Outdoor Patio Heaters – An Alternative to Portable Propane Heaters
Outdoor patio heaters are rapidly growing in popularity because they can allow you to enjoy your patio or outdoor entertaining area well into the colder months. Most people are opting for portable patio heaters mainly because of the portability and versatility.
However, these portable heaters do have some drawbacks, not concerning performance but with storage. Portable propane heaters should not be left out in extreme weather such as storms or snow but should be stored away to prevent damage. Because they are portable, strong and gusty winds could easily blow them over causing considerable damage to the heater unit and adjacent furniture. This means finding storage space for something that is over 6 feet tall plus the gas bottle. Not always an easy find in many homes. Even table top patio heaters require reasonable amount or storage space.
Portable Propane Heaters
There is an alternative and that is to install a patio heater that is permanent. In other words, one that is securely and permanently fixed to the patio. These can be either propane or electric patio heaters. They are also ideal for smaller patios where space is a premium or when you want to heat only one section of your patio, maybe over a fixed eating area.
The main benefit is that there is no need to store the units in the off season or when the weather is particularly nasty. If the heater is propane fired, the gas bottle is normally hidden in a nearby alcove or similar and does not need to be removed for storage. These permanent residential patio heaters can be attached to the ceiling or a wall of your patio and because they usually placed higher than a portable heater they can often heat a larger area. If you like the look of a canopy patio heater, that style is available as a permanent patio heater. The main difference is that the base is affixed to the floor of the patio. In the case of a propane patio heater, the gas bottle is usually stored in the base of the unit.
The cost of a permanent patio heater is more than a portable heater mainly due to the extra installation costs that a portable patio heater does not have. On a positive note though, once installed the permanent heater is virtually maintenance free except for an occasional dusting. And of-course, because they are a permanent fixture, when you want to use them it’s just a simple matter of turning them on. No uncovering or dragging out from storage and plugging in to a gas bottle, they are ready to go.
If you are looking at outdoor patio heaters, it could be worthwhile to consider a permanent one.
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Tags: electric patio heaters, outdoor patio heaters, portable patio heaters, portable propane heaters, residential patio heaters, table top patio heaters
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