Chiminea
 

Does anyone have or have you seen a chiminea used on the lanai or extended birdcage during the cool evenings? If so, how well did it work, and if not, are there any restrictions, insurance issues, or other reasons?

What is a "chiminea"? Do you mean a heat source that would require a "chimney" or vent? I'm sure there would be some architectural approvals needed and certainly approval from your insurance company. The exception I can think of is if you had a free-standing fire pit in a bird cage that utilized a solid incendiary similar to a camp stove.

If you wanted to install a more permanent fireplace in your lanai that would require a roof vent I'm sure you would also have to receive approval from the architectural committee and your insurance adviser.

Probably one of these: http://www.chiminea.net/

These are Chimineas. Cast aluminum or cast iron and burn wood or solid fuel. The clay pot ones from South of the border don't last very long.

http://www.thebluerooster.com/catalo...inum-c-26.html

Are fire pits allowed? Chimineas are much safer and more attractive then a fire pit. I am sure someone has used one or tried to use them.

I used chemineas in Indiana. They were nice outdoors on our deck, but in a Lanai I would think they would be dirty and a little dangerous. Have you thought about the propane heaters similar to the type the resturants use for outside dining on cool evenings? I've seen them at Lowes and Home Depot.

Yes, I even found one I liked on sale, but still prefer the ambiance of the actual fire if possible. On just a lanai, I agree they might be dirty. But I have a very large high birdcage around my pool so would think that would be less of a problem. Especially if I keep it in one corner and clean those screen well when I power wash the birdcage. Just wish I could find someone with first hand experience with them in a cage.

What about sparks or floating burning embers?

So does that mean there are no fireplaces in any homes? They sure have sparks and embers. And I know there are many homes with fireplaces. I don't see these as any different.

Not sure the sparks or embers would escape the birdcage. I know it's colder in my climate but outside fireplaces are widely used up here.

Yes, there are a lot of indoor fireplaces in TV but a chiminea on the lanai in a bird cage is a different story. Unless you have some kind of spark arrester on the top of the chiminea to catch sparks, they could very well be stopped and trapped by the screen roof in your birdcage and damage it. You can get chiminea's with faux logs and fueled by propane that do not have sparks and still provide the mood and ambiance and warmth that you might want.

A friend of mine bought a propane fueled "fire pit" slate top table with 4 nice cushioned outdoor chairs at Sam's Club...price was about 1200-1300. It's in the bird cage area of his lanai and worked great and very economical. I would be leery of burning wood outdoors in the lanai.

I have a cast iron chiminea at our home in Ohio but it is outside. I would think in a birdcage at the very least it would be messy as the smoke and soot would collect on the screen and rain would wash it back down to the pool/lanai deck. At worst is may damage the screen from any sparks that hit the screen. My brother has a propane fire pit with ceramic logs, they used it when they were full time RV'ers, and still use it at their home in N. Carolina. With the fire pit you get real flames and it burns very clean and of course no sparks to damage the screen, it puts out very nice heat also. I think for a birdcage that would be the way to go.

Thanks everyone for the education on a "chiminea". I had never heard of this product before and now I feel much better informed.

Have done some additional reasearch and found that in the flue top of the Chiminea's from Blue Rooster, there is a screen to prevent sparks from escaping. Trying to find out what size screen is used. So guess the only real issue is the smoke. Will just keep looking until I find someone who has one before I buy and see what kind of problem they have had if any.