Patio Heaters

Patio Heaters at SummerSundays.co.uk

 

Types of patio heaters

 

Patio heaters come made in a variety of materials and are generally either gas burning (LPG), wood or coal burning (as used in fire pits) or electrically-powered. The types of materials used in the construction of patio heaters include metals such as stainless steel, carbon fibres and glass. Stainless steel is the most common material used in the construction of traditional gas-burning patio heaters. The stainless steel has the advantage of its chromium content which prevents rust and other forms of decay from the outside elements.

 

What type of patio heater should I get?

 

Electrically-powered patio heaters typically produce less heat than gas-powered patio heaters (a typical electric heater will generate 2KW, whereas a gas heater can generate up to 13KW). Fire pits look more attractive, however they can be less safe where children are concerned and they are not as effective in directing heat rays towards a particular area. The heat produced from a fire pit, like a BBQ is dispersed upwards in all directions. By contrast, the heat produced from more conventional styles of electric and gas-powered patio heaters is channelled in a specific direction towards your patio seating area. You have to decide whether the patio heater is there purely for function of for aesthetic effect. The choice between gas and electric depends on cost (discussed below) and convenience. Certainly electric powered patio heaters avoid lugging heavy bottles of gas around the garden; however gas patio heaters are more versatile in the sense that the power source is completely portable. It all depends on where your patio is in relation to your house and whether you’ll want to be moving the patio heater around the garden at all.

 

Are electric or gas patio heaters cheaper to run?

 

Well this depends on how expensive gas and electricity are for you. Generally speaking in the UK, a 2KW electric patio heater will cost around 9p per KW per hour. At less than full heat, you can generally get a KW for approx 6p from a conventional LPG gas powered patio heater. Please note these costs are based on prices as at the time this article was written. If there are significant changes to fuel prices these cost estimates may be significantly different from the true costs. Please contact us anytime if you want a quick current estimate.

 

Are all patio heaters made equal?

 

Fortunately not, as we’ve seen some truly awful patio heaters! Often patio heaters are fitted with chrome or tin plated burners, instead of stainless steel. This can cause premature rusting. Additionally, although some budget patio heaters may look similar to their more expensive counterparts, the performance will not be the same. Here at SummerSundays, we constantly are on the lookout for the best patio heaters in production and always try to source them at the best prices. If you have any technical patio heater questions, feel free to give us a ring or drop us an email.