Patio Heaters

Patio Heaters Extend the Seasonal Life of Your Patio

Summer Continues... Outdoor Heat One Accessory You Can't Live Without

By Betsi Cheuvront, Contributing Author

Patio Heaters allow you to extend your outdoor patio time by weeks, even months, by increasing your patio temperature 10-25 degrees.

Americans are spending more time at home now then they did 5 years ago. One place they’re spending a lot of that time is on their patio or deck. Gone are the nights that chilly temperatures force you to find refuge in your basement or family room.

There’s nothing like spending time under the stars on your patio listening to music or the crickets chirping. Kicking back in your Adirondack style teak chair, on your deck, at night is both peaceful and relaxing.

Having a great patio is like adding an additional room to your house and having an outdoor patio heater allows you to enjoy it longer into the fall and earlier in the spring.

Fuels for Heaters

The style, design and building codes will determine the type of fuel that will be best for heating your patio or deck area. A well ventilated area will be required for any type of heater that requires fire from fuel sources such as wood, charcoal or gas. You would not want to heat your outdoor space with a wood burning chiminea, on a wooden deck, on a second story condo constructed of wood. Undoubtedly, this would be frowned upon by the local fire department and Home Owners Association. 

Lets take a look a the types of fuels used by various patio heaters. The most common types are electric, propane, wood burning and natural gas. Each has their own advantages.

Fuel	Advantage	Disadvantages
Electric	Less Ventilation	Not Portable
Propane	Portable	Caution When Lighting
Wood Burning	Most Decorative	Cleaning
Natural Gas	Lower Energy Cost	Permanent Fuel Connection

Portability is the reason so many people like propane because it allows them to use their heater on their patio as well as take it camping or to the beach... the perfect accessory for home or the road. Others prefer floor or table style electric heaters because you just have to plug it in with almost no safety worries.  

Styles of Gas or Electric Heaters

Consider your lifestyle and budget then, purchase the heater that is the best fit for your family. There are various styles of heaters: free-standing, table-top and wall-mounted. You need to assess your needs before determining which heater to purchase.

Free standing heaters take up a bit more space, but work best on large patios where you want to heat farther away from the house. Also, many of these heaters have a distinctive appearance to fit the decor of your deck or patio.

Take building codes and home owner association rules into consideration before purchasing. Building codes may not allow for gas fueled heaters to be attached to a house in some situations, making a free-standing unit a requirement. We chose a free-standing heater because, quite frankly, it has a better aesthetic appeal on our patio and looks great with the patio furniture we chose.

If you live in a townhouse or condo, the home owners association may impose restrictions or forbid any type of unit that is attached to the building. This may make the table top or free-standing unit the best option.

If building codes and HOAs in your area allow, you may want a wall mounted style because of the activity level on your patio with children and pets. Which ever you choose, I guarantee, you will be happy that you have extended your patio time each and every season.

About the Author:

Betsi Cheuvront, Editor for Outdoor-Patio-Furniture-Accessories.com a website resource for a variety of patio furniture and accessory products. She is also Vice President Hansen-Ness Publishing LLC.