Chiminea vs Fire Pit... What's Best?

The answer is … that depends....

Chimineas have been on this planet for hundreds of years having been first crafted as far back as the Inca times.

You may well ask why is it they have stood the test of time?

The answer is simple ... chimineas were a clay vessel that was relatively easy to make which increased the efficiency of a fire. The Incas discovered that you needed less wood, had less smoke, and gave out more heat than burning wood in an open fireplace or fire pit and they produced very little ash.

Chimineas were originally made from clay which was readily available and the fire when burnt inside actually cured the clay. Needless to say they did not last long but that did not matter ... just go outside, get some clay and make another, simple. But not that simple for us.

So back the burning question ... which one is better?

That depends on a few things really. Both have a role to play.

If you want to be able to see the whole fire 360 degrees and be able to, theoretically at least, sit around the fire the firepit could be for you. BUT be prepared for smoke following you around, ash to be cleaned out and rain filling them up. If you don’t mind this, go for a fire pit. Also, most days it is just too windy to operate a firepit without ash and embers blowing out and annoying everyone trying to get warm, so be aware of this.

One more consideration is what surface will either one be placed on? If it is a timber deck, a firepit has to treated with extreme caution as they get very hot underneath and as mentioned ash and embers can easily blow out causing potential fire risk.

In comparison some chiminea designs do not have these problems and are safe to use on timber decks due to their insulating internal sand base and stand design. In addition chimineas are a fully enclosed fire so they are unlikely to spit or spark or have ash fly out. Aussie Heatwave Chimineas have no heat underneath them at all and are perfectly safe on timber decks where literally thousands of them reside right now. Most chimineas are not affected by wind AT ALL , meaning you get more use out of them.

Summing up.....

Chimineas: Virtually smoke free, use less wood, have virtiually no ash, are safe on timber decks, are an enclosed fire, safer around children and excellent for cooking. Perfect in metro areas or wherever neighbours are close by who don’t like smoke. And perfect to have right on your deck or patio close to your outdoor living area.

Firepits: 360 degree viewing of fire, appealing visually, create a pleasing look when not in use. Good for large areas away from houses, great for country properties for example.

Aussie Heatwave have never had one single unhappy customer with their Australian made Aussie Heatwave Chimineas in 25 years, they must be doing something right.