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FROST DAMAGE including chipping or cracking may occur when Mexican chimeneas are left outside in the
winter without protection or a cover. Clay is a porous material and absorbs water. If the chimenea is water
sodden and the temperature drops to below zero degrees Celsius, the water inside the clay will freeze and
expand and crack the clay. This is a natural phenomenon which cannot be prevented.
Here is some advice to help prevent frost damage:
- Keep the chimenea dry.
- Bring it inside, out of the frost, for the winter.
- Protect the chimenea with Gardeco CHIM-PROTECT: this makes the chimenea less porous but is not a
100% guarantee if left un-protected.
- Cover the chimenea with a Gardeco CHIMENEA COVER if you cannot bring it inside. Make sure the
chimenea is dry before covering it up, otherwise you will be enclosing the moisture. Gardeco supply many
covers suit able for all chimenea sizes.
-Use a Gardeco WINTERCOAT which is a padded cover. This will help prevent the chimenea freezing and is
a much better protection than the standard cover.
- Frost damage can be repaired with Gardeco CHIM-FILLER, a type of fire cement.
Mexican chimeneas do not like to be left in a damp environment for too long. It weakens their structure. If
your chimenea has been allowed to become sodden with rainwater for a while, or has been kept unprotected in a
cold and wet environment, wait for it to dry before using.
Gardeco offer no guarantees against cracking of clay chimeneas and will not exchange or refund cracked prod-
ucts.
You may use dry wood logs or charcoal fuel. Clay chimeneas and other patio fires can be used to burn garden
refuse such as leaves or branches.
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Wet logs will create a lot of smoke, use seasoned or kiln dried wood to minimise smoke.
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When cooking use locally made charcoal from renewable forests with minimal transport cost. Gardeco Wyre
Forest Charcoal is made in the Wyre Forest in the UK West Midlands following ancient rural methods.
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Gardeco CHIMLOGS, which are made from recycled sawdust and burn slowly with little smoke.
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For a fire without firelighters or kindling, use the Gardeco FIRELOG (smokeless fuel), a wax impregnated
sawdust briquette, wrapped in a paper. Just light both ends of the paper and the log will burn for about
2½ hours. Do not use Gardeco Fire Logs for cooking.
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Protect hands with Gardeco FIRE GLOVES when adding fuel. The more fuel is added, the more intense the
heat, the larger the flames. Do not over-fuel the fire.
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Use a Gardeco POKER to reposition logs inside the patio fire.
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If the fire is slow to start, more air will help, use a Gardeco BELLOW to blow extra air into a slow fire.
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Safety is our main concern, so please use a CHIMENEA GUARD to keep small fingers away from the fire.
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With use the paint finish on your chimenea will change and discolour, and there will be blackening around
the rim. The bigger the fires, the faster the paint finish will change.
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A clay chimenea can be re-painted with ordinary household emulsion paint after removing any loose paint.
The shiny gloss effect paint finish will peel and burn when heated to a high temperature and will peel off if
left outside in the winter. Gardeco offer no guarantees on the paint finish.
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The stand is made of steel and will rust. To reduce the likelihood of rusting bring the chimenea and stand
inside or protect with a Gardeco weatherproof cover. Ideally, bring inside for the winter. Stands can be
repainted.
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Rust runs may mark flooring, slabs, and patios, so if you are worried about marking, protect your flooring.
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A discoloured chimenea on a rusty stand is still fit for purpose and can continue to be used.
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Cracks in the clay may be repaired with Gardeco CHIM-FILLER and continue to be used. If a large
structural crack appears, stop using the chimenea and dispose of it or use it for decorative purposes. All
clay chimeneas crack eventually.
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR CLAY CHIMENEA
www.g
rdenchic.co.uk
