What is a chimney starter? Ever been to a family barbecue on a beautiful summer day? You know what it’s all about! Spending time with the family, smelling the fresh meat and vegetables cooking on the grill, and watching the kids play in the grass.

If you want to start your own barbecue event, it’s always a good idea to have the proper equipment instead of just throwing up a bunch of rocks and creating a huge bon fire. You could do this, but this is a bit risky. You can make a smaller fire that is usually hotter than any other grills with a new product on the market called a “Chimney Starter“.

If you don’t know what a chimney starter is, it’s a type of pipe which has a few holes for new air to arrive within the hollow space. The exterior contains a handle grip so you can carry it in case it’s too hot to handle. The reason why we use chimney starters today, is to cook food more quickly. This means that it can make the charcoal coals three times or more hotter than they were before.

To use your basic chimney starter, you’ll want to pack a tube with some paper in order to set the fire. After, go ahead and place your coals into the cylinder. The outer area of the newspaper will catch on fire, also igniting the surrounding coals. It can become so hot that you will almost instantly notice smoking rising from it’s chamber while you also see some coals starting to simmer.

Wait awhile until the all the coals turn a deep red hue. Once they begin to show signs of ash on the very top, you should get ready to move your coals to the grill. The barbecue chimney starter is scorching hot, so mind your hands. A general rule of thumb when waiting for your coals to become ready is set the clock for at least 20 minutes

Of course a chimney starter will make the process of lighting your chiminea, outdoor fireplace or pizza oven much easier and much safer.

There are many different models of charcoal chimney starters and you can find them everywhere . When inspecting them, make sure there are no torn holes or broken parts to it or you could end up burning yourself.

A chimney starter can cost anywhere from $15 to $70 dollars depending on the model and size that you chose. There are some types of different starters like flat burners, included gas burner, and more. Look over the options and any add-ons for this type of product before you decide to purchase it because chances are – you always want the best deal for your money!

The benefits of a Chiminea are practically endless. For those who don’t know what  a Chiminea is – they are an outdoor or indoor fireplaces that are used for burning wood, charcoal or even roasting marsh mellows with your friends.

Chimineas come in arrange of styles and vibrant colours. Most are hand made, often using clay to create these beautiful pieces of art. After all, they are more like a patio decoration rather than a barbecue.

They are great for gathering the family or a picnic or a wonderful alternative for barbecuing. If you are one of those camping fanatics, why not camp in your very backyard. You also have the alternative of bringing your portable chiminea to any camping site with you as well.

These outdoor fireplaces each come in many different styles. For example, some of the most popular ones are the metal type and clay born Chiminea. Most come in vibrant colours of burnt sienna and deep red colours which bring quite a contrast when it comes to placing them in your backyard, just in front of the grassy area.

There are also many that are made of cement and these are often used for long term rather than decoration. If you plan on burning lots of wood during the winter and aren’t very concerned about appearances – you should look into a cement Chiminea.

However, you want to be careful when it comes to maintaining your Chiminea. For example, ones that are made of clay can crack during the hot summer days so you’ll need to set yours in a place where there is plenty of shade.

Also, cleaning them is very important, since dirt and dust build up can make them heavier throughout the years. You should be cleaning your fireplace every two to three weeks at least.

This will help keep it stable and it won’t become weighed down over time so make this your number one priority if you don’t plan on buying another Chiminea. Storing them during the rainy days is also recommended since clay should not be soaked or consumed in moisture.

Some benefits of  Chimineas include staying warm during the winter or cold days. There are also indoor fireplaces available if you plan on installing one in your home.

Always be careful though if you have young children running around. In fact, this won’t be a good idea unless you are going to buy a chiminea that has a door to protect it.

You’ll find that most come in a particular trend – often elongated, mimicking an hour glass shape at the very base. These look more graceful than your standard fire place and make great gifts as well. With a brand new Chiminea, you can’t go wrong!