Patio Heaters

Heaters for Your Patio

Introduction:

I was visiting a neighbor recently where we had dinner and lots of conversation on their patio. I thought it was a little late in the season for patio activities but to my surprise they had a propane heater on the patio. In addition, I was amazed just how much heat they put out. If you want to extend the season of patio activity I highly recommend a patio heater. Outside patio heaters can be a very good investment if you enjoy spending a lot of time on your patio during the cooler weather.

They way the heater works is that there is a burner on top of a post that burns LPG or propane gas. The flame is directed against a perforated metal screen where it’s radiated in a circular pattern. A reflector on top the burner reflects heat downward.

There are several different types of patio heaters that use different types of power to include; LP gas (liquid propane gas), electric and natural gas. I am not a big fan of any form of electric heat so I recommend either the LP or natural gas heater. If you have natural gas available it would be the least expensive to operate and both are reasonably environmentally friendly. If you do opt for an electrical heater keep in mind that the electric power comes from the grid and is susceptible to power outages and power surges.

Actually gas patio heaters are more reliable than electric heaters in rural areas because of the increasing unreliability of electrical power. Gas heaters are slightly less expensive to maintain than their electrical heaters. As an alternative to the gas or electric patio heaters a chimenea is an alternative for a patio heater. The chimenea burns wood instead of gas.

Each type of patio heater has its own advantages and disadvantages and they are all generally equally viable except for the installation cost. An electric heater is far more expensive to install than a gas heater. An electrical circuit must be run from the main electrical panel to the heater location whereas a gas heater only requires the extension of a gas line to the heater.

After everything is said and done a patio heater is a great home improvement that can extend patio seasonal activity well into the cold months. However, neither type is inexpensive to operate. If you really think about it gas and electric patio heaters are a frivolous use of energy. I prefer the wood burning chimenea.

Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor Furniture

Sealing Asphalt Driveways

Stamped Concrete Design Patio

Stepping Stones

For more DIY information Check out these Resources