Choosing the Right Outdoor Heater for Christmas Entertaining

Whether you are looking to host an array of outdoor social events or for a cosy night under the stars with your family, a gas heater is the best option to keep you warm. Although winter is not everyone’s favourite time of year to be outside, don’t let the cold put you off. Instead, invest in a patio heater and make use of your garden all year round.

Advantages of Gas Patio Heaters

Gas heaters are relatively portable and robust, and their use of patio gas offers significant benefits compared to other fossil-fueled solutions. Although it’s a fossil fuel, LPG is the most environmentally friendly and reliable fuel for outdoor heaters. Gas outdoor heaters can withstand winter’s extreme weather without needing to be taken inside to preserve their life. They provide ample heat in various aesthetically pleasing and robust applications, requiring much less maintenance than electric heaters. So, if you want to keep warm in the garden this winter, read our helpful guide to provide you with various options and the advantages and disadvantages of multiple heaters.

The Best Patio Heaters for Large Gardens

Suppose you are fortunate enough to have a large garden with lots of space for entertaining in the garden. In this case, you will require a heater that will provide lots of heat and be sturdy enough not to be blown over in winter weather. There are two options for tall outdoor heaters, mushroom-style heaters or pyramid heaters. These stand up to 7 feet in height and offer the best solution for big open spaces.

The pyramid heaters get their name due to the shape of their appearance. Offering four sturdy sides, the pyramid heater is the most robust stand-alone heater available. They have reasonably broad bases, with the sides graduating into a tiny point towards the top. This design offers a sleek aesthetic and the reliability that you will be less likely to be standing it back up after a storm. It is also great for entertaining and will be less likely to fall over from accidental knocks. Many of these heaters offer safety shut-off buttons, temperature control and easy ignition, making them perfect for keeping away the cold winter night frost whilst enjoying the garden.

The other option for a large garden is the mushroom heater. Again these are very tall and produce much heat for keeping your guests warm. They are much more wallet-friendly and still offer a reasonably stylish appeal. With a broad cylindrical base for stability and an umbrella-style top, these fit perfectly with natural gardens, taking a much more fitting appearance. The design of this heater allows for a much longer burn and generally will use less fuel, offering a cheaper option than the pyramid style.

Both of these heaters are made with similar materials, and although the mushroom style usually comes at a lower price, both do the job they are required to do efficiently and safely. However, the mushroom style does offer the most cost-effective solution due to the less fuel it needs whilst still providing enough heat to keep you warm. Essentially the benefits usually come with whichever style you prefer for your garden.

The Best Heater for Under-Shelter Outdoor Spaces

A wall-mounted heater may be the best option if you have a sheltered outdoor space, for example, with a canopy or a wooden gazebo. Whilst LPG heaters are the most beneficial for outdoor heating, wall-mounted heaters are only available as electric devices. Although these can radiate significant heat, they are much less reliable and vulnerable to the elements.

While they may be under shelter, wind and water can easily cause them to malfunction and deteriorate, making their lifespan much shorter than their gas equivalents. They may also need mounting to the exterior of your property, which is not ideal for the integrity of your building. As an alternative, there are many smaller patio heaters which can offer more heat and be more potent against the elements.

Due to the many designs available, you could offer your outdoor spaces a stylish, functional heater to keep everyone warm. The likes of bullet gas heaters offer excellent benefits in sheltered outdoor areas. These patio heaters come in various sizes, with smaller options for tabletop accessibility. Of course, their size will dictate the output of heat from the device, but most of them come with temperature control to get the maximum heat possible.

Coal and Wood Patio Heaters

From open firepits to chimineas, there are many ways to heat your garden with wood or coals. A coal or wood burner could be an appealing option if you are on a budget. A real fire will offer significant heat for a much lower cost than a patio heater and come in various styles to fit any garden aesthetic. However, they come with many dangers.

Unlike a gas-fired heater which offers complete control of the flames and heat, there is much more risk of accidental fires, which could put your garden and home at risk. They also cause considerable damage to the environment with their fumes. In addition, when it is time for guests to leave, you may be waiting several hours to wait for the fire pit or heater to cool down. Leaving them unattended could be fatal, and extinguishing the pit quickly with water can ruin your heater. Whereas with gas, they burn much cleaner, reducing the fumes into the atmosphere and can be doused by cutting the fuel supply, meaning you are not sitting out in the cold waiting for the embers to cool and burn out.

Built-In Fire Pits

Over the past few years, the popularity of the built-in firepit has substantially increased. They offer many benefits, including providing vast amounts of heat and being a stunning addition to your outdoor space. Although there are many fuel options for built-in firepits, the best option for safety and ease of use is to choose gas.

Gas firepits offer all the benefits we have already covered with gas heaters. They offer continuous and reliable heat instantaneously and reduce the risk of accidental and rogue flames. They are much more environmentally friendly and are easy and quick to light. This is an excellent feature for those spontaneous garden parties or a quick cosy hot drink on the patio with friends.

The Importance of High-Quality Gas

It’s clear that gas patio heaters are the apparent winner when it comes to finding the right outdoor heater for your garden, so when it comes to fuel, you need to make a suitable choice for your burner.

As a responsible bottled gas supplier, we ensure that all of our bottled gases are checked before sale to ensure they are of high standards and provide excellent performance for our customers. Poor quality gas can risk contaminants which may interfere with the fuel distribution, which could put your space at risk. So, whether you are looking for 5kg patio gas for your bullet gas heater or 13kg patio gas for your mushroom-style stand-alone heater, choose a supplier that offers the best gas. You can easily order our products online to take advantage of our quick delivery service.