Propane Heater Guide

Posts Tagged ‘Patio Heaters’

Patio heaters are small heaters that provide even heating in a small area.  If you like entertaining at home and love having your guests in the patio, then a patio heater would be right for you.  Patio heaters, unlike other small area heaters, distribute heat in a circular manner.  A space heater for instance, would only heat in one direction and will only be good as a supplementary heating device.  A patio heater on the other hand provides comfortable warmth to a 20-foot diameter area.

One thing that is really quite enjoyable with patio heaters that are out in the market today is that they are stylish and be a conversation starter.  Most patio heaters are styled to complement outdoor settings like a small lawn or a garden.  Patio heater manufacturers have aesthetics in mind when they design this type of device.

There are different types of patio heaters. A portable patio heater is full sized but does not require a fixed fuel source or line.  They are very convenient since you can move them about, depending on where you want the most heat. Portable patio heaters have an attached gas tank that can be refilled in any gas station.

An in ground patio heater is a permanent type of heater that is designed to have the most power, efficiency and stability.  An in ground patio heater can heat up a larger area than the portable one and are normally recommended for commercial or business establishments – such as a restaurant which features outdoor seating. Most of the in ground patio heaters need a fixed line of fuel source, but there are some that feature big propane tanks.

If you want to have your patio heater out of the way, then you may want to purchase a ceiling or wall mounted heater.  Mounted patio heaters are permanently installed and will require a fixed natural gas supply.  They are quite powerful and will answer all your patio heating needs.

A really interesting kind of patio heater is those that can be put on top of tables. Tabletop patio heaters are very compact, can be lugged around easily and are the most inexpensive type there is in the market. Usually, its base is where you will find the fuel tank.  Despite its small size, tabletop patio heaters are quite effective in heating up a small circle.

Most patio heaters sold are made of steel, but some of the cheaper varieties have parts that are made of aluminum. Prices of patio heaters are affected by its size, the stability of the base, the type of steel used, and the pole diameter.

When buying a patio heater, make sure that you carefully examine its dome, as he dome determines the efficiency of heat distribution.  If you want the most effective variety, you could look for a patio heater that has two or three domes as these effectively shield against wind that may cause undue dissipation of the warmth.

Finally, make sure that the patio heater you buy has safety features, especially the automatic shut down switches since you do not want to keep on worrying that your outdoor garden will catch fire.  This feature also prevents gas leaks from happening.