Patio Heaters

There can be little else more enjoyable than evenings in the garden, either relaxing with a book by yourself, or with a group of friends enjoying a BBQ, whatever the reason we love to use our gardens whenever possible, but the cold evenings can often make it impossible and thus the wonder that is the patio heater was thought up to address the problem.

Which Type Is Best?

There are many different options to choose from when it comes to heating an area of your garden or patio, and which is best for you will depend on several factors, namely how much area you want to heat, and the conditions in which you will be using it.

Below we look at some of the more common types available, and give you some idea of what to look out for.

Gas Heaters

Most patio heaters sold for public use are of the gas powered variety, usually powered by wither a propane or LPG cylinder, both types of gas bottle are widely available through DIY stores and filling stations.

Most gas powered heaters follow a similar style in being tall slim cylinders, usually standing a little over 2m tall. The gas cylinder that powers the heaters is stored in the base of these heaters and provides stability to the unit as well as the gas needed to provide the heat.

At the top of the unit is a stainless steel umbrella that aims to direct the heat in a uniform fashion around the area surrounding the heater, usually to within a range of a couple of meters.

Most gas heaters are simple to operate, usually comprising of an automatic ignition system, and an adjustable heat control that allows you to control the flow of the gas to the heater, and thus increase or reduce the level of heat the unit generates.

Halogen Heaters

Halogen heaters offer a similar performance to that of gas powered heaters, but with several advantages. One being space, halogen heaters can be bolted to walls out of the way of the patio itself. Additionally there is no naked flame meaning safety is improved, and they also require little cleaning compared to a gas heater.

The heat generated by a halogen heater is adjustable, and can be finely set depending on your requirements. The heat is distributed around an ever expanding area as the heat setting is increased on the lamp, and when on full it is usually difficult to stand directly under the unit as the heat generated when close to it can be extremely high.

Due to the technology used halogen units offer a relatively low cost operation, and with the only requirement to get then to work being a standard household power socket, they are east to set up for anyone and take literally seconds to plug and and start getting heat from.

Chiminea Heaters

If you want something a little different to heat your patio then a Chiminea burner may be the answer. These heaters are small stoves and are most often made of clay, with some examples being made of cast iron.

Clearly owning and operating a Chiminea compared to a gas or halogen heater is much more of a commitment, and whether its right for you will depend on how much weight you personally place on the enjoyment to be gained from have this type of traditional way of heating outside areas.

Chimineas need care for them to last, they can easily be broken or cracked and care must always be taken when moving them around, or moving around them (especially when they are alight!), also regular cleaning is essential and care must be taken when they are in use to prevent any accidents from occurring.

Conclusion

Which type of patio heater is right for you will depend on your circumstances, and how much you value, or not, different benefits of each type. If you want minimum maintenance or don't have much space then halogen heaters are the way to go, they are also reasonably cheap to run and require little care.

Many people like the feel from a real flame for their heating, and if this is you then you should consider a gas powered heater or a Chiminea. Chimineas require the most maintenance and so this should be remember when making your choice, they do of course offer a great center piece to any party though so you may feel this makes the maintenance overhead worth it.

Whichever you choose, we are sure you will find the benefits of patio heaters well worth the purchase, and they will provide you with many pleasant evenings being able to use your patio.