November 6th, 2020 by Sarah Miles

Outdoor heaters are a great bit of equipment to own. As well as taking off the chill once the sun goes down in the summer, they can allow you to make the most of your outdoor space well into the winter, which is especially useful this year with changing restrictions on having visitors in your home and enabling you to maximise all your liveable space when activities outside of the home are curtailed.

How are outdoor heaters different from indoor heaters?

Clearly, heating outdoor space presents different challenges to heating indoor space. Heaters have to be safe in various weather conditions and containing the heat produced is a very different prospect.  The main difference between outdoor and indoor heaters is that outdoor ones usually work using infrared heating. Some indoor heaters also use infrared heat but many use convective heat.

Infrared heat vs convective heat

In very simple terms, convective heaters use the principles of thermal conduction and heat the air. The warm air rises to the top of the room where it then cools and falls and is then heated again. The air continues to circulate in this way in a loop.

Infrared heat uses electromagnetic radiation (like the sun). Instead of heating the air, it transfers heat energy to objects (furniture, walls, carpets, and people). This raises the ambient temperature of the space.

There are obvious limitations for convective heat outside as there is no containment to stop the heat escaping. An infrared heater transfers heat to you, rather than the air around you which is much more effective.

Features to look for

While the majority of outdoor heaters all use the same principle of infrared heat, there are a variety of features that you may want to look for when choosing the right one for you. Here are some of the most useful ones:

Waterproof rating

You may not necessarily want to sit outside in the rain but you need to know that if the weather suddenly changes, your heater is going to be able to safely resist the elements without having to drag it under cover every time a dark cloud passes over. The IP rating will tell you the level of protection it has against dust and water. For example, IP54 is dust and sprayed water, IP55 is dust and water jets, and IP65 is total protection.

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Power output

The power of outdoor heaters is measured in kilowatts. 2KW (or 2000W) is common but they can go much higher. Ideally, choose one with adjustable heat so you can vary it according to the outdoor temperature. Obviously the higher the power, the more heat it is capable of creating.

Freestanding or wall mounted

This is just down to personal choice. If you prefer to sit in a particular area of the garden, then a wall-mounted unit is a great space saver. If you want to be able to use different areas or take your heater to a different location, then a freestanding heater may be more suitable. Remember, of course, that you have to be able to run mains power to it.

Remote control

If you like the idea of being able to vary the heat without even having to get up from your seat, then a model with a remote control is a great feature!