are unique outdoor fireplaces that can be used in the winter and summer. Outdoor fireplaces are important during all four seasons. They keep us warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and provide an excellent ambiance year-round. So let’s talk about why they are important during winter?

Why Are Chimineas Important During The Winter?

It is in fact an excellent idea to use chimineas during the wintertime. Chimineas are a great way to add some extra heat to your outside space without having to turn on the furnace. This type of heating can be done between sunset and sunrise when large amounts of heat are lost from your home.

Chimineas are enclosed spaces, which means that heat produced by a fire is trapped. This results in an increased temperature around the chiminea. The amount of heat produced by bones increases as well because the structure of the burning wood is changed when it burns in an enclosed space. 

A higher temperature means more heat and this can make a difference during the coldest season of the year. Chiminea offers a dry environment, and therefore will not produce any water condensation at the ceiling as we see in our homes when the central heating is used.

Can You Leave A Chiminea Outside During Winter?

Chimineas are great year-round outdoor fireplaces. But it certainly can be a challenge to leave them outside during the winter. The cold and snow will damage the clay or firepot in short order. 

In the case of a Cast Iron Chiminea, it is frost-proof. So you won’t need to move them indoors during the winter because they’re made of cast iron and aluminum. You just need to maintain its paint coating from time to time. Remember to use the appropriate waterproof paint or sealer to prevent moisture build-up and acid rain to create cracks and rust. 

On the other hand, Clay Chimineas are not frost-proof. You may need to buy a chiminea cover to ensure no moisture enters the inside because it may create cracks and eventually damage the whole equipment. However, there are ways to “Winterize” your chimineas, so keep on reading this article to learn about those as well!

What Do The Cracks In A Chiminea Mean?

Cracks are the ultimate enemies of chimineas, especially clay chimineas. Cracks are formed either from moisture build-up, physical damage, or inefficient sealing of the chimineas. Although these can be repaired most of the time, it is still better to prevent cracks from happening because eventually, they will become major damage on your chiminea. 

Especially in the winter, clay chimineas are prone to cracks because the moisture infiltrates the inside of the chiminea. But don’t worry! There ways to make sure your chiminea will survive the winter season and be able to enjoy it all year round. 

How Can You Winternize Your Chiminea?

If you’re looking for tips and tricks on how to winterize a chiminea, then look no further. Here we’re going to talk all about how to winterize your chiminea, including some great ways to do it

Avoid Moisture

This is one of the most crucial parts of maintaining your chimineas. As I’ve mentioned above, cracks are the ultimate enemies of chimineas. And moisture is the number one reason why chimineas develop cracks. 

Aside from moisture, the sudden temperature drop during the winter season also causes the clay chimineas to crack just like what happens to clay pots and potteries. We have to understand that clay is a porous material, if you leave your chiminea outside during winter, it will surely be infiltrated with the cold temperature and develop moisture.  

Buy A Chiminea Cover

It is almost imperative that you should have a chiminea cover if you own a chiminea. This helps the chiminea be sufficiently sealed and prevents the moisture from the rain and snow to infiltrate the inside of the chiminea. 

The chiminea covers are often made of fabric or synthetic materials and are designed to protect the entirety of a chiminea from its belly, chimney, mouth, and opening at the top. You also don’t have to worry because there are available covers in the market for every design and size of chimineas. 

Regularly Apply Sealant And Paint

Regardless of the type of chiminea you own, whether it is made of cast iron or clay, you still would have to apply sealant or waterproof paint to it regularly. This helps the chiminea to prevent cracks and rust to build-up from the acid rain and moisture.

Store the Chiminea Inside the House

Naturally, if you want to save up on expenses with the sealants, paints, and chiminea covers, you just would have to simply store your chimineas inside the house. This will ensure that they’re not exposed to a sudden change in temperature and moisture during the winter outside. Keep in mind that you should still clean your chiminea from time to time even it’s inside the house.  

Conclusion 

A Chiminea can freeze if it is exposed to rough winters where temperatures drop below freezing for multiple days. A Chiminea is a two-part contraption that has a metal frame to hang the wood for burning and a metallic bowl or pot for keeping the fire in. If the Chiminea can’t provide enough insulation from the cold air, it can freeze.

Chimineas can freeze if the snow and cold temperatures persist for days.