Providing heat for outdoor areas is more tricky than indoor areas. You cannot use convection fan heaters because the heat will simply disappear into the cold air. What you need is an outdoor patio heater which provides radiant heat. Our buying guide for outdoor patio heaters tries to answer a few questions about fuel sources, heater types and safety features.
What is the best fuel source for an outdoor heater?
The answer to this question depends on installation costs, ease of use and running costs. Of course, the most basic outdoor heater and fuel source is wood that is burned in a fire pit, but that is not what this buying guide is about.
Electric outdoor patio heaters might require some installation costs, but it is not too much. Once installed, it comes down to how much electricity it uses. You can also buy an infrared outdoor patio heater on a stand if you want to move it from one spot to another. We think infrared electric patio heaters are the most balanced option when it comes to installation, operation and maintenance costs.
Propane outdoor patio heaters do not have any installation costs because they are portable. However, you need to buy and attach your own propane gas tank. These heaters are not shipped with an LPG tank. Propane patio heaters use a fair amount of fuel, and you need to refuel the tank regularly. These heaters are therefore easy to operate, but more expensive to refuel.
Another possible fuel source is natural gas. Natural gas outdoor patio heaters have to be installed by a professional to ensure that there are no leaks. These heaters are permanently installed and cannot be moved from one spot to the next. Nevertheless, natural gas heaters are the most eco-friendly and have the lowest operating fuel costs of all the options.
Which outdoor heater types are available?
The smallest outdoor patio heater is probably a hanging heater type which is suspended from the ceiling like a lamp shade. It is the best type to use for heating a very small outdoor patio because it only heats objects that are directly underneath it. Ceiling patio heaters use electricity and have infrared bulbs. Infrared heaters do not heat the surrounding air. It heats the surfaces of objects that are in its radiant path. Therefore, the heat is not lost in the air because it is absorbed by people and furniture that are underneath its invisible radiant warmth.
The next type is the wall-mounted outdoor patio heater. These are permanently installed on the wall and is a space-saving way to heat a small outdoor patio area. They use electricity and infrared heating elements.
Another type to consider is a tabletop outdoor patio heater. It is usually powered by propane and is short enough to be placed on top of a table.
The largest outdoor patio heaters are portable, freestanding and fueled by a propane tank. These heaters are not recommended for small patios because they produce a lot of heat (at least 40000 BTU and more). They are also too tall to fit safely underneath a pergola, gazebo, canopy or low roof. They require more fuel than the other types of heaters, but are the best option for heating roofless patio areas.
What is BTU, and how much do I need?
BTU means “British Thermal Unit” and it is used as a thermal measurement in the UK, USA and other parts of the world. It is useful as a standard heat unit. For example, 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity is equal to 3412 BTU. One gallon of propane is equal to 91333 BTU.
A tabletop outdoor patio heater usually produces around 12000 BTU or more which is enough to warm a small group of people sitting around a table. However, for a larger group you will need at least 40000 BTU so no one is left out in the cold.
Which safety features are essential?
The basic safety features that are present in electric tower heaters are also essential for outdoor patio heaters:
- Automatic shut-off protection
- Pilot light (for propane/natural gas patio heaters)
- Safety certification by the CSA Group or UL
- Tip-over protection switch
Remember that propane patio heaters are for outdoor use only. Do not use them inside the house! There is a dangerous risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if used in an enclosed space.
Place a portable freestanding patio heater outside on a completely level surface. There should be no tree branches, plant leaves or flammable materials in proximity. Place propane patio heaters where the wind will not interfere with the gas flame.
Maintaining your patio heater does not take much time. Wipe it down before use with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust or dirty spots. It might be a good idea to buy a full length outdoor patio heater vinyl cover to keep it dry and clean. Get a cover that fits the shape of your patio heater.
Affordable Freestanding Propane Patio Heater
The Amazonbasics patio heater has a sturdy base which can be filled with either water or sand to provide ballast weight. However, adding sand into the base through the small hole is going to take some time! Water is easier to add, if the base is water tight (it might leak).
This freestanding patio heater has a safety shut-off valve which turns off the heater if it falls over. There are two small wheels at the back of the base. The wheels make it easier to move the heater around on flat surfaces.
A few people have mentioned that removing the protective film from the heat shield is a frustrating experience. Apparently, you have to use a hair dryer to gently heat the film before peeling it off. Generally speaking, you need patience to correctly assemble this Amazonbasics patio heater according to the instructions before lighting it up. Do not rush the assembly, take a few hours to do it properly.
The Amazonbasics patio heater runs off a 20-pound propane cylinder (not included) which fits snugly inside the round housing. It provides a heat output of 46000 BTU. Press the Piezo ignition system button to light up the patio heater. The variable heat control knob has three settings: Low, High and Off.
This Amazonbasics outdoor patio heater is made from steel, which is durable and strong. The heater is finished with a durable power coating in a variety of colors such as Slate Grey, Charcoal Grey and Havana Bronze. A simple stainless steel finish is also available.
The Amazonbasics propane patio heater seems to be an affordable product. It works well to provide additional warmth for your patio area. This heater is almost 90 inches tall, so it will not fit underneath a roof or canopy (shop now on Amazon).
Inexpensive Tabletop Propane Patio Heater
The AZ tabletop patio heater (Hiland brand name) is about 38 inches tall. It has a small housing which can only accommodate a one pound propane tank (not included). However, you could use an adapter hose to connect a 20-pound propane tank. This might be the best setup in the long run because the 1 lb tank will only last for about 3 hours on low and one hour on high. This really does not give you enough time to spent outdoors on the patio before needing to refill the tiny LPG tank.
This outdoor tabletop patio heater gives off around 11000 BTU which is not a lot. You will have to sit close to feel warmth. The burner has a screen guard and the unit has an anti-tilt safety device. A weighted plate screwed into the bottom provides extra weight for stability. You do not have to add water or sand for ballast. These AZ tabletop patio heaters are available in a variety of colors such as black, hammered bronze, hammered silver, bronze gold and stainless steel.
The AZ portable tabletop patio heater does not put out a lot of heat (up to 11000 BTU). The heater only provides warmth to people sitting close to it. It uses a small 1 lb propane canister which gives you only an hour or two of heat before needing replacement. It would be more useful if you hook it up to a 20-pound propane tank (check price on Amazon).
Electric Hanging Patio Heater
We choose the Ener-G+ HEA-21522-MI hanging patio heater as an example. It can be attached and hanged from a covered patio ceiling or from a gazebo with the included hook and chain. It is certified to be dustproof and water-resistant.
The Ener-G+ outdoor hanging heater plugs into a 120-volt outlet and has a maximum power consumption of 1500 watts. This ceiling patio heater actually has three individual infrared lamps. You can activate each one in turn for three different heat settings. It radiates infrared heat from its infrared bulb (carbon filament). The bulb is supposed to last for 5000 hours. It also has a bright LED light which illuminates the area where it is hanging.
This hanging heater comes with a remote control. You do not have to reach up to turn it on or off. Be aware that the remote control only works from a certain angle and from a very short distance away.
The Ener-G+ hanging patio heater radiates infrared heat. You will only feel warmth if you are sitting or standing underneath its infrared lamps. This makes it suitable for a small area, but unsuitable for heating a large area (check price on Amazon).
Conclusion
Which one should you choose for your patio? Well, that depends on the size and cover of your patio. A freestanding propane patio heater cannot be surpassed when it comes to heating a large area and a group of people. However, these freestanding outdoor heaters are too tall for a covered patio or a gazebo. Choose either a shorter tabletop patio heater or a hanging heater for smaller spaces.
Photo by Joel Clements on Unsplash.