How to choose a patio heater?
Here is an auxiliary heater that has allure! Gas or electric, the patio heater is designed to extend the pleasure of terraces in all seasons or simply when it is chilly. In stainless steel, aluminum or steel, the heating patio heater can be declined in the form of a heating column!
Important features
- Electric
- Gas
- Heating surface
- Material
We guide you to make the right choice for a patio heater, without knowing everything about patio heaters. Here are the 2 key things to make sure you're not mistaken before comparing exterior heaters: location and radiation or range.
Location: a matter of practical
It seems obvious, but an electric patio heater needs electricity nearby and a gas patio heater needs a gas cylinder. The electric patio heater is installed very quickly. The use of a power extension cord may be necessary if your Terrace is at the bottom of the garden. The gas patio heater is autonomous since it works with a gas bottle (to be purchased separately and to be changed when it is empty). It is heavier and therefore more stable.
Radiation or range: choose a suitable power
Like the radiators from the house, a patio heater is provided for a precise range or heating surface. The heating capacity of a patio heater differs for one garden for table 2 people and a patio heater for one Terrace bar or a garden Lounge. There is no point in over buying, however, be careful not to under-size it at the risk of getting cold. Be vigilant about this criterion so that your patio heater performs well the function that is dedicated to it.
3 top tips for choosing your patio heater
- Prefer stainless steel as a material if you live near the coast or in the mountains.
- Gas heated umbrellas consume less energy than their electric counterparts.
- Vertical heat diffusion is more comfortable than horizontal.
Let it be said, by the patio heater this heating has only the form… and again, many models are moving further and further away from it. It is above all auxiliary heating which has a mode of operation specific to its energy and there are two types of heated umbrellas.
Electric patio heater
Depending on a power supply, the power of the electric patio heater is expressed in Watts. The heating technology used is infrared. Based on the size of your room, you can select from Pamapic fireplace heaters.
Gas patio heater
For its intrinsic properties, propane is chosen for outdoor use. The heat is diffused through a burner and a reflector. The gas installation requires a hose and a regulator
See the pamapic patio heaters catalog
The heating power of the gas patio heater is strong and the technology is reliable on the other hand. Its use is recommended outdoors because weak fumes can occur. Often, its power and performance are significantly superior to its counterpart the electric patio heater. The gas patio heater is also heavier since it has a 13 kg propane cylinder at its base and more bulky. However, these defects can be seen as a quality because they provide stability.
Depending on the main power, like everything with an electric heater, it is necessary to connect it to a socket. Be aware that the wire may be the cause of fall and that it requires a power extension cord! The heat is transmitted by radiation ,the closer you get to the hot spot, the more you have a feeling of heat by using infrared.
Less economical than the gas patio heater, the electric patio heater is on the other hand preferable and recommended for any indoor use because it is odorless. Due to its energy, it presents a lower risk potential. Less bulky and lighter, the electric patio heater is easier to handle. Apart from the type of energy the patio heater needs to produce heat, several factors have a direct impact on the comfort of use.
Heating surface
The heating surface is relative to the power of the heating patio heater, it is to be calculated according to its need and is expressed in m².
Scope
The scope expresses the radiance of heat, some manufacturers specify the heating surface, others the range.
Heat emission
Note that heating columns, due to their horizontal heat emission, can lose their efficiency due to the wind. But while in vertical production, this feeling of loss is reduced.
Reflector
Knowing that this type of heating has an individual character on the terraces. A large reflector offers more comfort for the table and tilting and it makes it possible to locate a radiation.
Material
The material is dependent on its intrinsic qualities. Stainless steel is preferred for humid environments and by the sea, while a heated steel patio heater may be perfectly sufficient in a dry environment.
Stability and bulk
Stability and size are not to be neglected, especially for small surfaces.
Power variator
The power variator is economical and makes it possible to adapt the radiation to climatic conditions.
Autonomy
Autonomy, linked to consumption, is to be appreciated for gas patio heaters.
Heated Umbrella Standards
All patio heaters must comply with the current CE standard, the CSA and ETL standard and the EN 14543 + A1 standard. As with any heater, you must leave a safety space of at least 50cm above your patio heater and 60cm around it. The upper part of the patio heater, the burner or the resistance, must therefore be placed 2 m above ground level. These are all general knowledge, follow the manual instructions!
Gas patio heaters are not recommended or even prohibited in a closed environment by the manufacturers. If not, like everything with a gas heater indoors, it is advisable to ventilate the room where it is located to protect against fumes. Electric patio heaters have circuit breakers in the event of a tip-over like gas patio heaters. The choice of your heating patio heater is essentially based on its energy, its power, its size and its manufacturing material. Do not hesitate to make a comparison between the different patio heaters.
Remember to check the conformity of the equipment of the gas patio heaters (flexible and regulator). Some of its models accept both types of gas (butane and propane). If you opt for an electric patio heater in Terrace, pay attention to their exposure. Do not hesitate to anchor them if they are exposed to strong winds and pay attention to the wire.To better protect your patio heater, use a protective cover to cover it when not in use. To learn more about heating, follow the advice of our editors and discover their guides.