Garden heater options

When summer arrives, so does the prospect of lengthening days and warmer lighter evenings. This change also offers the opportunity for barbeques, garden parties and get-togethers. This is the time of year when the garden or back yard can literally become an outdoor extension of the house and it can be used as an extra room – albeit one without a roof.

On the warmer summer days garden heat is rarely a problem, but outside of the main summer season and during some cool summer evenings, most garden parties can benefit from the warmth provided by a garden heater. Fortunately, with recreation and outdoor activities taking up more and more of our lives, there is an extensive range of different garden heater types available to fulfil this role.

Garden heater types

There are four main types of garden or patio heater and they are – Gas powered tower heaters (burning Butaine gas or Propane gas), wood burning chimeneas, infrared light heaters and fire pits.

The first of these is the tall tubular tower heater. This type of heater uses propane (or butane in some countries), always in bottled form. At the top of the heater there is a flame and the heat is diffused using a large inverted conical metal cap. This cap spreads the heat downwards and outwards to provide a canopy of warmth. Outdoor gas heaters can be either self supporting 6 foot (2 metre) high towers, or much smaller table mounted heaters. Both type can be moved around easily.

The second garden heating option is the infrared heater. This may be freestanding, but normally this type of heater will be fixed to a wall, building or even a tree. It does not have a naked flame and it heats through radiation rather than convection. Infrared heating lamps are directed towards the area where the heat is required and they produce a reddish orange light which feels like direct sunlight.

The third option is the traditional South American chimenea. Chimeneas are attractive and they make a pleasant addition to any patio area. These heaters (also called ovens) are usually made from terracotta although some smaller cast iron versions are available. Chimeneas have two sections, the wood burning stove or oven and a tall cylindrical chimney. An open hearth area is where the wood is burnt and chimeneas can be used to cook food.

The final garden heater option is the fire pit. Fire pits come in different shapes and sizes and there are even some portable cast iron versions on sale. The real fire pit is however composed of a round, square or octagonal hole excavated into the ground and surrounded with a protective masonry wall of brick or stone. Fire pits burn anything that is flammable, but most commonly wood and coal. They produce a real fire with leaping flames and they require watching for straying embers that occasionally escape the protective pit wall. Fire pits can be used as barbeques and many owners build a complete patio area around them, often including seating and masonry constructed tables. Most fire pits are great home improvement (DIY) projects and there are special fire pit kits that can be purchased.

Which option to choose

The fire pit in particular is the garden heater and cooking option that works best for the regular garden user. This is the type of person who wants to be in the garden at any and every opportunity and who likes outdoor cooking and eating. Fire pits frequently develop into nothing short of outdoor rooms, but they are wasted on the occasional outdoor partier.

For those who want the occasional outdoor evening social event the gas tower heater is probably the best option. It is easy to set up, provides instant heat, requires no real cleaning and can be stored out of sight when not in use. Gas refills are not cheap for large scale use, but for a few days over summer they fit the bill.

If you are caught between the rustic appeal of the fire pit and the convenience of the gas heater, then consider the chimenea. This type of heater looks great, has a real flame and can, with the smaller versions, be moved around easily. It is not too difficult to clean and it just looks good in any patio area.

The infrared heater is normally required in multiples. You need several heaters, each pointing at the target area from a different angles, to really warm up an area. However, these heaters are great for courtyards (where heat lamps can be fitted to walls surrounding the area) and they are cheap to run. This makes them ideal for pubs, bars, bear gardens and outdoor hospitality zones.