Outdoor Gas Heaters 101

outdoor gas heater

Are you looking for outdoor heaters to help you warm up your patio, backyard or balcony? A warm outdoor area can be your go-to place for dinners and drinks with friends or family members all year round. You don’t have to limit the use of this space only for summer, so gas heaters for outdoor are a perfect investment.

Fuel Options

Even though you can find outdoor heaters with various fuel options such as electricity or wood, the most common and frequently used one is the gas option. Gas won’t affect your electricity bills, nor will it require maintenance after every use.

Natural gas – If you’re looking for outdoor heaters that will save you some money in the long run, and that won’t demand using wood, then natural gas outdoor options are a great choice. You can install it if you have a direct source of gas. This is a great choice if your town or community forbids wood heaters; this is a great substitute for your patio or deck. The installation is a bit pricy and will mainly depend if you can connect it to an underground natural gas line. The con here is that once you install it, it remains where it is.

Propane  – these gas heater outdoor models are another great option that will serve you well. These are easier and quicker to light and are ideal in that they’re lightweight, so you can easily move them around. To light a propane outdoor heater simply gets a canister of propane, and you’re set.

How to Choose Your Outdoor Heater?

Location

The first thing to consider when getting an outdoor heater is the location. Where you’ll place it and is there a gas outlet? Is there an underground natural gas line (if you’re choosing natural gas)? If you’re going with the propane model, then it won’t depend on a gas outlet since it can work by using propane or butane gas. You can buy the bottles separately and you’ll have to replace them when empty.
Choose the location by considering all parameters (how far it’s going to be placed from the sitting area, outlets, etc) gas heaters (especially those that work with natural gas) are heavier, so you might not be able to move them from A to B that often.

Heat Output

A gas heater should heat up areas of various sizes. Some are small enough to heat a table for two, but others are large enough to heat terrace bars or garden lounge areas. The power rating varies; choose a model that works for your needs. You don’t have to get a large heater for a small patio in your backyard. It will only demand larger amounts of gas (therefore you’ll spend more money). If your outdoor area is larger, then a small heater won’t meet your needs, so again the size and heat output should match the space and your needs.

Why Get an Outdoor Heater?

For Your Gatherings

A patio or backyard area designed for sitting, BBQs, lounging or parties with your friends is often used during spring and summer. But with an outdoor heater, there’s no excuse why not to throw a party in the autumn. An outdoor heater spreads pleasant warmth, but it also lits the place and creates a great atmosphere.

Great for Lighting

It doesn’t have to be super cold to turn on your gas heater; in fact, it can provide you with pleasant warmth and give you ambience light. Your backyard, patio or balcony can easily become a romantic and cozy place, ideal for dinner for two, drinks for friends or simply for chilling with a book.

Make a Romantic Atmosphere

Why spend money in a restaurant when you can create a romantic, cozy and lovely atmosphere in the comfort of your backyard? Cook dinner together, or open a bottle of wine and enjoy it by the romantic light and pleasant warmth of your heater. It’s the person that matters, not an expensive place to eat.

Great for Smaller Spaces

You don’t have a large patio? That’s all right since gas heaters come in various sizes and can match the needs even of a small balcony or other outdoor space. Of course, these heaters aren’t meant to make the air hot but will keep your feet and hands warm, just so you feel pleasant.

Use It All Year-Round

Forget about chilling in your garden or patio only when the weather is nice. The point of getting such a heater is to use your outdoor area all year round. Sometimes just sitting there breathing fresh air is more than enough to clear your head and relax after a long day. You don’t have to throw parties or cook fancy dinners. A simple cup of tea in the evening can be a great way to spend some time meditating, reading, or talking to your partner or friends.

outdoor gas heater

Stay Safe

Make sure your heater is placed in a safe space where it won’t be too close to furniture or other easily flammable materials such as tablecloths or cushions. If your patio is covered, then gas or propane heaters aren’t such a great idea; they emit high amounts of CO, which can be quite dangerous. It’s best to use these heaters for patios and open areas where the air flows freely.  If there are children in your household, educate them about fire safety and never leave them unattained near the device. Make sure to have a fire extinguisher near your gas heater, so you can always be prepared in case of fire.  
 

Leave a Comment