April 26th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Spring has arrived and summer is just around the corner, the long days and evenings spent in the garden are soon to follow, however, no matter how warm the day British weather is unpredictable at best and even in the height of summer the temperature can drop when the sun goes down, this is why patio heaters are a fantastic investment for both domestic and commercial use. With so many models and heating types available on the market, however, it is incredibly tricky to know which is the best for you or even what the difference is. In this blog, we will look to shed some light on those questions for you and hopefully help you make the right choice

Patio heaters come in two main varieties.

You can first start by splitting the patio heaters into two main categories – portable and fixed. It is easier to first split them into these 2 boxes as it is easy to narrow down your options simply by selecting which of these is the most practical for you.

Portable patio heaters are the most popular option for domestic use. Thanks to their often lightweight design they are incredibly easy to move around in order to place them in the best position at any given time – it also means that you are not restricted to using it in one area of your yard. Portable patio heaters also have the added advantage of being stored away during periods of non-use.

Fixed heaters, which are usually wall mounted, are a fantastic option for both domestic and commercial use. Fixed heaters while often more expensive than their portable counterpart have the added benefit of being more powerful and can heat large areas this is why they are often more practical for use in commercial areas such as beer gardens, outdoor seating areas and smoking shelters. Since these units are also mounted to the wall they provide additional security against theft and vandalism that portable heaters, unfortunately, cannot offer

Choosing the Right Heating Element

Once you have settled on which of these two categories is better suited to your needs or the environment it will be installed – it is time o start thinking about which heating element is most suitable for you. This is where it can become a little more confusing since there has been such a large advancement in the technology used in heating elements.

While largely selecting a heating element will b down to preference and budget there are certainly some benefits that other elements hold other than their counterparts that make them more desirable for certain environments.

Infrared patio heaters.

Infrared patio heaters are by far the most common and for good reason – infrared heaters are an excellent option for heating outdoor areas. This is because unlike convection heaters or fan heaters that will blow warm or hot air out in order to warm the air and increase the temperature that way, infrared heaters radiate heat directly into objects such as the seats you are using or the clothes you are wearing – this works very much in the same way as how we feel warm in sunlight as the warmth is being absorbed directly.

These kinds of heating elements are as much more desirable as a means to heat outdoor areas as they don’t lose as much heat to the surrounding environment – as you can imagine even the most powerful fan heater or convection heaters will struggle to try to warm an area when it’s competing with an incredibly large area of cold air. Infrared heaters are also much more environmentally friendly than the older gas or propane eaters that are available on the market, they also do not incur such high running costs over long periods of time either.

MYLEK Floor Standing Electric Patio Heater with Pull Cord 2KW

Price: £19.99

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Quartz heating elements

It is easier to think of a quartz heating element as a more advanced infrared heater – like infrared these heaters use radiate heat to transfer warmth directly into surrounding objects rather than trying to heat the air around it. However, these heaters combine infrared heat with a quartz heating element to provide a warming wavelength that is often referred to as the most ideal for the human body.

These heaters work by heating a coil heating element which gets incredibly hot, in turn, this then heats the quartz tubes that are located within the body of the unit, once these tubes have reached the optimum temperature this is when they begin to release that desirable wavelength to make those in its area feel lovely and warm.

These kinds of heaters are great for warming larger areas in a short period of time making them an excellent choice for commercial areas or even for those homes that like to have big get together with friends and family.

MYLEK Wall Mounted Electric Patio Heater 2KW

Price: £29.99

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Golden Tube Heating Element

Golden tube heating elements are a fairly new addition to the market but it is easy to see why they are so desirable. These units run at a slightly higher cost than standard infrared heaters, this is because they have an improved heating element which allows them to heat large areas without losing heat energy to external factors such as wind. This makes them particularly ideal for use in commercial areas, however, they can also be easily used in a domestic environment especially if you have a large decking or patio area to heat.

These heaters use halogen heating elements that have a golden layer (hence the name) over the element. The purpose of this layer is to help improve the overall quality of the heat produced and increase the heat intensity which allows it to warm larger areas without losing any heat energy.

MYLEK Wall Mounted Remote Control Electric Patio Heater 2KW

Price: £34.99

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Non-Electric Alternatives

As you may have noticed in this instance we have focused largely on patio heaters that rely on electricity in order to run. However, there are more traditional options available these usually come in the form of fire pits or chimeneas. These types of heaters have the wonderful advantage of being very attractive and creating a lovely ambience. They are also initially much cheaper than some electric patio heaters. However, these also do come with some downsides such as the costs of running can become higher with extended uses materials such as wood and coal can become quite expensive when frequently used. Also, unlike electric patio heaters, they are not quite as safe for use in homes with pets and children or even in commercial areas. However, that being said they are still a wonderful option to consider.

There are many things to consider while making your final decision when it comes to choosing a patio hater such as the size of the area you wish to heat, whether portability is important and of course budget - these are all things only you can narrow down but we hope that this blog has given you a better understanding of the different models available and their benefits.