When you go to a restaurant on a cold day, you see that some keep their outdoor dining area running by utilizing outdoor heaters. You may not have realized that manufacturers make models that are appropriate for home use. Find out how you can use a patio heater for your outdoor living.
Patio Heaters Extend Your Outdoor Living Time
You’ve probably invested time and money into your patio or deck. You do so because you want to enjoy your outdoor living. However, when evenings get brisk or when the season changes, you may relegate your patio or deck to being unusable. An outdoor patio heater changes that fact.
A patio heater uses radiant heat to take the chill out of the area. Also called an infrared heater, it operates with an infrared emitter that delivers infrared energy invisible to the eye but produces warmth.
A patio heater can raise the ambient air temperature by up to 20 degrees over a specific area around the heater. This fact makes them ideal to use in your dining area where you don’t need to heat a large area. You could even use one in conjunction with a grill to extend the area of warmth.
Patio Heaters Offer Different Fuel Options
Patio heaters are similar to firepits in that they afford you different options for how to fuel them. One option is the propane heater. These heaters typically feature a base in which the propane tank is stored. They’re one of the most popular styles because they’re completely self-sufficient. Propane heaters typically give out more heat than electric models.
Another fuel type is a natural gas heater. They are permanently installed because they require that natural gas hookup. They’re often wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Like propane heaters, natural gas heaters put out more heat than electric ones.
Patio Heaters Are Versatile
The different fueling options already make patio heaters versatile. However, they have other features that make them versatile. For one, depending on the fuel type, you have different ways of mounting them. In addition to ceiling-mounted and standalone models, you have some heaters small enough to place on the table.
You can also choose heat output. Most patio heaters come in different capacities but there is only one, Calcana, that has patented adjustable heat controls. So, you can turn them up higher on especially cold days, and lower on warm days, providing the ideal level of comfort.
Patio Heaters Come in Different Styles
The different mounting options affect the look of the heaters. Portable propane models are the most common style with a base that stands on the floor and finishes in an circular, aluminum reflector, sometimes referred to as a “mushroom heater”. The ones that are ceiling-mounted usually come in two styles. One is a long box with the infrared heating emitters stretching across the whole length. The other is a version of a portable patio heater’s circular infrared emitter.
You have many other styles to choose from, too. For instance, some models feature a pyramid base. Other models are simple pillars similar to an indoor space heater. Yet others are ceiling-mounted and fan out with the infrared emitters.
What’s more, many patio heaters offer decorative features. For some, the base resembles another material. For others, they showcase a tiki-style flame in the center. You can also choose from different finish options. Therefore, you should be able to find a patio heater that matches your space’s style.
Enjoy your outdoor living area all year round by installing a patio heater. Consult with Calcana Group of Companies to discover our residential patio heating options.
