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Keep the cosy glow going strong long after sundown, with the best patio heaters for your garden
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. There’s nothing more important when you’re looking for al fresco patio heaters to keep you toasty and help you make the most of your outside space as the evenings lengthen.
As a general rule, electric infrared heaters are regarded as the best option, because they target their heat output (measured in watts) at people rather than simply heating up the air around them, which is what you will find with gas heaters.
Not that the latter style of heaters are redundant, as they’re often better served for heating larger areas and are also more versatile in terms of where you place them in your outdoor setting, as they only rely on the gas supply, whereas the placement of an electric heater will be restricted to the length of a power cord.
We have weighted this round-up towards infrared, because this usually translates to better value, minimal wastage and the benefits are felt as soon as the heater is switched on. Plus, the carbon footprint of these heaters is also less, compared with similar heaters that run on gas, according to research from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
However, it’s not just about how much heat the appliance can generate. It’s also important that the heat source is backed up, or surrounded by, a quality reflector that will produce a nice even heat that will benefit the most people.
The real test of a good outdoor heater is how well it performs on windier evenings, as this can dramatically reduce the appliance’s efficiency. Thankfully, we were testing the devices in a coastal area, so we were never short of a sea breeze to really make sure the heaters would be able to cope in windier conditions.
If it was a wall-mounted heater, we grabbed our cordless drill to see how easy the process of installing was. If it was free-standing with an automatic shut-off, we were able to test the efficiency of the switch by performing a topple test.
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It took seconds for us to start feeling the benefits of this infrared model from Gtech. It kept us warm even when we were standing up to 4m away, thanks to its 2kW of infrared radiation.
The heater comes pre-assembled, so, all you have to worry about is mounting it. Although there were some grumblings on the Gtech website about the efficiency of this, we had no trouble getting it up and running on a wooden beam.
Another area where this heater excels is the lovely, warm and welcoming red glow that it gives out, which looks especially good if you’re setting it up in a garden room.
OK, this heater might look like something straight out of The War of the Worlds, however, rather than shooting a death ray, it emits a very efficient wave of heat at three settings (500W, 1,000W or 1,500W) from its trio of bars, backed up by a decent reflector.
The solid base means the heater will stay upright even when there’s a throng of people around it, and the stand is adjustable, as is the heating head (to 45 degrees), so, you can get just the right angle to make things comfortable for your gathered guests.
The heater comes with mounting brackets, too, while the 4.8m cable means you have plenty to work with when it comes to mounting or free-standing placement.
The remote worked well every time, although we did find the heater bars quite bright in operation, but the adjustable height (up to 2.1m) means you can raise the heater head above eye height and still make sure everyone benefits from the warmth.
Kettler’s lantern is a free-standing design, with a modern finish, that will instantly enhance the look of any patio, deck or balcony, with a handle that means you can move the heat source easily, or even hang it from a fixed point.
The lantern generates heat from its carbon tube at 600W and 1,200W, producing a satisfactorily even heat you can really feel the effect of, even at head height, which is pretty impressive considering the 59cm heater only sits at around knee height on the floor.
This means the heater can make sure people are kept warm without dominating the outside setting. The kalos proved to have a good warming range and, even though it looks a little top-heavy, there’s enough weight in the base for it to remain upright, even if someone clatters into it after hours, with the safety switch never failing to cut the heat instantly when it ended up on its side.
We liked the industrial look of this column heater, which boasts two heat settings of 1,000W or 2,000W and good directional heat.
The Swan really is a tall heater, stacking up to 1.4m high, which means, if people are standing and sitting outside at a gathering, everyone is going to benefit from the heat it produces, which was sent out nice and evenly on both settings.
For a tall heater, it’s nice and stable, too, with a base that’s heavy enough to stop it toppling over without making it a workout to move around – although, the safety switch worked perfectly if it does ever take a big hit.
We also liked the fact the unit is fully waterproof, so, you won’t have to find room for it in the utility, shed or garage when it’s not being used.
If you really want your heat source well out of the way of little fingers or wagging tails, you’re best going for a wall-mounted heater, and this is one of the best we experienced throughout our testing cycle. It’s an inconspicuous-looking heater with a touch panel that was just sensitive enough to avoid us hammering away at buttons to get to the required output, with an LED display that clearly showed which one of the nine levels of heat it was outputting. The infrared heat the Blumfeldt produced was instant and very comforting throughout all the levels, with excellent range.
The thing that can put people off mounted heaters is the mounting process itself, but this was very straightforward, with the Blumfeldt needing just a couple of wall brackets – the fact it’s lightweight (2.5kg) made the process even easier.
Finally, we really liked the switch-off timer, which can be set in hourly steps from one to 24 hours, and the fact the gold-plated carbon tube meant there was virtually no glare, even when operating at the highest output.
A word of warning, though: the heater doesn’t come with a remote, so, you’ll need to make sure the control panel is within reach when you do mount it.
This small, lightweight infrared heater pumps out a lot of heat and performed superbly on a very windy evening. There was a cosy orange glow to the lamp, with minimal glare, and the reflector did a good job of making sure the heat was directed forward and nothing was wasted. If required, wall mounting is straightforward and the bracket is provided – you can even use a separate clamp to attach it to the spokes of a parasol. There’s good weatherproofing, if you intend to have it in a permanent position outside, as the aluminium construction resists rain and rust.
If your outdoor parasol is up and ready for summer, an infrared heater like this could be a good addition, as the umbrella itself tends to trap its heat and direct it down to anyone sitting beneath it. The heater is attached easily to the pole and is height adjustable, with three arms that operate independently, so you can tailor where the heat goes around the table, depending on your seating arrangement. Range doesn’t really apply here, because the heat is directed downwards, but the variable heat outputs of 650W, 1,350W and 2,000W provide a range of comfort options, depending on the size of your party.
This good-looking and compact infrared freestander sits neatly underneath a table, to keep everyone seated around it toasty. Taking seconds to warm up, the unit only throws out 550W of heat but you wouldn’t want any more, because of where it’s positioned. We also found the heat gets trapped under the table and circulates really efficiently, so, one heater can comfortably keep a table of four to six people cosy.
The heater doesn’t have an automatic cut-off but it is safe to touch, even when it has been working for some time, and it’s a very practical heater for summer suppers, keeping everyone comfortable well into the evening.
Standing 66cm high, this halogen heater can be placed at the centre of your table to provide warmth and a nice golden glow for everyone gathered around. It’s tall enough to be above head height when everyone’s seated, so, it won’t get in the way, but it’s not so tall that diners won’t feel the benefit of the 1,500W output that provides sufficient warmth to keep everyone comfortable.
There was no glare from the halogen, no lag time in feeling the heat once it was turned on (via a corded switch) and the automatic safety worked well.
Most patio heaters use either gas or electricity to generate heat – which one you choose will largely depend on budget and the size of the space you’re looking to warm up.
If you want to heat your garden quickly, electric heaters could be for you, as they are easy to turn on and off, and typically reach the desired temperature quickly. The majority of electric heaters are “radiant heaters”, which means they heat objects directly and are generally better when choosing a specific area to be warmed.
Alternatively, gas-powered patio heaters often provide more wide-ranging heat, making them a good option for larger areas, and they can be cheaper to buy. However, they are far from the greenest option out there.
According to Heat Outdoors, gas heaters can be costly to run and “extremely wasteful in terms of both heat generated, the energy consumed and CO2 emissions.” The carbon footprint of an electric patio heater is just 15 per cent of a gas model.
While the idea of warming an outdoor space might seem fruitless, patio heaters are far more effective than you might realise and could be just what you need if you want to stay in the garden a bit longer when it gets chilly at night.
Whether you choose electric or gas, each option comes with its own unique appeal but they all work well as a direct form of heating. Gas heaters cover a wider area but they usually take a while to heat up. Meanwhile, electric heaters are popular because of the instant and convenient heat they can provide: once plugged in or wired into the mains, you simply need to flick a switch or press a button.
According to Best Gazebos, it is safe to put a patio heater under your gazebo as long as it is not an enclosed structure. However, not all patio heaters are made equal, so, it is best to check at the time of purchasing, to verify whether or not it is suitable.
It is always best to make sure your heater is placed in the middle of the gazebo and to avoid any model that uses open flames or allows direct contact with the heating element.
It may not win too many prizes for its looks but the Gtech heatwave offers instant warmth and excellent range, while giving off a rather pleasant red glow. The functional unit will keep a group of guests warm long after sundown, making it an excellent heating hub for your outdoor space.
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