You may decide to host a garden event, family event or just want to chill on your deck during the colder seasons of the year but the temperature is a bit chilly for your liking. You may then ask yourself the questions of how well do outdoor patio heaters work?
The prospect of heating the space seems daunting but with the advancement in technology patio heaters are becoming more effective and efficient.
Outdoor patio heaters work well because of their reliance on a direct form of heating and not on the convection process to deliver warmth but instead on infrared technology where heat is projected straight to where it’s needed.
Heating your patio this way helps to keep you warm and toasty despite the occasional gust of wind because the heat travels in a straight line until it makes contact with your skin (or an object).
How well do outdoor heaters work?
Most outdoor patio heaters, whether they’re electric heaters, gas heaters or fire pits, use some form of infrared or thermal radiation to give you warmth.
They work by emitting long wave or short wave infrared heat towards an object to keep it warm. The more thermal radiation is given off the better the outdoor heaters will perform.
Infrared forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light similar to natural light and radio waves. This is not a new technology as our forefathers and foremothers figured this out when they started to use the humble fire to keep warm.
Fire pits and gas patio heaters are not as efficient because they do not radiate as much thermal heat as the electric patio heaters. The heat from the fire pits or propane patio heaters is transferred by way of convection and thermal energy.
The convected heat travels upward as hot air rises, so much of the heat is wasted unless you are going to position yourself above the fire (not advised).
The heat that you feel sitting or standing by the fire it infrared or thermal heat. The electric patio heater is more efficient because the thermal heat that travels in a straight line can be directed to where it is needed.
Types of infrared light to be mindful of.
The most benign form of infrared emitted is the longwave infrared emitted by radiators and infrared panels. Alternatively, we have shortwave infrared, which is used by patio heaters to deliver a stronger form of warmth.
These are much different than convection heating systems, which is used in many traditional home heating systems which require air as a medium to transfer warmth.
What makes infrared heat so powerful?
As humans, we learn from our environment and figured out that the heat from the sun is able to travel through space, the atmosphere and the clouds until it makes contact with us, our homes and cities.
The humble patio heater used the same principles and the heat from the patio heater will travel through the air until it makes contact with our skin to keep us warm.
You will recognise this phenomenon when you sit or position yourself close to a patio heater despite the night being very cold and there is a gust of cold winds. The fact that you can feel this radiant heat is because of the shortwave infrared heat working so effectively.
Are Electric Outdoor Heaters Better Than other Heaters?
A fire pit can produce enough heat on your deck to keep you warm. It is less efficient than a gas heater and you will have to deal with a lot of mess. Wood or coal, match or lighter fluid. With a gas patio heater, you have to be fiddling with knobs and propane tanks.
Electric heaters offer convenient and instant heat and are more efficient to run than the other types of heaters. Once your outdoor electric heater is plugged in and switched on the heat generated is immediate. You can enjoy warmth by the pressing a button or the flicking of a switch.
With a solid fuel heater, you need a lot of hands-on preparation to get the fire going. Whereas with gas heaters you would require regular maintenance to ensure they’re safe to use. It’s a better bet to go electric because of the convenience, instant heat and because it is more fuel-efficient.
Improved Efficiency with Electric
Electric patio heaters are the best choice when it comes to convenience and low maintenance. They’re also much more efficient at the point of use as compared to the other fuel-burning alternatives.
The combustion of fuel is and inefficient process no matter what fuel you use. You can create a lot of heat by burning gas or wood but you will inadvertently be producing a sizeable amount of harmful by-product as a result.
Gas heaters and solid fuel burners lose some of their warmth to the surrounding air, making them less efficient than the electric variety. With electric outdoor heaters, all of the electricity you use is converted into effective warmth because it converts electric energy into radiant heat.
Which Types Of Electric Outdoor Heater Work The Best?
People are familiar with the quartz heaters. These quartz heaters are the same as the halogen heaters that emit shortwave infrared – the strongest form of infrared and is perfect for the chilly nights with a light breeze.
I would highly recommend that you purchase the heater that has variable output setting so you can switch to a lower heat setting on warmer days and save energy.
Conclusion
You don’t have to worry about How Well Do Outdoor Heaters Work because they work just and the electric heaters are the best. With the electric patio heater, you get effective outdoor Heating at Your Fingertips.
When the electric heaters the heat is concentrated and not of it is wasted warming up the air but instead, it radiates towards you. If you need to buy a patio heater that can be used both in and outdoors then an electric patio heater is your best option.
