A patio heater is an excellent investment, allowing you to heat your home up easily and effortlessly during a chilly winter evening. One of the greatest pleasures in life is to step out onto your patio garden with your loved ones, and having a patio heater makes sure that you do not have to forgo this pleasure during the winter months. 

However, people are now starting to wonder if, despite what it is called, a patio heater can be used indoors or not. And, if so, are there any particular types of patio heaters that are suitable for indoor use? 

Patio Heaters – Suitable for Indoor Use?

To put it short, yes, you can use specific patio heaters indoors (we will discuss the suitable types later). Although patio heaters are most effective in enclosed spaces like screened-in patios, making a few adjustments will allow you to safely operate your heater and get good results indoors as well.

First of all, you need to make sure that your patio heater is NEVER left unattended, especially if you have kids, older people, or pets around. Moreover, extra precautions will be required to ensure that the tip of the patio heater stays intact and the load on the breaker does not exceed the maximum threshold – else, you are making yourself vulnerable to fire hazards.

Since patio heaters are primarily designed to heat up the cooler, outdoor area, they generate more heat than their indoor counterparts. Although certain outdoor heater models can safely be used indoors, you have to make sure that your patio heater does not fall over, and is at a safe distance – at least three feet – from other objects, especially flammable ones. Normally, a tempered glass tubing covers the flames, increasing the safety of a patio heater. 

Which Patio Heaters Are Suitable for Indoor Use?

If you need a patio heater only for outdoor use, then you have a wide range of options to choose from. However, those options are narrowed considerably when you need a heater that can be safely used outdoors and indoors since not every patio heater is suitable for indoor use.

The two patio heater types which can be used indoors are infrared patio heaters and electric-powered patio heaters. Both these options are extremely effective at heating your indoor area, regardless of the time of the year. However, if you reside somewhere extremely cold, you would want your patio heater to emit as much heat as possible. It would be best if you went with an infrared heater in such a situation since it tends to produce much more heat than its traditional electric counterpart.  

On the flip side, electric heaters produce radiant heat that provides warmth to people and objects instead of making the heat dissipate into the air. Moreover, electric patio heaters are available in several sizes, and are easy to install, use, and maintain.

Further Precautions to Take:

• Never touch the heat-emitting region of your patio heater – you are bound to burn yourself. 
• Do not touch the patio heater at all while it is in use – although many patio heaters have a safety feature that automatically shuts the heater off if it is tilted. Still, you should never take this feature for granted.
• Place the patio heater on a stable surface, or else it will tilt or fall off – this can prove dangerous despite the cut-off valve. 

Caring for A Patio Heater:

To ensure that your patio heater keeps serving you for a long time, you need to take proper care. If you store your heater away during the summer months, make sure that you clean it thoroughly before using it during the following winter. This will help to get rid of accumulated dust, as well as of any insects that might have crawled inside and hidden.

Apply soapy water on a sponge or a cloth to clean your patio heater. Since it is important not to get the burner damp, you can apply alcohol to a rag or cotton swab to clean this region. 

While cleaning, never try to disassemble the heater, and only clean its outer surface.  Apart from keeping your heater clean, make sure that you get it repaired as soon as you encounter any problems. 

It is also recommended that you use a cover for the patio heater whenever it is not in use – it will extend the heater’s useful life. Before covering it, make sure that the patio heater is turned off and is completely cool.

For best maintenance practices, adhere to the guidelines provided in the user’s manual that accompanied your patio heater. This manual will provide essential cleaning information, including the recommended frequency of cleaning as well as the accepted cleaning techniques and products. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, a patio heater is an invaluable asset to have during the winter months and summer nights. If you need a patio heater that you can also use indoors, you need to steer clear of the ones that operate on propane gas. Instead, get a heat source that uses infrared technology or electricity.