What has smoking got to do with Patio Heaters?  Quite a lot, actually!  As many Countries now ban smoking indoors in pubs and restaurants, establishment owners have been increasingly found themselves having to provide outdoor areas for their smoking customers and buying outdoor heating to keep them warm in the cooler months.  This sudden surge in buying has brought the costs of outdoor heating down so that it is now an affordable option for homeowners.

There are many types of patio heater and it is important to choose the right one for your needs, space available and budget.  Here are ten things that you need to consider before making that exciting new purchase.

1.  Which type of outdoor heating will suit you best?

You can choose from free-standing, fixed (plumbed into your household gas supply), table-top, wall mounted (if space is tight), fire pits, or fireplaces.

2.  How would you prefer the heat to be generated?

The main choices here are gas, electricity and solid fuel although there are solar-powered models available too.

  • Gas patio heaters look like lampposts and are known as ‘mushroom’ heaters.  They usually run from a canister of propane but they may also be plumbed into your household supply.
  • Electric ones are infrared and may be freestanding, table top or wall mounted.
  • Fire pits are basically free-standing, decorative metal receptacles for an outdoor fire.
  • Brick built outdoor fireplaces are gaining in popularity and can look stunning.

3.  Where do you want it positioned?

Bear in mind that wind is not great for patio heaters.  A breeze of only five mph can double the amount of heat needed to warm the area – halving the efficiency of the heater.

The perfect setting would be a sheltered spot near walls, fences and overhead structures, to contain and radiate the heat back.

4.  I know where I want to put it but there are no walls or fences nearby…

Mushroom heaters radiate a lot of their heat horizontally, so if there are no walls or fences to help radiate it back, you may prefer to buy a Tilt Reflector Kit.  These are not expensive and can increase the both the heat and the efficiency of the heater.

5. Are they safe?

Yes – if you look for the right features.  Most heaters now have an electric starter so there’s no need to worry about lighting a pilot light with matches.  Another fairly standard feature is an automatic emergency shut off.  It the heater is overturned (which is fairly hard to do), tilted (if someone tries to reposition it while it’s running) or even hit, it will immediately turn itself off.  Flame failure devices are also pretty standard and will also shut it down safely.
Other features to look for are sealed burners and flame control.

Outdoor fire pits can be contained in a decorative unit or open.  Open ones will need to be treated with the respect due to any open fire.

6.  How much heat do you need?

The more expensive heaters can heat an area of up to twenty feet in diameter.  The more affordable ones will cover a ten foot diameter which is usually enough for most needs.  Many people buy more than one and overlap the heat outputs.

7.  What type of look are you going for?

Consider what your outdoor space and your home look like.  There are heaters in stainless steel or antique metal finishes, different colours, stone, metal and even glass.  Choosing a heater that is in keeping with your surroundings will help it to blend in and make it an attractive addition to your home.

8.  How much do you want to spend?

Budget is a consideration for most people.  Outdoor heaters start at quite basic, affordable prices.  Table-top heaters are the smallest and therefore the least expensive.  If you’re looking at a custom built outdoor fireplace you’d be parting with some serious cash – but it would add to the value of your home.
As with anything, prices do vary so shop around.

9.   Don’t forget the ‘hidden’ extras!

Gas tanks can run out when you most need them so you may wish to invest in a gas level indicator which attaches magnetically to the canister.  Crystals change colour when the gas is running low.
You may wish to keep a spare tank for easy changeover.  If you have nowhere to store it, covers or ‘outdoor tank cupboards’ are available.
Portable mushroom heaters should be kept in a shed or garage when not in use.  If this isn’t possible, you can buy a cover for it.  This is well worth the money as it will prolong the life of your heater.

10.  Watch out for fingerprints and bugs!

If greasy fingerprints are left on the surface of a reflector, they will burn into its surface and cause discoloration.  Before turning the heater on, clean the reflector with alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
Bugs are the biggest problem for outdoor heaters!  They set up nests in the burner openings and can cause annoying blockages.  A cover will keep them out.

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Filed under: Outdoor Fireplaces • Patio heaters

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