Patio Heater Reviews Overview

  Thanks for checking out Patio Heater Reviews. Here you will be able to find manufacturers of all types, prices and styles of patio heaters. It wasn't long ago that patio heaters were too expensive for home use and found primarily in restaurants and outdoor events. Thanks to a huge demand and many different choices being manufactured today you can obtain a basic patio heater for as low as $150 or get some really neat designs for just slightly more. Just imagine how great it will be enjoying your outdoor living space into the crisp cool nights of early fall and winter. There are many different size and fuel options on the units available today. Your choices are going to be driven by the location you are wanting to use it and others are just a matter of preference. When evaluating the various options consider the following items:

1. Fuel requirements – electric,gas,propane and how much does it consume per hour of use? 
2. Safety Features – most devices will have a tilt switch in case you accidentally turn them over. 
3. Location and Use – Will it be in an area where you are mostly sitting or standing? 
4. The heat generation capability – either in Btu's or distance of heat comfort range 
5. Size 
6. Finish- Painted, stainless steel 
7. Warranty/Service and Return policy 

Table Top Patio Heaters

  Table top patio heaters are the ideal choice for outdoor situations where you will primarily be seated. Some of the reviews have stated that having the heater on a low table or sitting higher than the table on stools allows the heat to radiate upwards and provide a more comfortable arrangement. A normal seating height arrangement is alright too, but you might consider a more powerful heat capacity unit to ensure adequate heating distance in all directions. Most units will have a mushroom top on them to help radiate some of the heat downwards. The size of these units is typically going to be 24-42” with a base of around 12”. Make sure you have a stable and adequate size table top to place it on.

Propane Patio Heaters

  Propane heaters come in stand-alone and table top models. There are primarily two fuel source alternatives for these units. The more portable heaters typically use disposable propane bottles and the standalone units come in both disposable bottle units and ones that offer a LPG cord that attaches to larger propane tanks that can be purchased and refilled. The models that use disposable canisters do give much more portability but the tradeoff is a higher fuel cost, canisters only last 2-3 hours, and more waste created by the disposable bottles. If you are going to use your heater for longer than 2-3 hours at a time you might want to focus on those units that have the refillable LPG tank option.

Gas Patio Heaters

  Natural Gas Patio heaters are the most fuel efficient and least costly alternative to operate. Natural gas will typically cost as little as 1/3 of the cost of Propane. Even though the fuel costs are much less natural gas heaters are the least purchased model because they typically require professional installation, and cost more. Also even standalone propane models can be moved easily. A natural gas unit has zero portability as it has to be located near an available natural gas outlet. You might also find that where you want to locate the unit will require the installation of more gas line and outlets outdoors which can get expensive in a hurry. If you already have an outlet available where you want to place the heater you should consider this option, otherwise look to one of the other alternatives.

Coleman Patio Heaters

   Coleman offers several portable propane heaters that are good for spot heating around your outdoor living areas and are preferred by many sportsman because they are really designed to be taken easily on camping and hunting trips. Many of their portable units use larger propane bottles than can deliver up to 14 hours of heating comfort.

Electric and Infrared Patio Heaters

  Infrared Patio heaters are typically electric units which draw about 1500 watts. If you have an electrical outlet nearby your location you might want to consider this option. They usually give instant heat once turned on and are silent in operation. Electricity is still cheaper than LPG to operate. Again because of a corded connection you do lose some portability. 

Patio Heater Covers

   If there is one accessory that you should definitely purchase when you buy your heater it is a patio heater cover. A cover will greatly extend the life of your unit. By keeping the weather, insects, and dust out of the unit it will be less prone to failure of internal parts which are usually the source of problems you are likely to have.