A patio heater is a very useful fixture to have your home, especially when you live in a state that celebrates four seasons. With a patio, you expand the use of your house, and take advantage of the many pleasures your veranda or patio has.
Many families use the patio or the veranda for entertaining, for spending time with the family or just to soak in the scenery in your residence. For others, it becomes the place of work. A patio heater ensures that you are comfortable all year around no matter what kind of weather is out there.
Besides, a patio heater, one that is carefully selected adds great value to your home, should you decide to sell the house in the near future. It’s all as they say a matter of finding out what works and how.
So how does one go about the matter of selecting from the many models found in the market today? Making a decision on what kind of patio heater best fulfills your requirements becomes easier when you know what, when and where you’d need this.
Here are several considerations you’ll need to think about, before making a firm commitment to go out and purchase a new heater:
Do you want your patio heater to be a permanent fixture in the patio or not? Bottled fuel is mobile, and you can put the heater in portions of your veranda where it needs the most heat, while natural gas heaters are a good complement to your existing gas grill installations.
Measure your patio and take into considerations the height of the ceilings as well as the insulating materials, so that you pick a patio heater that will do the job. The price tag of a patio heater is not the only or most accurate gauge or indication of its ability to warm your patio.
Is the patio heater engineered for safety? Read the instruction manuals paying particular attention to the section for the safety switches and valves. Is the safety tilt switch, placed in an accessible part of the heater? Does it have emergency cut-off valves? Does it have sealed burners?
Make the economical use of fuel an important requirement. Patio heaters can consume butane, kerosene, propane or natural gas. Check out the differences in prices before you make your choice.
Here’s how to make sure that your patio performs well, in terms of form as well as function. Go shopping for a heater that complements your patio by shopping online. You can look at a wide range of models from your own home. You don’t need to sacrifice the looks of your patio heater for good looks. Today’s models don’t look like aluminum reflectors, of yesterdays heaters. Most of these cost around $100.00 for the small portable units to $300.00 for the permanently installed natural gas units.
Get a patio heater that has infrared heater elements with well-designed and built aluminum reflectors, for they direct the radiating heat down and out. These are usually called “umbrella” or “mushroom" designs on poles and they measure between 3 to 7 feet tall.
Plan to enjoy many more nights out on the patio or deck warmed by your stylish cast iron or stainless steel heater. Most raise the temperature a good 10 degrees, and you'll feel a substantial difference between, say, 50 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does your patio function as a barbeque area? There are new models that double as an outdoor range and a patio heater. Consider a multi-functional unit. Or check for a heater that has retractable wheels and poles, with a table attached.
Some tips to handling your patio heater:
No matter how user friendly your patio heater is, it’s not for children. What you can do is educate your children on its uses, and how to use the safety valve switches.
Make sure no inflammables are kept within striking distance of the heater, from insecticide, to perfume sprays, or papers.
So what are you waiting for? Take your measuring tape out and start figuring out where you’re placing it.