Patio Heater Covers

 The single best thing you can do after purchasing a heater for your patio is to look for an appropriate patio heater cover.  This will extend the life of you purchase by a great deal.  A cover will prevent the elements from rusting and degrading internal parts which could lead to a costly repair. They also prevent insects from building nests and taking up residence in your heater. They can lead to plugged fuel lines and harm the efficiency of your unit.  Most covers are made out of an outdoor fabric such as PVC coated Polyester or vinyl. There are many inexpensive solutions available and range from as low as $14 to over $45.  If you are handy as a seamstress you could probably get some outdoor fabric at your local fabric store and make one. The prices are so low though I dont think it is worth the trouble.  If you take a look at some of the ones available most of them only cover the dome portion on the top of the unit since this where most of the working parts are located. The ones which fit the entire unit are usually designed for a particular unit and will do a better job of protecting the entire unit including the finish but are much more expensive. The ones that cover the top only will work for any type of heater.