You may have noticed the space heaters on the patio of your favorite restaurant. These ensure that, despite falling temperatures, you can sit outside and enjoy your meal in the fresh air in the evening. The devices mounted on the top of the wall keep you nice and warm and contribute to the cozy atmosphere. How often have you wanted a patio heater like this for your own balcony that would pamper you and your guests with sun-like rays from above. The good news: There are also high-quality infrared heaters available for private use. However, you can find out here what you should pay attention to when selecting and using such a device on your patio at home.
– Targeted heat in the right place: Thisideal radiant heatersChoose model
– Whether wind or rain – your heater for any weather
– The right heating technology for a beautiful ambience
– The most important additional functions for your heater
Targeted heat in the right place: Choose the ideal infrared heater model
If you are looking for the best patio heater for your patio, there is more to consider than just the color scheme. Most patio heater models are available in different colors such as black, white or silver to enable integration into your existing furnishings. Choosing the right design is much more important. A basic distinction is made between infrared heaters, which are permanently installed on the wall or ceiling, and mobile free-standing heaters, which can be set up flexibly. Depending on the planned use, both types of design have their own advantages.
Fixed wall/ceiling heaters:
– After being assembled and aligned once, the items reliably provide a fixed seating area with heat
– By being installed at the top of the wall or ceiling, the products represent space-saving heat sources
– The warming effect from above is reminiscent of summer sunshine and creates a relaxed atmosphere
– The devices can be operated conveniently from your seat using a remote control or even a Bluetooth smartphone app
Mobile space heaters:
– Can be set up spontaneously and flexibly aligned
– Slim, space-saving design
– The vertical orientation provides you and your guests with warmth from head to toe
– Can also be controlled via remote control
If you have a fixed seating area on your terrace without a table, a wall/ceiling heater is the right choice for you. This only needs to be attached once and aimed at the desired area to provide you with pleasant warmth from then on.
If the furniture on your patio is frequently rearranged, a freestanding heater is the ideal patio heater for you. Because this can be changed and realigned as needed. If your seating area is equipped with a table, a floor-standing infrared heater also offers more targeted heat than a ceiling heater. The heat from a top-mounted spotlight is often blocked by the table top, which can quickly cause you to get cold legs and feet. Thanks to its flexible positioning right next to the table, an infrared standing heater provides you with soothing heat right down to the tips of your toes.
Whether wind or rain – your heater for any weather
Even if you have already decided on a specific type of heater, not every device on the market is suitable for use on your patio. Depending on whether your seating area is covered or not, certain technical requirements must be met. There must be a certain level of resistance to weather conditions so that the selected patio heater can be used safely outside.
To make sure that the infrared heater of your choice can be used in your outdoor area, you should look at its IP protection class. Manufacturers provide this key figure to communicate the compatibility of their electrical devices with certain environmental conditions. The second digit of this value is relevant for use outside on the balcony or in the garden. Because it describes the degree of waterproofness of the products.
If your terrace is well covered, an infrared heater with a protection rating of IPx4 can be used. This way you know that the item is resistant to splashes and spray water. Even if the wind carries a few raindrops into the protected area, the spotlight continues to work safely and reliably. If the affected area does not have an awning or other protection, allowing the infrared heater to be hung in the open, there should be more extensive resistance to water. Unprotected exposure to rain showers should only occur with a protection class of IPx5 against water jets.
The right heating technology for a beautiful ambience
Radiant heaters from different manufacturers not only differ in their design and water resistance, but there are also significant differences in quality when it comes to the integrated heating technology. If you only consider models with low prices, you are throwing money out the window in the long run. Not only are the heating costs higher due to the inefficient heating technology of cheap goods, but the lifespan of the products is many times shorter. In addition to an efficient heating process and a long service life, the right heating element contributes to cozy warmth and a beautiful atmosphere. Carbon tubes and Ultra Low Glare technology are two popular heating technologies for patio heaters.
Carbon tube: Thanks to their impressively long service life, infrared heaters with a carbon heating element offer you over 10,000 hours of heat. You can also enjoy a temperature increase at the push of a button, because the technology takes effect immediately - without the annoying warm-up phase.
Ultra low glare technology: The innovative gold tube with ultra low glare properties creates a beautiful atmosphere not only through the warm glow in the darker orange tone. The dimmed light occurs together with very short-wave infrared radiation. For you, this means that your heater heats even more efficiently, as the heat waves emitted can transport even more heat at the same time.
The most important additional functions for your infrared heater
Now that you have learned the most relevant aspects when choosing an infrared heater, let's now look at additional functions that can make it easier for you to decide between the different devices in the closer selection. These include protective measures for the safety of users and the items purchased, as well as practical additional functions that allow for convenient operation.
–Timer Function:If you are a rather forgetful person who doesn't always remember to turn off the lights or the stove, this additional feature is a must for you. The timer lets you predetermine a time after which the heater should turn off by itself. So you can end your evening on the terrace in cozy warmth without having to worry that the infrared heater will run unnoticed all night long.
–Tip over protection:All modern freestanding heaters have integrated anti-tip protection. This detects when the patio heater leaves its upright position and uses a helpful automatic switch-off function to ensure that the heating process is interrupted in a timely manner. However, as soon as the infrared heater is set up again, the device immediately starts working again.
–Integrated thermostat:An infrared patio heater is user-friendly, especially if it has a built-in thermostat. This allows you to easily set the desired temperature. By repeatedly measuring the ambient temperature, the heater then maintains the set temperature independently. In this way, the desired heating output can be determined and the device does not always work at the highest level.
–Overheating protection:Despite the integrated thermostat, it can sometimes happen that the heater gets too hot, for example due to unwanted contact. Before damage to the product occurs or the high temperatures pose a danger to the environment, patio heaters with this feature switch off automatically.
–Remote control:This accessory is of course a must for fixed wall or ceiling heaters. Modern space heaters, which could actually be operated manually, are increasingly being supplied with a remote control. This allows you to conveniently control the heating output directly from your seat. Practical accessories often allow the wattage to be determined even more precisely using different heating levels.
–Smartphone control:If you have several devices and want to control them at the same time, you should buy a heater with a Bluetooth smartphone app. This way you can determine the heating output of all your infrared heaters from a mobile phone. Often, continuous temperature adjustment is only possible in this constellation. For even more flexible determination of your desired temperature.
–Additional cover:In contrast to gas heaters or a normal patio heater, infrared heaters are very easy to care for. If you want to remove dust from your heater from time to time, you can do this with a slightly damp cloth. No further care is necessary. In order to protect the color of the housing from sunlight or other influences, there is the option of purchasing a cover for your patio heater. Of course, this protective cover is only placed on the infrared heater when not in use and helps to protect the beautiful appearance of the heater. Most of the time, these accessories can be purchased separately, although the heater and cover are sometimes sold online as a set.
