Patio heaters are essential to furnishing a deck or outdoor entertaining space. These heaters help in raising the temperature and the deck or patio can be used more during the year.
Cold nights will not be a problem because the heater will be able to make you more comfortable and allow for use of the deck even on winter days.
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Heaters for the outdoors have changed a lot over the years. The designs are based on different power sources and are made to be more ergonomic. They are made to produce enough heat, and at the same time, keep the home safe from fire.
The style of the heater has also changed a lot and they have been made to look stylish and compliment outdoor furnishings.
Heat is measured in BTUs or British thermal units. This is a measurement of power that is required to raise the temperature of water by 1° Fahrenheit.
In other words, 1 BTU is equivalent to 0.293 watts. The required number of BTUs to warm up a given space is computed through the identification of the area multiplied by the desired amount of temperature.
What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Heating?
Using outdoor heating is one of the cheapest ways to raise the temperature on the patio or deck. The energy source may be from propane gas or electricity.
Some heaters use firewood which may consume a lot of time and money. Outdoor heating provides good value for your money. You will not have been vulnerable to nature and can use the patio more often.
Outdoor heaters are now more flexible and easy to use. Propane and electric heaters can be turned on with the turn of a switch. Most of them have safety features such as a push-button shut down mechanism, which allows you to stop the gas flow if flames suddenly rise out of hand.
Most heaters also have an anti-tilt feature that turns the heater off when it is tilted. Patio heaters have wheels that make them easy to move from one place to the other.
The appearance of heaters is improving; they look more elegant and add to the classy look of outdoor space. Restaurants with patios take advantage of this and have used outdoor heaters for their decks and outdoor eating areas.
Heaters are also environment-friendly. A propane or electric heater emits almost no smoke. Compared to chimneys or barbecue-style heaters, propane- and electric-powered heaters can allow you to enjoy the outdoors on cold days without harming the planet.
What Are the Best Outdoor Heaters?
As mentioned earlier, there are many types of heaters. Some heaters are designed like a fire pit and can also serve as a barbecue grill. These pits are operated with firewood or charcoal.
These heaters not only make grilling a fun outdoor activity but also entertain guests. There are outdoor chimneys that burn wood to create heat, such as the heaters used before the creation of propane or electric lamps.
There are propane heaters that make use of LPG, or liquefied propane gas. The tank is bought separately from the heater and comes in different weights.
Most propane heaters use 20-lb. tanks, which can generate heat for an entire month if the heater is used 3 days a week. More propane would be needed, depending on the type and the use of the heater. Propane tanks produce consistent heat.
Electric heaters pose the lowest risk because unlike propane heaters, they do not use flames or gas. Electric heaters are lamps that use ultra-violet rays to generate heat. They usually produce 1000 to 1500 watts of heat.
Electric heaters can be mounted on the ceiling or under a patio canopy. The downside is that the heat is less intense compared to a propane heater, and winds can dissipate any heat that is produced.
Conclusion
Many heaters are available on the market but the best for outdoor use would be propane gas heaters because the heater can deliver more heat using fewer resources.
Most propane heaters are certified for safety and have anti-tilt shut-off systems to prevent fires. Propane heaters produce as much as 50,000 BTUs of heat, which can raise the temperature by 10° to 15°.
