Imagine a group of friends sitting outside under the fading warmth of the setting summer sun.  They’re talking and laughing, having fun, surrounded by the lush greenery of a lovely garden.  With a flourish, one of them stands up, walks over to a gorgeous outdoor oven, and pulls out a fresh, hot pizza, to the great delight of all.  Although this might sound like a fantasy set in old-time Sicily, it could actually be a scene from one of your own parties, with the help of a Mexican chiminea pizza oven.

If you are used to the typical small chiminea ovens, you might wonder how it is possible to bake a pizza in one.  The answer lies with a new generation of  Chiminea ovens which are far larger than their clay cousins, and are usually made out of cast iron or cast aluminum, often with a separate oven added for baking above the cozy roar of open flames.

If you’ve never tried outdoor baking, you will be amazed at how much fun it is.  Pizzas, breads, cakes, and other baked goods can be served hot and fresh, without you needing to run back and forth to the kitchen.  So you get to spend more quality time with your family and friends.

And if you’d like to take a break from pizza to serve steaks or burgers, it’s no problem.  Chiminea pizza ovens can be converted into standard open grills by simply removing the top part of the chimney.  Easy, convertible cooking for a wide variety of foods will be at your fingertips with this revolutionary outdoor oven.

Not only is a Chiminea pizza oven a great tool for cooking, but it is also a beautiful way to add warmth and coziness to your garden or patio.  Your guests will love to gather around the crackling flames when the evening chill sets in.

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.

There are many options when it comes to outdoor heating. You can choose from a simple fire pit or construct  a beautiful and elaborate  stone and mortar number that will endure for years and become a permanent focal point of your home.

One thing that most of these options have in common, though, is that the majority of them utilize wood to heat your outdoor space. And while wood has its endearing qualities, many people simply do not have the time to build a fire in one of these let alone clean and maintain them. Gas outdoor fireplaces, on the other hand, require virtually no maintenance and starting a blaze in them is as easy as pushing a button.

As with traditional outdoor heating sources, there are many options with gas fireplaces. There are small, portable gas heaters that resemble rolling carts and beautiful gas clay chimineas. You can construct a gas fireplace/cook stove or surround your outdoor patio with gas patio heaters.

The options are limitless.

Gas Outdoor Fire Places – Mess Free

No matter how you choose to heat your space, doing so with gas has many benefits. With gas heat, there is no fire to build, maintain and clean up after. Gas heat is delivered instantly when you need it. Never again will you and your guests have to huddle around a small flame waiting for the promise of warmth that comes from a roaring fire. Gas heaters also turn off in a moment so that means that you won’t have to bank and tend to a dying fire for fear of sparking a blaze.

And with a gas fireplace you will not have to worry about storing and splitting wood or having supplies on hand for kindling. This alone is reason enough for many to choose gas heating instead of wood. But for some, the romance of a wood fire will always win out over convenience. Only you can make the best choice for your outdoor space.

The Benefits of Outdoor Natural Gas Heaters

If you want to create an oasis of warmth in your patio or back yard, outdoor natural gas heaters can help you.  Clean-burning, economical natural gas has many advantages over electric or wood-burning heating units.  Here are the top ten reasons why natural gas is so popular.

Natural gas is:

Flexible – Using natural gas in an outdoor heater, you have the choice of using the existing gas lines in your home for a permanent installation or a liquid propane tank to fuel a portable patio heater.

Powerful – Residential natural gas heaters can provide up to 50,000 BTU of energy, warming your outdoor living area by as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit and casting cozy warmth over a radius of 20 feet.

Convenient – If you already have gas lines installed in your home, the fuel for your outdoor heater will be delivered directly to your door.  If you use a propane tank, refills are widely available, without hassle or fuss.

Comfortable – Natural gas delivers warm, cozy air mere moments after the unit is turned on, without messing with dirty wood or expensive electricity.

Economical – Natural gas is one of the most cost-efficient heating methods available today, costing only a fraction of the price of electricity.

Environmentally friendly – Natural gas heaters burn cleanly, without releasing carbon dioxide or toxins into the air.

Neighbor friendly – Billows of smoke from a wood-burning outdoor heater can lower air quality and disturb your neighbors.  A natural gas heater releases no smoke or burning smell.

Attractive – Natural gas heaters come in a wide variety of styles to fit any patio décor.

Tidy – With natural gas, you never have to worry about long electrical cords, which can be a tripping hazard, or stacking piles of wood on your porch.

Safe – Natural gas heaters come with a variety of safety features, including heat controls, sealed burners, and safety tilt switches, which keep your home and your family safe.

Why wait? Find the natural gas heater that is right for your outdoor living space today!

Building an outdoor fireplace has become an extremely popular way of providing outdoor heating.  As a result, there are now many styles and designs to choose from.  The only limits are your budget and your imagination!

The three most important things to bear in mind are:

1. Does the design comply with local building and regulation codes?  Check before you build as they may specify which type of firebricks you must use.
2. Is the design safe?
3. Does it have an appropriate and adequate system for ventilation?

The design of an outdoor fireplace is much the same as an indoor one, except outdoor fireplaces don’t use dampers.  A damper is a moveable flap between where the firebox and the flue meet.  When it’s open, it lets smoke and heat go up the chimney.  It can be closed when the fireplace is not being used to stop outside air from coming down the chimney into the home.  Instead of a damper, an the chimney on an outdoor fireplace is extra tall to carry away the smoke.

Stone endures…

Outdoor fireplaces that are built of some form of masonry are much stronger and will last much longer than metal ones.  However well finished metal is, the weather will eventually rust it.

You can call in a building contractor to build your outdoor fireplace but that is the more expensive option.  Shop around for a do-it-yourself kit but always buy from a reputable dealer and ask to see what the kits look like when they have been put together.  A visit to a past customer would be the ideal.

Check List for parts – an outdoor fireplace comprises:

• A crown
• An over mantel
• A mantel shelf
• A header
• A filler panel
• A fire box
• A leg
• A plinth base
• A hearth
• Some types use a combined mantel shelf and header.

Once you have built it the basic structure you can choose to cover it in stone, brick or stucco and design your own finish!

Outdoor fireplaces include fire pits, enclosed fuel burners and chimineas but the term also refers to full fireplaces – just as you would have inside your home – but built outside.

Mediterranean living…

It may sound like a new trend to bring the indoors outside but in France and Italy, outdoor cooking and eating has been going on for hundreds of years.  Many farmhouses in these countries have entire outdoor kitchen areas, featuring pizza ovens and grill, sinks and of course, wood burning fireplaces.  Now, it is possible to emulate this wonderfully relaxed way of dining with the easy availability of custom built outdoor sinks, refrigerators, patio heaters and even kitchen cabinets!

Check before you buy…

If you’re tempted to splash out on a brick built outdoor fireplace, or a freestanding fire pit, be sure to check how your local laws view the use of them.  Some American cities will not allow fires in residential back yards or on decking garden areas on rooftops.  In Boston, there is a law against anyone having an outdoor fireplace.  The local fire department rates them as a hazard and says that most people aren’t careful enough in choosing where to place them.  They are worried that when people put them too close to trees or fences, flying sparks could easily start a serious residential fire.

The most expensive outdoor heating…

A true outdoor fireplace is usually built to look like an existing wall.  It is just like an indoor fireplace and includes a fully working chimney and a brick or stone fire surround.  If you would like to see what they look like, go to Google images.

The price depends on whether you will be buying a ready-made one or having one custom-built to your own requirements.  The cheapest option is to build it yourself but if you want to do this, you must check with your local regulations to make sure you are within the acceptable codes.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt had an outdoor fireplace in their $28 million home…if it was good enough for Brad and Jen…!

If you frequently dine or entertain outdoors, a table patio heater can really enhance the experience.  If you and your guests are spending the evening around the table, there is really no need to heat up the whole patio!  The heat produced by these table heaters generally covers a circular area of three to four metres which can easily keep the table and the diners warm!

As these little mushroom heaters are smaller than a patio heater, their output is lower – but you will be sitting closer to the source of the heat and keeping cosy with little wastage and a lower heating cost.

How do they work?

These heaters can be freestanding or can be fitted and clamped through the hole meant for a parasol in the centre of the table.  This option is becoming increasingly popular as it makes it impossible to tip the heater over and is therefore safer.  If you are running a propane gas model, the tank can sit underneath the table out of the way.

In the red…

If you are thinking of going for a gas fuelled table heater, look for an infrared one.  New technology means that the heater only needs a tiny amount of gas to kick out a huge amount of heat.  This makes them very economical and energy efficient to run.

Three for the price of one!

It’s also possible to buy patio heaters which are a 3 in 1 design.  That means that they can be used as full height freestanding heaters or freestanding table heaters or fitted through a patio table.  This version gives you maximum flexibility.

At the high end of the market, there are tables available which have integral heaters in their bases.  The advantage of these is that the diner’s legs are kept warm, which in turn warms the rest of them!  They also come in a variety of attractive finishes such as hammered or antique metals.  These tables are expensive to buy but economical to run.

Once you’ve got your table heater up and running, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!