Chase away the chill with patio heaters and enjoy your outdoor spaces.

Location, Location…

Where you intend to use a patio heater influences the kind of heater you choose. They have a limited range because heated air tends to cool when moved, and their features have the most impact in their immediate area. Certain heaters are intended to double as lamps and provide light, while others use infrared heat, which provides warmth and little glow.

If you choose a heater powered by natural gas, for instance, it will have to be installed near the natural gas line from your home. Electric heaters may be small, but the right lamp can provide heat and reflective light when hung from the cross beams or mounted on the wall. Consider the use and the location as you browse the different installation types to find the best match with how you use the space.

Available in direct or infrared heat, freestanding patio heaters can be moved anywhere there’s a flat, stable surface for the base. Liquid propane powered heaters can often be equipped to hold the propane tank as a weight at the bottom to keep it balanced and sturdy.

Permanent post heaters are installed into the ground and hooked up to the natural gas line, so they are stationary after the initial installation.

A tabletop heater is also freestanding, and can vary in size from 24” to 48” or even taller. Freestanding heaters are available as electric powered, which can be slightly more expensive to operate. Their convenience and mobility is the trade off for the slight bump in the electric bill.

Wall mounted patio heaters are designed to blend seamlessly into the wall or ceiling. Ceramic screens and reflectors are integrated with infrared lamps to cast warmth and a soft glow rather than a distracting bright light. Some can be fit with deflectors to ensure effective heat distribution. Look for electric heaters crafted from quality stainless steel, and that offer features like handy remote controls to keep enclosed spaces, like a garage or workshop, warm throughout the seasons.

Ceiling mounted patio heaters vary from heat bars to light-casting Halogen lamps. There are traditional, domed hanging lamps to install from decorative L-brackets or supports, as well as parasol designs that clamp around the center pole of large tents or deck umbrellas.

Fuel Types for Patio Heaters

There are three fuel types to choose from when it comes to patio heaters: electric, natural gas, and liquid propane.

Equipped with a power cord, electric heaters can be used indoors or outdoors in dry conditions. An electric powered patio heater can be placed anywhere the electrical power cords will reach. While they are the more versatile option, they can use up a lot of energy. Electric heaters are labeled with watt or voltage outputs to show how much power is used by the unit, rather than the coverage area they can heat.

Natural gas patio heaters are the cheapest option, though they are limited in where they can be used because they must be installed near the natural gas line. They otherwise operate just the same as any natural gas appliance inside the home, with low upkeep and minimal fuel use.

Liquid propane tanks offer a good solution to bridge the gap between mobility and affordability, packing nearly double the output power of natural gas into an equal amount of propane. Liquid propane patio heaters can be moved to the point of use without leaving a cord to trip on, or requiring a visit from a contractor to direct new gas lines.

Both natural gas and propane heaters use BTUs as a measure of their effectiveness. BTU, or British Thermal Units, refers to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature and is the best indication of space that can be heated. The higher the BTU, the larger area the heat can reach.

It’s important to note that gas-powered appliances such as natural gas or propane powered heaters should only be used in well ventilated areas. They can be used indoors in areas with plenty of airflow, as well as outdoors in enclosed spaces such as porch overhangs or gazebos.

Your Style. Your Way.

Patio heaters are an efficient solution to indoor or outdoor space heating. They offer direct or infrared heat, in different styles of lamps to best match your space. Bring home a patio heater to add year round warmth to those areas that need a boost.

To complete your patio and yard design, look for outdoor string lights and landscape lighting to perfect the ambiance. We also feature BBQ and outdoor kitchen essentials to maximize your outdoor entertaining. Whether you’re just updating the patio or sprucing up the landscaping, call or chat with our knowledgeable project experts, 7 days a week, for questions about any project or order.