Fall is here and winter is well on its way, even here in beautiful Southern California. With chilly nights in the forecast, it’s time to think about how to keep you and your guests warm in your luxury outdoor living space. We’d like to give you another option beyond fireplaces and fire pits – outdoor heaters. These versatile heaters go nearly anywhere while offering lots of toasty warmth. Here’s what you need to know about options for adding outdoor heaters to your backyard oasis.
Hanging or Standing Outdoor Heaters?
Generally, there are two options for outdoor heaters that warm your backyard oasis: hanging or standing.
Freestanding patio heaters run on propane or natural gas and can be used throughout your backyard living area, as long as the area is properly ventilated. They are easily portable, so you can move them right along with the party. A single freestanding outdoor heater warms about 115 square feet of space, so this gives you a good idea of how many you need to incorporate in your backyard to provide sufficient heat to all the places you and your guests relax. There are also models which can be permanently mounted in the ground.
Hanging outdoor heaters are securely affixed to a wall or ceiling. They hide neatly behind facades or tucked up underneath eaves. These outdoor heaters usually run on the normal electrical circuits which run to the outside of your home. They are good at warming an area of about nine square feet (depending on BTUs), so you will need several of them if your goal is to heat a large area. If you are using hanging outdoor heaters in your outdoor dining area, it will require at least two to provide sufficient heat.
Electric or Propane?
One thing you will need to think about is the power source of your outdoor heaters. If you already have natural gas running to your home, freestanding or hanging models that run on gas would be the natural choice.
Usually, freestanding units run on propane cylinders that are hidden in the bottom of the heater. They do take up additional space on your patio and require the tanks to be refilled, so those are two considerations when deciding which style of outdoor heater to install.
Hanging heat lamps are generally preferred to be electric, since this allows them to install flush with a ceiling. This provides the neatest appearance and also makes these outdoor heaters a very reliable source of heat.
Warm Up to the Outdoors
No matter how large your backyard oasis or how spread out the space, there are several options to keep it warm with outdoor heaters. Choose between freestanding units that are portable or hanging models that stay neatly out of sight.
