Comparison of Patio Heaters
Patio heaters have made it possible to enjoy sitting outside on colder evenings. The two main methods of heating found in patio heaters are propane and halogen. Various styles of patio heaters include wall-mounted, tabletop and freestanding. Different styles and heating methods all have their advantages and disadvantages. Does this Spark an idea?
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Halogen
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Halogen patio heaters run off a typical electrical circuit and have halogen bulbs or tubes, which emit heat through concentrated light. Halogen bulbs are energy-efficient; however, their operation requires a large amount of electricity. Oscillating devices may be included in order to help circulate the heated air. Halogen heaters do present risks of fire, due to the extremely high temperatures and fragility of the bulb. For your safety, look for halogen lamps that have a heat-resistant casing and an automatic shutoff mechanism that activates when the heater is knocked over.
Propane
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Propane heaters operate through fuel-activated conductors that heat the surrounding air. Propane is a clean fuel source; however, the heat does consume oxygen in the air, which results in carbon monoxide, and these heaters should never be used in a closed patio. Look for a heater with a sensor that causes it to shut off when carbon monoxide is detected. Propane is also an efficient fuel, and very little energy is lost in the heating process. Propane tanks will have to be refilled periodically. Propane tanks do not run the risk of bulb breakage that halogen heaters do.
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Wall-Mounted
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Wall-mounted heaters are usually smaller and only come in halogen, as the small size and necessity for being lightweight and easy to hang prohibits these heaters from being equipped with a propane tank. A single wall-mounted heater is convenient for smaller patios; however, the heat is slightly inefficient, as the heat source is off to the side and emitted in a single direction, rather than centralized and with full-surround heat. To create more heat, slightly larger wall-mounted heaters are available for larger spaces, or two or three small heaters can be hung along a wall at regular intervals. Wall-mounted lamps are a good idea if there are kids around, as they can be hung out of reach.
Tabletop
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Tabletop heaters are typically the size of a table lamp and are often designed with decorative qualities so as not to be an eyesore on your patio. Both propane and halogen tabletop heaters are available, and these heaters have full-surround heat emissions. With propane heaters, the tank is concealed within the base of the lamp. Tabletop heaters are small and conveniently portable, but are not the best at heating a large patio. Tabletop heaters also run the risk of being tipped over by someone reaching across the table.
Freestanding
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Freestanding patio heaters are large and closer to the size and shape of a lamppost. Both halogen and propane versions are available, and both versions have full-surround heat emissions. Freestanding patio heaters are much more effective in heating large areas and are often used in outdoor restaurant seating areas. These heaters are not easily moved around, but are much more stable and harder to tip over than their tabletop counterparts. The heating element on freestanding heaters is also located at the top, which puts it safely out of reach from children.
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References
- Photo Credit patio heater. image by guiney from Fotolia.com
