Head to head
Bali Outdoors Chiminea vs Dr Infrared DR-238
Fire ritual against electric convenience: the two propane-free opposites.
#3 in our rankings · Best Ambiance
Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea
Best for: Buyers who want real firelight and crackle, not just heat, and who enjoy tending a wood fire.
#4 in our rankings · Best Electric
Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater
Best for: Covered patios and garages where you want instant, wind-proof radiant heat without fuel.
Our recommendation
Choose the chiminea if you want firelight and gathering; choose the DR-238 if you want heat with zero effort. They are not really competitors; they are answers to different desires, and the honest recommendation is to decide which experience you want before comparing specs.
The experience
The chiminea is an event: building the fire, watching flames through the 360-degree screen, tending logs. The DR-238 is an appliance: flip a switch, feel warmth in seconds. One rewards participation; the other rewards the lack of it.
Heat delivery
The chiminea radiates from cast iron to nearby seats; the DR-238 beams 1500W of infrared at a seating zone. Both are zone heaters, but the DR-238's output is instant and adjustable while the chiminea needs 20-plus minutes to build real heat.
Ongoing effort
Chiminea: sourcing and storing firewood, tending the fire, ash cleanup, rust prevention, burn-ban awareness. DR-238: an electricity bill and occasional dusting. The lifetime effort gap is enormous.
Choose Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea if…
- Ambiance and firelight are the point
- You enjoy tending a fire
- Your area has no burn restrictions
Choose Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater if…
- You want heat with zero maintenance
- Your patio is covered and has an outlet
- Smoke would bother you or your neighbors
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea | Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
| Fuel | Wood logs | None (electric) |
| Body | Cast iron | — |
| Fire view | 360-degree mesh spark screen | — |
| Chimney | Tall stack directs smoke upward | — |
| Power needed | None | — |
| Power | — | 1500W |
| Heating type | — | Carbon infrared, radiant |
| Weather rating | — | IP55 |
| Mounting | — | Wall or ceiling mount |
| Best for | Buyers who want real firelight and crackle, not just heat, and who enjoy tending a wood fire. | Covered patios and garages where you want instant, wind-proof radiant heat without fuel. |
| Skip if | You want push-button heat, you have fire restrictions in your area, or you dislike smoke and ash cleanup. | Your patio is uncovered and fully exposed to rain, or you need to heat a wide open area rather than a seating zone. |
Strengths and limitations
Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea
Strengths
- Real wood fire provides ambiance no gas heater matches
- 360-degree mesh spark screen gives fire views from all sides
- Cast iron body retains and radiates heat after the fire dies down
- No propane tanks, gas lines, or electricity required
Limitations
- Heats a smaller radius than 46,000-plus BTU propane towers
- Requires firewood, fire tending, and ash cleanup
- Smoke output bothers neighbors in close quarters
- Check local burn restrictions before buying
Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater
Strengths
- Infrared heat warms people and objects, not the air, so wind does not steal it
- IP55 rating handles outdoor moisture on covered patios
- Wall or ceiling mount frees all floor space
- No fuel, no flame, no refills: plugs into a standard outlet
Limitations
- 1500W heats a seating zone, not a whole patio like 48,000 BTU towers
- Requires an outdoor-rated outlet within cord reach
- Line-of-sight heating: blocked by furniture or bodies in between
How they fit the wider field
- Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea: ranked #3 (Best Ambiance) in The 10 Best Patio Heaters of 2026. Read the full Bali Outdoors Bali Outdoors Chiminea review.
- Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater: ranked #4 (Best Electric) in The 10 Best Patio Heaters of 2026. Read the full Dr Infrared Dr Infrared DR-238 Heater review.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Made your call?
Questions, answered
Can I own both?
Many patios do: the DR-238 for instant weeknight warmth and the chiminea for weekend gatherings. They mount and sit in different spots, so they rarely conflict.
Which is safer?
The DR-238 by a wide margin: no open flame, no embers, no fuel storage. The chiminea demands the full fire-safety routine every use.