Patio Heater Buying Basics

Why let a few degrees Fahrenheit keep you cooped up indoors? There’s an easy way to continue enjoying the outdoors even as the weather gets cooler. The solution is as simple as investing in a patio heater.

How do you know which model, make, or brand is best for you? If you’ve never purchased a patio heater before or are interested in learning more about the available options for heating your outdoor space, then keep on reading. We’ve compiled a quick and basic guide to get you started on buying your first patio heater so you can take pleasure in your patio all year long.

The first step towards adequately outfitting your patio with the proper heating unit is knowing what the available options are. Typically, patio heaters are differentiated by their support and structure or by the type of fuel they use.

Structurally speaking, there are quite a few different options. These include standing heaters, mounted heaters, hanging heaters, and tabletop heaters.

Standing models are full-sized and typically portable, as they are outfitted with a fuel tank below an overhead heat source. Perfect for parties and outdoor restaurants, standing heaters provide ample heat within a 20′ radius. Hanover’s 7′ Pyramid Propane Patio Heater is a great example of a standing model.

Mounted heaters and hanging heaters, on the other hand, are not portable and typically require installation. They don’t produce large quantities of heat and don’t occupy a lot of space, which makes them perfect for small rooms.

Lastly, tabletop heaters are the most compact and typically the most affordable. They’re easily portable and produce minimal heat.

Patio heaters also vary based on their heat sources. These typically include propane, natural gas, and electric heaters. Propane heaters rely on an attached tank that enables the unit itself to be portable, but can sometimes create a little bit of an eyesore. Propane heaters are also generally the easiest to install and to use.

Electric and natural gas heaters are best for permanent installations as they link up to home-based gas lines for fuel. They tend to be a little more expensive, especially the natural gas varieties. However, once you set them up, they offer easy, 24-hour operation at the flip of a switch.

It’s also best to consider your environment and occasion when buying a patio heater to find the one that’s most suitable for you.