A patio heater is a great way to stave off the chill of a fall night. Patio heaters come in all sorts of different varieties, from the classic wood burning chiminea to a freestanding propane heater.  Whichever type of patio heater you have though will require a little bit of upkeep to make sure it stays working for years to come. How to clean your patio heater basically boils down to the type of heater you own.

Here are a few tips on cleaning the different types:

  • Chiminea: The most important thing to remember before cleaning a chiminea is to make sure it’s completely cool before starting. If you spray cold water on a hot chiminea it can shatter.  Move the chiminea to somewhere you can clean it.  Next empty any ash, wood or charcoal out of it.  Now spray out the inside of the chiminea with a garden hose nozzle. Use a stiff nylon brush on the chiminea stack to remove any soot. Just let the unit dry and move back into place.
  • Fire pit: A fire pit cleans about the same as a chiminea. Empty the fire pit, hose down the flame arrestor screen and scrub the sides and bowl of the pit.
  • Propane heater: Propane burns much cleaner than wood or charcoal so you’re clean up will be much easier. You don’t need to worry about cleaning up a bunch of soot and ash. Instead shut off the gas supply to the propane heater and wipe the entire unit down with a damp cloth. The fire screen will probably be a little discolored from heat; unfortunately there isn’t much you can do about that. The metal changes color when exposed to heat. Just make sure there isn’t any dust or soot on the fire screen itself.  And you’re finished

These are just a few tips on how to clean your patio heater. With proper care it will last you for years and let you enjoy plenty of crisp fall evenings.

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  3. Gas Outdoor Fireplaces: Fast and Clean

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