Outdoor Patio Heating Ideas to Keep Your Guests Warm
A home’s outdoor patio area is an ideal spot for entertaining. Such a space allows you to take advantage of the pleasant outdoors without sacrificing the creature comforts of the indoors. The preference for outdoor rather than indoor entertaining is gaining traction within social circles everywhere. With this trend comes a few considerations that you need to make.
The primary drawback to hosting guests outside is exposure to the elements. Even clear nights can be moderate to significantly chilly. Therefore, to avoid leaving your guests in discomfort while in your home, you must consider outdoor patio heating.
Patio heaters come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs to cater to diverse preferences. As a result, the heater you select depends on what you favor most within a selection of:
- Heat sources.
- Designs.
- Sizes.
- The extent of areas to cover.
Here are some outdoor heating ideas to get you started:
Firepits
Firepits have been used for outdoor heating since further back than history remembers. They have slowly evolved from simple holes dug into the ground and filled with wood before lighting a fire. Modern firepits are just as carefully and meticulously designed as any other component of your home. In addition, there is more variety in terms of styles, sizes and shapes.
Instead of a hole that becomes a permanent fixture, contemporary firepits can either be fixed or portable. In addition, there are now gas firepits, an alternative to regular wood-burning types.
The main advantage of a firepit is that it acts as a focal point around which you and your guests can gather to sit back, relax and enjoy the time spent together.
Their cons include the nature of their design which prohibits use on vinyl or wood. Moreover, despite the advent of gas firepits, the more common type remains the wood one. Burning wood produces smoke, an uncomfortable prospect for your guests as they are faced with the choice between contending with the smoke or abandoning the warmth of the firepit.
Outdoor Fireplaces
They are just as classic as firepits. A fireplace invites your guests to draw nearer and bask in the heat radiating from the fire. Fireplaces come in varying shapes and sizes to complement whatever space they are installed in. For a more up to date design, outdoor fireplaces are fitted with brick or stone mantels which can be selected to match your decor or aesthetics.
Gas Heaters
Gas heaters are a cleaner alternative to wood-burning firepits and fireplaces. You only need to connect them to a gas line, after which lighting a fire is as simple as turning a switch and striking a match. They were once used almost exclusively by pubs, restaurants, bars and other entertainment establishments that had outdoor seating. While they are still widely used, the expansion of their design options has made them more attractive to homeowners.
Electric Heaters
Electric heaters use electricity to produce warmth. They can either be individual stand-alone units positioned at regular intervals around the patio or a set of strips installed around the perimeter. In addition, tabletop electric heaters are available for those who may prefer them. Operating an electric heater is as simple as flipping a switch to the desired position. However, this ease is contrasted by the high operating costs of electric heaters.
Outdoor heaters are a fantastic solution for the desire to keep exterior entertaining spaces useable throughout the year. Get in touch with your local heating expert to get more information about the heating option that has caught your eye. Adding outdoor heating for your guests will be akin to extending the warmth of your regard for them straight from your heart.