What if the winter months weren’t just for roasting chestnuts by the fire and staying inside wrapped in blankets? What if you could spend time with your family and get together while enjoying the ice on your patio?

The good news is that’s what outdoor heaters are all about! These large pyramids or mounted heaters are excellent for keeping the outdoor areas of your home warm enough to use all year long.

What Are Outdoor Heaters?

An outdoor heater is what it sounds like—a device for heating your outdoor area, whether it’s a patio, deck, or garden. However, there is much more than that, so researching the market before deciding on one will guarantee you get the best heater for your needs.

Let’s first discuss how they function. An outside heater heats a space using fuel, just like any other heating device. Although intended for outdoor use, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications, they might also be appropriate for covered porches and other similar spaces.

Types of Outdoor Heaters

There are four main types of outside heaters regarding heat sources: electric, wood-burning, propane, and natural gas. They come in various configurations, including tabletop, wall-mounted, hanging, and floor-standing. They can also include chimineas and fire pits since both can generate significant heat in an outdoor area.

Electric Heaters

If you’re looking for a sustainable outdoor heating solution, you should choose outside heaters using infrared energy because they’re less expensive and produce more direct heat than those using gas. Instead of heating the air around them, they warm the objects around them.

The best electric outdoor heaters come in both small and large sizes. Some are portable and ideal for smaller gatherings as they allow you to install them on or beneath tabletops. Wall-mounted and hanging electric heaters are also available; you can connect them to gazebos and pergolas to prolong evening drinks.

Electric heaters for the outdoors are more than 90% efficient and easy to use and maintain. Since they don’t need any valves, ignition parts, moving parts, or burners repaired, they’re the most affordable option. Electric outdoor heaters have various decorative options, stylish and colourful, and emit no noise, odours, or harmful emissions.

They’re an exceptional choice for smaller outdoor spaces or spaces that lack proper ventilation, required for natural gas or propane heaters. Some models even have a weatherproof rating, making them suitable for bathroom and home spa applications.

Place an infrared heater next to your wicker outdoor reading chair so you can enjoy a cup of hot tea while you watch the kids play outside for a little longer. You can also host your fall dinner on the deck with the cosy warmth of an electric heater.

Natural Gas Heaters

People often choose natural gas heaters to optimise the use of an existing natural gas line. Heaters of this kind have easier maintenance than other options and burn cleaner than wood. However, because they need a natural gas line connection, they must be professionally installed, which raises the initial cost. That also makes them less portable than other models.

Propane Heaters

Another excellent choice is a propane patio heater because it heats up quickly and is portable from one area of the patio to another. However, propane tanks are more expensive than natural gas tanks, as tanks need replacement. You shouldn’t typically use them in covered areas, but always check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Whether using natural gas or propane, both gas heating options don’t need a plug-in with a lead, meaning you can take them to the garden’s bottom and use them all night. However, they’re inefficient and release gasses in addition to wasting a lot of energy heating the surrounding area rather than just the nearby people.

Wood Burning Heaters

One of the least expensive options is using a wood-burning patio heater, fire pit, or chimney. The cost of this is more frequent maintenance because you need to remove ash and coals frequently. They can be dangerous if left unattended and are also harder to light and produce sparks and embers.

How to Choose the Best Outside Heater for You?

Make sure a portable heater checks all the requirements for your wants and needs before making a purchase. Different sizes and styles are available, so you should choose one that balances functionality and appeal.

Consider the Size of Your Outdoor Area

You won’t need the most potent heater available if all you’re doing is adding a little warmth to a small porch. Also, not all houses have enough indoor and outdoor space for a standing heater; some options are 2.3 metres high, which isn’t particularly small. Take appropriate measurements.

Check the BTU (British Thermal Units)

All heating devices must meet this formal standard; the higher the number, the higher the potential temperature. Tabletop heaters typically produce 10,000 to 12,000 BTUs of heat, whereas larger heaters can heat your yard to 40,000 BTUs or more.

Safety Features

The patio heater with the best safety features may be the best choice if you have children. Look for cool-touch glass, automatic shut-off valves, and tilt-over protection as you shop. Since there are no actual flames, infrared outside heaters may be a good choice for families.

Consider Mounting

There are various kinds of portable patio heaters, including:

• Freestanding – the best patio heater for sizable outdoor spaces. A pole, base, heat reflector, and heating source are the typical components.
• Mounted – If you don’t want the heaters to be the centre of attention, mounted heaters are preferable. You can install them permanently in discrete locations, such as a high wall near the ceiling.
• Tabletop – These are much more portable and smaller than their mounted and free-standing siblings. They typically have an electric motor and come in various cool designs.

Are Outdoor Heaters Worth It?

The best outdoor heaters have a 10,000-hour lifespan. Most heaters provide the operating cost per hour and the heater bulb lifespan. And spending a relaxing evening outside, perhaps with friends and a bottle of wine, is the best feeling. Investing in an outside heater is a smart move to enjoy your outdoor time year-round.