Who can benefit from a patio heater?
Anyone who spends time on their deck, patio, backyard or pool can extend their outdoor season with a patio heater. Having a patio heater means you can turn it on in the spring and get a jump start on your spring cleanup or use it in the fall to enjoy cooler evenings outside when you normally would have had to be in. For those who own or manage restaurants, patio heaters are a great way for your customers to enjoy your patio seating longer. Hotel managers find they come in handy not only on the restaurant patio but around the pool as well.
Where do you need heat?
Patio heaters throw heat in a circular fashion and are usual fuelled by propane or natural gas. Some are more powerful than others, depending on the BTU’s. Some heaters heat in a 9-10 foot diameter while others can heat up to a 20-foot diameter area. Spot heaters throw more focused heat in a smaller area. Maybe you have a small enclosed deck or you want to heat the eating area only. Spot heaters come in many different forms including freestanding, table top or wall or ceiling mount. Some need to be hard-wired but many plug into your regular household current. The heat is usually from infrared heat or halogen heat and many can be used inside as well as outside, doubling their use.
Patio Heater Styles
Portable Patio Heaters – Many patio heaters are portable these days. If you are choosing a propane patio heater, make sure it comes with wheels if you want to be able to move it around. Without wheels, they can be quite heavy. Tabletop heaters can be moved easily as they are lighter as well as infrared and halogen heaters. Those that are hard-wired, obviously are not portable and neither are those that are hooked up to a fixed natural gas line.
Tabletop Patio Heaters – Some use a small propane tank while others plug in to your regular household current. If you choose one that plugs in, you will want to make sure that no one can trip over the cord.
Ceiling or Wall Mounted Patio Heaters – These heaters are powered by electricity and what you would call a spot heater. Some are hard-wired and meant to be permanent while others plug in to the wall and can be moved if need be. For those who do not have a lot of floor or ground space, these heaters are perfect. You can even get one that attaches to your patio umbrella. They also may work in a more enclosed area where you would not want propane or natural gas.
Hanging Patio Heaters – These heaters are usually electric and can come in handy for those that don’t have the room for a patio heater. Hang them over your patio table or sitting area.
What you will need to know:
Fuel Sources – Natural gas patio heaters tap into a fixed natural gas line. They are more powerful than portable patio heaters but are not portable.
Propane patio heaters are usually powered by a standard 20lb propane tank. They are more powerful than electric patio heaters but they also take up more room. They are portable as long as they have wheels attached.
Electric patio heaters can be more fuel efficient than the gas powered ones but are not as powerful. They are more fuel/cost efficient with infrared heaters being most efficient as they heat objects rather than the air and so are not affected by wind or cool breezes.
Outdoor fire pits and backyard fireplaces can be fuelled by either propane or wood heat.
Power/Range – Propane and Gas fuelled patio heaters are rated in BTU’s. The higher the BTU’s, the more powerful the heater is; meaning it will throw heat in a larger diameter range. Electric patio heaters are rated in watts. Again, the higher the wattage the stronger the heat.
Construction – While many patio heaters are made from steel, there are some at the lower end of the price range that may include aluminum parts. The price you pay is going to be reflected by the type of steel used (stainless or weather-treated) as well as the diameter of the pole and the power rating. For example, commercial patio heaters have a larger diameter pole than a standard one. Stainless steel is going to hold up the best in outdoor weather conditions. Vinyl covers help as well.
Dome – The dome is on top of the patio heaters. Ones that have larger diameters offer better, more effective heat distribution.
Ignition – Most patio heaters come with a reliable Piezo electronic ignition. These ignitions cause sparks that then ignite the fuel making the unit much safer to light than if you did it manually.
Safety features – Some safety features to look for include a tilt shut-off switch. If per chance the heater were to get knocked over, the switch will cut off the power supply. Also a weighted base and/or a specific construction design to make it difficult to tip over the unit.
Accessories - Vinyl covers are a great way to extend the life of your patio heater. They not only protect the heater from the elements but they also keep out dust and insects. Covers come in full length to cover the entire patio heater from top to ground or you can get a cover that covers just the dome section of the heater.
