10 Best Patio Heaters to Warm You Up on Cool Nights
AMAZON
If you’re like us, before the pandemic hit you probably thought of patio heaters as a luxury item, not a necessity. If you were spending money on outdoor goodies for your home, it most likely went toward something like snazzy backyard lightingor even a great greenhouse— anything but one of the best patio heaters. But with the advent of social distancing suddenly every restaurant was warming up their outdoor seating area with a heater, proving just how indispensable these gadgets really are. After all, with the right heater we can extend the use of our patios, decks and porches from one season to three or even four. And whether the proud homeowner of a snug cottage or rambling farmhouse, who can’t use a little extra living space these days?
Of course, deciding to buy a heater for your patio is only the first step in actually purchasing one. You’ve also got to decide which one to get, and there are so many different kinds out there it can be totally confusing trying to narrow down your choice. But that’s okay, because we’re here to help with not only a Top 10 list of the best patio heaters, but also a rundown of things you need to keep in mind when choosing one.
FUEL SOURCE
Patio heaters are powered by one of two sources: gas or electricity. Most gas-powered heaters use liquid propane, though there are some that can be hooked up to a natural gas line if you already have one installed in your home. Both propane and electric heaters have their pros and cons:
- Propane Heaters tend to be more powerful than electric heaters, so they can warm a bigger space, and do not need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet. However propane tanks will need replacing—about every 10 hours for a standard 20 pound tank—which can be inconvenient. And propane heaters cannot be used in enclosed spaces due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Electric Heaters are simpler to operate than propane heaters—you just plug them in to a standard 120-volt outlet and turn them on—and many can be used in enclosed spaces. However, they’re often less powerful than gas heaters and cannot be exposed to the elements.
BTUS/WATTS
BTUs, which stand for British Thermal Units, essentially measure how powerful a gas heater is. The higher the BTUs, the greater the heating ability. The power of an electric heater is measured in watts, and, likewise, the higher the watts, the greater the heating ability. The most effective gas heaters can offer as high as 50,000 BTUs, while electric heaters tend to top out at 1,500 watts, which translates to about 5,100 BTUs.
TYPE
From tall, mushroom-shaped propane heaters that can warm hundreds of square feet, to small, electric heaters mountable on a wall or ceiling, there are a wide assortment of patio heaters from which to choose. What type you decide on is dependent on how large a space you want to heat, whether you’re going to warm a covered area or not, if you’d like something portable and even your own personal style. Do you want a heater that fades into the background, or are you looking for something that makes a statement?
When you see something that catches your eye, the most important thing to do is read the manufacturer’s recommendations, which should tell you how big an area the heater will warm, and where it’s safe to place it. That should help you figure out the best patio heater to keep you and yours safely snug outside even when the temperatures have plummeted. Looking for speci
