A patio installation creates additional recreational room, adds value, and improves your home’s outdoor appearance. In fact, the exterior addition can give a 69 percent return on the project cost if you sell your home. With a patio heater, you can warm this outdoor space and use it throughout the year.
To get the best out of your patio, this guide offers tips to pick the best heater for this outdoor space.
1. Check the Power of Your Heater
You need a powerful patio heater to enjoy the comfort of your patio in chilly weather. And a heating professional can carry an audit of your patio’s heating needs to help you buy the right sized appliance – small heater inconveniences the patio users while an oversized one leads to energy wastage and a higher utility bill.
A high rated heater often will give off more heat and manufacturers might provide extra details about their products’ capacity. Look for the heat range or coverage and heat distribution. When you compare different patio heaters, talk to a professional to understand which one suits your patio size.
2. Select the Best Design
Homeowners have different tastes in style and that’s the reason patio heater manufacturers offer multiple styles. The common heater designs are:
- Mounted style. The design saves space because you mount the appliance heater on a ceiling or the wall.
- Fire pit style. The heater design gets inspiration from wood burning fire pits.
- Tabletop design. Tabletop heater designs include miniature or traditional lamp styles.
- Floor standing heater. This heater design is ideal if you have a large patio and the units are tall and thin. The appliances add to your patio’s aesthetics.
The heater style you pick should fit in the patio and blend easily with the rest of the fittings. Explore different products from market leaders before you decide what to buy.
3. Compare the Heat Sources
Propane heaters are portable, easy to operate, and they heat fast. The heater features a propane tank located out of sight in a safe encasing. For this patio heater, you don’t need professional installation. However, the tank requires regular refills. The heater is also not ideal for enclosed spaces, and this heater often costs more than the popular natural gas outdoor heaters.
Gas heaters are a cheaper and low maintenance alternative. However, they are more costly to purchase and install, and they’re not ideal for enclosed spaces because of the open flame. Because the heater relies on a natural gas line, you can’t move it from one area of the patio to the other.
Electric and wood-powered patio heaters are also available on the market. An electric patio heater must have a power outlet, and it can take longer to warm your outdoor space. Wood patio heaters are high maintenance, difficult to use, and in some places, it’s difficult to find wood for fuel.
4. Review the Features
Different patio heaters have unique features and technologies to suit consumer needs. When you compare these products, consider these features:
- Material
- Aesthetics
- Safety features
- Warranty
- Stability/size
- Product standards/safety rating
- Easy-to-use controls
- Variable controls
- Emitter screens
An outdoor patio is a great addition to your home, but it becomes uncomfortable in chilly weather. A highperformance patio heater allows you to use this outdoor space throughout the year. With these tips, you’re well equipped to start your search for the best heater for your patio.
If you want the most reliable heater for your patio, consider Calcana. We have a wide range of reliable products, and our propane and gas Calcana patio heaters help you maximize your outdoor space throughout the year. Check out our range of patio heaters and hardware here.
