Outdoor patio heaters were once only used in restaurants and pubs. With the new found obsessions of owing this piece of equipment, the usefulness of it, more and more homeowners are rushing to get one of these. Before you get one of your own, you should consider some of the pointers here.

SPACE

Before you look for a heater, the first thing you should do is figure out where it would go. Where you place the outdoor heater is important to determine the kind you should buy. You can place the heater in the centre, mount it on the wall or have it mobile so you can place them wherever you like.

There are loosely five different types of electric heaters you can choose from. These are the Free-Standing, the Mobile, the Table Top, the Open Pit, and the Wall Mounted heaters. Each heater will have its own set of pros and cons depending on how you’ll use it. Free-standing, mobile, and table top heaters provide you freedom to rearrange furniture, ornaments, and overall setting for every different event that comes your way. Open pit heaters take the “kumbaya’s" away from the mountains and into your homes. Wall Mounted heaters have a distinct touch of elegance and class which will surely leave your guests breathless.

HEAT

Different outdoor electric patio heaters come with different heat capacities. If you’re not sure just how strong two thousand watts is, simply ask the salesman just how far the reach of a particular heater is. It will be a waste to purchase a heater with only a six foot radial heat capacity if you own a twenty foot wide patio.

Some heaters transfer heat in a straight line while others cover a certain radius. It is very important that you have a clear idea on where your heater will be placed before thinking about what heater you should buy. Certain heaters were also created to warm people and objects instead of the surrounding air. These heaters are more favorable as no gust or wind will affect the emitted temperature.

SAFETY

Majority of outdoor patio heaters come with automatic shut-off features that instantly turn your heater off to prevent it from overheating. Tilt shut-off buttons also come with the package to ensure that objects surrounding your heater will not catch fire in the event that the anti-tipping feature fails. These, together with heat adjustment buttons and the like, are the most basic safety precautions found in most electric patio heaters. But other features have also come into play. There are a number of heaters which boast high Ingress Proof readings which require you to pay more since you will be “getting more". Check whether these high Ingress Proofed heaters’ lamps can be replaced when time comes that they need to be. If the lamps cannot be replaced, then you will have to buy an entirely new heater. So much for added features!

BUDGET

Wall Mounted Heaters tend to cost about a thousand dollars which is a pretty steep price to pay if you’re only after a cozy December barbeque. Mobile and Free-Standing Heaters are far less expensive and average about two hundred dollars. Just because a heater is more expensive, doesn’t mean it’s a better investment. There are heaters which are packed with an enormous bundle of features yet you will probably never use them in you’re lifetime. The best thing to do is consider all the elements you will need (radial heat capacity, safety features, heat source, etc.) and stick to that. Why bother installing an umbrella into your heater if it’s already marked as waterproof?

There is only one patio heater that would really suit your home. If you see a heater that you like elsewhere, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will complement the look of your patio. You should search and decide carefully when you want to find a patio heater for your home. In the end, its to you that the patio matters the most.