Best Way to Heat Outdoor Patio – 2 Smart Ways

The outdoor patio is a cool place to replace after a long shift or an exhausting day at college. But when it comes time to say goodbye to summer, some people say goodbye to the outdoor and miss the glory of the cold season.

It doesn’t have to be like that, because you can as easily extend the season into the fal and keep enjoying the outdoors.

All you need to know is the best way to heat outdoor patio and you’re good to go.

Best Way to Heat Outdoor Patio- 2 Ways

From fire fits and space heaters to textile and custom fireplaces, here are various options you can use to warm up this outdoor space and make the patio as comfortable as the indoors. 

1. Use the Best Patio Heater

Patio heaters are for the people who want to grill all year round, cherish their drinks on the deck, and enjoy the glory of the fal without worrying about the outdoor cold.

Designed to add warmth to patios, these heaters can make the area warm and cozy, not to mention elevate your mood in a season that’s often chill and dull.

But what is a patio heater exactly? How does it work? And what is the best model to buy?

What is a Patio Heater?

Sometimes referred to as an umbrella or mushroom heater, a space heater is an appliance that generates thermal radiation from natural gas, propane, burning wood, or electricity for outdoor use.

Manufacturers make them specifically for patios, but you can extend the use of some models to cover porches depending on the instructions manual.

Depending on your budget and personal preference, you can go for a wall-mounted, floor-standing, handing, or table top patio heater.

How Does a Patio Heater Work?

Patio heaters heat propane gas, wood, natural gas, or electricity to generate radiant heat. Unlike hot air from space heaters, which easily dissipates into space, the radiant heat from a patio heater travels through the air to keep you and your loved ones warm.

Every patio heater has coverage and BTUs indicated in square heat. The coverage refers to the distance to which radiant heat can travel.

BTU is a unit that measures heat intensity. Generally, a patio heater with a higher BTU is better because it can raise the temperature of the surroundings faster or even warm up a larger space.

The biggest problem with patio heaters is that they don’t do well in areas subject to too much wind. So if you live in such an area, and you would like to use a patio heater, you’ll also have to get a wind protector to reduce the cooling effect of wind.

Also read: Why should I buy an electric patio heater?

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What are the Best Patio Heaters to Buy?

1. Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Stainless Steel Patio Heater

Hampton Bay has sold a lot in the market. And it’s not because it’s easy to assemble or because it has a sleek modern look.

It sells a lot because it’s made of top-grade stainless steel for strength and durability and because it generates great heat.

Featuring a 48,000 BTU burner that can heat up a space of up to 200 square feet, and powered by propane gas, the Hampton Bay is the best model for big patios.

To get this to work, all you have to do is to push the piezoelectric ignition starter.

There’s a heat control system that lets you adjust heat to a level of your choice.

2. Bromic Smart Heat Infrared Patio Heater

Bromic Smart Infrared Patio Heater is compact yet very powerful. The brand has designed this in such a way that you have to mount it on a wall or ceiling.

Its burner delivers 30,000 BTUs, which is enough output to heat a room as big as 200 square feet.

It even comes with remote control, which you can use to adjust the direction of the heater.

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2. Invest in Fire Tables

Fire tables are for those who want to add some luxurious touch to their patio and those who want to continue enjoying the outdoor space even when the weather outside gets worse.

They come in different designs, at varying price points, and with unique heat intensity output.

What is a Fire Table?

Commonly referred to as a pit table, a fire table is a special furniture that combines a patio table and a fire table.

Beyond hosting cookouts and entertaining guests, a fire table is a great investment that warms the patio and its surroundings to keep everyone warm.

The heat source of a fire table is often out of reach. Given that the tables have a wider margin between and the fire pit, you don’t ever have to worry about accidental fires.

Moreover, the margin tends to be wide enough to allow you to have your drinks drink around the table.

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What are the Benefits of Fire Tables?

For what it’s worth, the best thing about a fire table is that it gives you instant access to the fire. More often than not, gas-powered fire pits take about 5 seconds to burn at full capacity.

It means there’s less waiting for the fire table to warm the surrounding, making it one of the best solutions to heat outdoor patio.

The flame from the fire table is easy to control, so you can limit how intense the heat should be. With their easy-to-configure controls, you can warm the area around the patio just right.

And since there are no sparks or hot amber catching in the wind, you can be sure you will never have to worry about air pollution.

Unlike the custom wood-burning fire pit, you do not have to worry about the safety of your patio furniture pieces when using fire tables.

Thanks to the wider margin between table and the fire, you don’t even ever have to think of the possibility of your other furniture catching fire.

How Do Fire Tables Work?

Instead of burning wood, fire tables use propane gas tank attached to a burner to heat the surroundings. The tank is usually beneath the table although you can customize the setup such that it’s far away from your furniture pieces.

Each table, regardless of the model or the brand, features an electric starter and a dial.

To set the fire table to work, push the electric starter button to start the fire. Wait at least 5 seconds for the gas to burn at full intensity.

Then, you can turn the dial on the control panel, located just next to the electric starter, to control the intensity of the flame.

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What’s the Best Fire Table to Heat Outdoor Patio?

While there are many fire tables in the market, each flaunting different features at varying price points, here are the best examples that we’d like to recommend:

1. BALI Outdoors Gas Fire Pit Table

More than 2,000 budding outdoor enthusiasts have taken this gas-powered fire table to the test. And the results are in.

For under $250, BALI Outdoors pit table is a great model to introduce warmth to the outdoors even on the days when it gets extremely cold and unbearable.

It’s made of premium-grade iron and features an antique finish with great decorative details on the base. Moreover, you have a lid to set over lava rocks so you can have enough space for glasses, snack trays, and wine bottles.

It’s amazing that a table this small has so much power to distribute heat across a large patio. Built to deliver up to 50,000 BTUs, everyone in the space gets the amount of warmth they need to keep enjoying the outdoors. 

2. ZENY 32-inch Bonfire Fire Pit

ZENY 32-inch Bonfire Fire Fit is a good deal for those who are interested in a wood-burning fire table. It’s made of a metal frame and includes a long-lasting black coating for protection from corrosion and rust.

There’s a wider margin between the fire pit and the tabletop, you don’t have to worry about possible burns.

You will love ZENY fire fit for its versatility. Besides being a unit that you can use to provide warmth in the patio during the cold season, you can use it for BBQ with the include shelf or use it to cool drinks.

There’s a safety mesh cover that encloses the fire to keep fire sparks and debris from flying while ensuring as maximum safety as possible.

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Now that you know the best way to heat outdoor patio, you shouldn’t shy away from spending time outdoors when the cold season kicks in.

The best thing about the options we’ve shared in this guide is that they’re not expensive. So even if you’re on a budget and you need the cheapest patio heater or money isn’t a problem and you need the best fire table, our recommendations are a good fit.

The cheapest patio heating idea should cost you as low as $150. That’s usually so in the case where you decide to set up a simple, custom fireplace.

A sort of an expensive option would be the kind of patio heaters that cost up to $2,000, but you don’t necessarily need an expensive unit if you can get more power from the inexpensive models.