Chiminea Covers – 4 Things You Should Know
Do I need to Cover my Chiminea?
Yes, you will need to cover your chiminea. The UK weather is unforgiving and the clay or metal material of your chiminea will likely be damaged by exposure to moisture if left uncovered.
A Chiminea Cover Will Extend the Life of Your Chiminea
Whether your chiminea is made of clay or metal, moisture is the enemy. Chimineas can be a pricey investment and looking after them well will make your money go that much further.
Chimineas are similar to barbeques in that if you leave them out over winter they’ll not be looking too great come spring.
Chiminea covers protect against rain, snow and even frost to a certain extent. If clay chimineas absorb any water it may turn to steam and damage your clay chim when you light a fire. Or if water gets into your clay chiminea and then temperatures freeze, water that turns to ice expands and potentially cracks your chiminea.
Most metal chimineas will rust if exposed to the weather and keeping them covered will slow down this process. Remember metal rusting is the act of metal corroding and this could result in cracks and weak points in the structure of your chiminea.
A Covered Chiminea Keeps it Clean
Anything that you leave sitting out in the open of your garden is susceptible to getting dirty. Rain, pollution, insects, and birds are all culprits for making stuff mucky in the garden.
By keeping your chiminea covered you can drastically reduce the possibility of it getting dirty meaning much less time having to clean it before use…or even before displaying its lovely charm in your garden in the spring.
TIP – An obvious one but make sure your chiminea is completely cool before putting the cover on.
How Else Can I Protect My Chiminea?
Sealing your chiminea with protective sealant is an excellent way to prolong its life even further.
For metal chimineas, you can use something like this: Rust-Oleum Stove & bbq spray paint. It’s heat and water-resistant and perfect for your metal chiminea.
Clay chimineas also benefit greatly from a coat of sealant and for clay chims this sealant from La Hacienda – Chimseal for chimineas is perfect.
It should protect your chiminea against water and salts but also allow the clay to breathe.
Moving undercover is another way to keep the weather at bay and move your chiminea into a shed or garage over the winter months. However, keep in mind that chimineas are usually pretty heavy and their breakability can present a problem when moving them.
Plan ahead and get someone to help you lift it or use a trolley or cart.
TIP – If leaving your chiminea outside during winter, you might need to weigh it down. Steel chimineas in particular are usually fairly light and when under a cover the wind can catch and knock it over. Place a couple of bricks inside before you cover it and place up against a building.
In Summary
The 4 things you should know about chiminea covers are:
- Covers extend the life of your chiminea
- They are inexpensive
- They come in a variety of sizes – make sure to get the right size
- Further protect your chiminea by moving undercover in winter and consider using a sealant
Like anything, if you put a cover on it, it’s likely to give it some protection and extend it’s life. In this case, we’d definitely recommend getting a cover when you first purchase a new chiminea.
TIP – Due to the frequency of which we experience rain here in the UK, we’d recommend covering your chiminea after every use.
They are worth the small extra cost and even come included when you buy some chimineas. If not, then usually suppliers will stock covers compatible with your chim so you don’t have to start measuring up and research what size would work best.
Thanks for reading! You might also like how to winterize a chiminea.
