Infrared Patio Heaters

About

How an Infrared Patio Heater Works An infrared heater warms people and objects directly instead of warming the air between them. That is the whole reason it belongs outdoors: heated air drifts off with the first breeze, while radiant energy lands on whoever is sitting in front of it. Step out of shade into winter sunshine and you feel the same thing, warmth arriving without the air being any warmer. Electric and gas both radiate Electric infrared heaters need a circuit rather than a fuel line and mount close to a ceiling, which makes them the usual answer for a covered patio or a screened porch. Gas infrared heaters are certified to a standard written specifically for them, and their reflectors and radiant screens exist to aim the heat downward. Gas covers the widest output range and suits open patios and cold climates, at the cost of ventilation and clearance. Short wave, long wave and glare How hot the element runs decides how much you see. A hotter element emits shorter-wave infrared with a strong visible glow, heats quickly and is easy to feel immediately. A cooler element emits longer-wave infrared with little visible light, which is gentler and much less intrusive over a table. Choose the bright one for a cold open deck and the quiet one for a dining area where the glow would compete with the lighting. Where it goes Overhead is the default, because it puts the heat above head height and keeps the floor clear. Ceiling and wall mounts cover a seating group, and flush-recessed electric models sit inside a soffit so only the face shows. A gas heater must never go in a ceiling recess or soffit , because it needs open air to burn and to clear its exhaust. Portable models need no installation at all. Where one heater falls short, two overlapping units beat one mounted higher.