A patio heater is quite similar to space heaters, except it operates more efficiently outdoors, whereas a space heater is reserved for indoor heating. With a patio heater, you won’t have to worry about freezing while staying out during chilly evenings, or enjoying a barbeque in cold season on your deck or patio.

•    Types of patio heaters

There are two types of patio heaters—commercial and residential heaters.

Commercial heaters are used in restaurants and other businesses that offer outdoor seating or conveniences. Since smoking indoors or in any establishment that serves food has been banned, smokers often flock outside restaurants or pubs. But during colder seasons, the number of customers, including the smokers, decrease because they would much rather stay indoors. To remedy this problem, restaurants and other such venues have installed patio heaters to cater better to their customers.

The high demand for patio heaters in restaurants has increased in the past few years, so buying one won’t cost you too much anymore.

•    Models

You can choose from free-standing, table-top, or wall-mounted patio heaters.

Free-standing heaters are more or less seven feet tall, with heat that can reach well over 20 feet in diameter. The lighter and smaller table-top heaters can produce heat around an 8-foot diameter.

•    Fuel

Patio heaters have three different types of fuel—natural gas, propane, and electricity.

Restaurants commonly use natural gas heaters, since it can be hooked up to the gas lines instead of refueling. This kind of heater cannot be moved, though.

Propane-powered heaters are ideal for catering or other uses that require constant moving. This kind of heater runs on tanks and can be set up in a few minutes.

•    Features

Patio heaters have features like automatic emergency shut off, with turns off the heater if ever it is upturned or hit hard. Other models have a piezo electric starter, which does not require a pilot light.

•    Before You Buy A Patio Heater…

Consider the heater’s power, rated in BTU’s. On average, a large heater makes a 20-foot heat circle, which is about 45,000 BTU’s. Smaller heaters will heat an approximately 10-feet diameter.

For convenience and safety, be sure the heater is equipped with an electric starter. This feature will not require you to light the pilot or handle fire.

To avoid an eyesore, pick a patio heater that goes with the rest of the style of your home or the establishment.

How do you plan on using the heater? Do you mean for it to stay in one spot or will you move it around often? It would be best to decide whether you should get a smaller portable model with or without wheels. Oftentimes, the wheels are obscured from view, so this should not affect your choice of style.

With outdoor activities increasing, a patio heater is a necessary addition to the household. Instead of spending nights cooped up inside the house or not being able to admire the dazzling city lights outside the restaurant, take advantage of the useful patio heater.