Types of Outdoor Patio Heaters

1 Comments | Rating: 0 | |

Outdoor patio heaters are a great asset if you enjoy being outdoors on your patio, or your business is enhanced by patrons using your patio area. The problem is cool nights, and cooler seasons send your patrons back inside, or worse yet, home.

When you search online and follow links to various resources about patio heaters, you discover that there are choices. Patio heaters are classified by their energy supply: electric, natural gas, and propane.

Electric patio heaters range in sizes and can be found to fit almost any need. They are available in wall mounted box styles and free standing umbrella styles. Portable table top heater models are also available. You can even find electric patio heaters that look like fireplaces. The downside of an electric patio heater is that it requires a power supply. This may be provided by an extension cord for the portable units, to contractor installed wiring for mounted units. There is always the risk that someone may trip over the cord. You also have to be aware of rain. Electricity and water do not mix.

Propane patio heaters are another popular choice. This type of heater is typically an umbrella style. The propane tank is located at the base of the umbrella, and the heating element is several feet up on a pole. An "umbrella" is used to reflect the heat down toward the ground. This design keeps the heating element safely distant from people. The disadvantage of a propane patio heater, is that you need be sure that you have a spare tank available.

Similar to electric patio heaters, smaller tabletop patio heaters are available in propane.

The third option for outdoor patio heaters is natural gas. Natural gas patio heater models are available in both box style and umbrella style. The box style heater is is either wall mounted, or more typically mounted overhead. The umbrella style heaters are free standing. To use natural gas outdoor heaters, you need to plumb the area with gas lines and provide gas hook ups to the heaters. Most of the natural gas models can also be converted to use propane instead. Natural gas patio heaters are typically used in commercial environments, but you can install them for home patios also.

To choose an outdoor patio heater you need to determine how much space your trying to heat, and choose the energy source. You can find many styles of outdoor heaters online or at a big box or local hardware store.