The current trend in home design is decks or patios that give you an extra room in the outdoors to relax or entertain. So you have just setup your garden patio or deck and are now intent on purchasing an outdoor heater to go with it. The first big decision you have to make is whether you want a patio heater to be permanent or not. Natural gas heaters are easy to setup using existing gas grill installations, but bottled fuels make it easier to put the heat right where you need it. If you have a small space that you want to heat up for a good read or snuggle for just one or two persons than a portable heater is a good choice, but if you want to host an outdoor party on cold nights then you would require a heating unit with much more power.

 

Next window shop for the patio heater of your choice, a good place to look is in patio furniture shops and in specialty shops for home decorating. You should select a heater for its ability to warm the area you use most, usually a 20-foot circle around the unit. Read product information carefully - the biggest and most expensive units do not always provide the best deals. Make sure the patio heater you choose is designed for safety. A standard industry-approved design will feature safety tilt switches, sealed burners, flame controls, electronic ignitions and emergency cut-off valves.  If you decide on portable outdoor heaters then choose the heater that uses the bottled fuel most common and cheap in your area. Patio heaters can operate on kerosene, butane or propane as well as natural gas. There are also electric patio heaters but these are limited by the availability of an electrical outlet. For electrical heaters it is important to make sure that all the wiring has been done properly and the brand you purchase is from a reputable manufacturer to avoid electrocuting someone or short circuiting your power supply.

 

In terms of design you should look for infrared heater elements with sturdy aluminum reflectors to direct the radiating heat down and out. These are commonly described as "mushroom" or "dome" designs. If you plan to enjoy many more nights out on the patio or deck warmed by your stylish cast iron or stainless steel heater then choose wisely. Most raise the temperature a good 10 degrees, and you’ll feel a substantial difference between, say, 50 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You should always test the effectiveness of the heater before making your purchase. Its better safe than sorry as they say, since you wouldnt want to have bought something that you cant use.

 

A few things to remember are that some patio heaters are just plain chunky and they also look messy this is especially true for the budget versions- but if you shop around, you’ll find useful and attractive patio heaters to suit every budget. Patio heaters range widely in price from small portable units less than $100 to permanently installed natural gas units in the $300 range to large commercial patio heaters that cost thousands of dollars and heat wide spaces. Of course these commercial units are usually for commercial purposes such as hotels and inns. If you are inclined to cook out a lot, consider an outdoor stove that can easily double as a patio heater. A good thing to look for are heater bases with wheels inside and poles with tables attached; you’ll use both more than you might think and you will thank your lucky stars you though of that later.  You should always be careful when using outdoor heaters even if it small; make sure you keep all flammables at a safe distance and you should have a fire extinguisher at a handy distance at all times. If you have kids around remember that patio heaters are not toys at such do not allow children to operate them.

 

So if you follow all the steps in this article you are sure to enjoy a wonderful, safe and warm experience on your patio even on the coldest of nights. So remember to bone up on knowledge before going out to buy that patio heater.

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