What should I burn in a chimenea?

[stephec]

Mrs Stephec wanted one so now we have one.

I've burnt a pile of old receipts and paperwork with some kindling on top, then added a wood briquette, it's all burning nicely but it's a bit heavy on the smoke.

Now I know there's no smoke without fire, but is there a way of getting some warmth from them with minimal fumes?

 

[vickster]

Witches?

 

[Levo-Lon]

Charcoal?

 

[Markymark]

Paper is full of chemicals so smokes. It also suffocates the fire. Wood, charcoal, coal. If you want to add paper add little bits.

 

[doog]

I lit up ours last night. I've previously re created a Mount Etna type ash deposit onto next doors car in the past using cardboard which didnt go down well....anyway they are away so last night I started it up with cardboard to start (minimal), used some small offcuts of decking (untreated) and loaded the burnt leftover charcoal from the BBQ....the latter was great and it was all smoke free once the heat had got up.

Wood and charcoal then...Ive tried smokeless wood but its expensive...once it reaches a certain furnace type temp the smoke will go.

 

[stephec]

Witches?

Don't tempt me.

 

[graham bowers]

Seasoned hardwood. Buy it green, saw to length, split it and keep it for a year. Good exercise too.

 

[doog]

Old tyres and some sump oil....that should have the desired effect.

screen almost got covered in Rioja

 

[stephec]

Old tyres and some sump oil....that should have the desired effect.

Now I know who you remind me of.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Son in laws little effort lol..

 

[stephec]

The goodwill of your neighbours?

Luckily that's not a problem at the moment.

One side's protected by tall trees, and the other side's been empty for eighteen months after the old lady died and the family are being greedy with their asking price.

 

[stephec]

Son in laws little effort lol..

View attachment 137142

That's impressive, was beer involved?

 

[pawl]

Old tyres and some sump oil....that should have the desired effect.

Topped with fresh cow or horse dung.

 

[Tin Pot]

Hopes and dreams.

 

[stephec]

An elderly friend where I used to live used to go to bed at about 8.30 pm, and in the summer his neighbours used to light their smoky chimenea on their patio underneath his open bedroom window . As they were young and boisterous, he was too scared to mention this to them, which was very sad.

That's a shame that, the neighbours might have been glad if he mentioned it, but you can understand why he felt like that.

It's like that British attitude of not wanting to make a fuss.