Warmer temperatures, bright blue skies, and sunny days draw us outside. Entertaining is on the cards and you may be thinking about how your patio area looks and feels. However, here in the UK, because we are situated on the west coast of Afro-Eurasia, the world’s largest land mass, we are often at the mercy of temperature variation that creates atmospheric instability. Your plans for outdoor entertaining can often be abandoned due to inclement weather. With that said, you can be prepared for chilly nights or evenings by adding an infrared heater to your patio area.

Why choose infrared for your patio heater? In the first instance, infrared panels emit an extremely high proportion of heat as radiant heat. Which means it heats objects directly, rather than heating the air, which is what conventional heaters do. Infrared heaters can work in vacuum or atmosphere. A great option for patio heaters as they heat you up as soon as you turn them on. It is somewhat similar to the sun, in that, as has already been said, they work by heating directly.

The benefits of using infrared compared to conventional types of heating are many. Infrared heaters are capable of providing instant warmth to your party guests as they heat up instantly, gas and oil heaters take a while to heat up. The energy they emit is directed at nearby objects that absorb the energy and constantly dissipate it. These heaters do not require fossil fuels to operate and do not produce toxic carbon dioxide. With no fan or other parts that can often be noisy and irritating, your garden party will be peaceful and serene.

The most common filament material used for an electric infrared heater is tungsten wire, which is coiled to provide more surface area. One classification of infrared heaters is by the wavelength bands of infrared emission. You can check the finer details with your provider.

In the first instance, before choosing the patio heater, you will need to think about where to place it. If you’ve just upgraded your patio, or are about to, place your heater where it will best keep guests out of the cold. They work especially well in areas that have decks, as conventional heaters like fireplaces and ash pits may not be suitable for hardwood floors.

Think about the location and surroundings, as bigger is not always better. Talk to your vendor about checkout, as you don’t want a heater that is overwhelming and may make your guests, or even yourself, uncomfortable.

Don’t go for the cheapest option, some quartz and halogen heaters promise the same kind of efficiency, however they sometimes feature ordinary glass, which can break and produce fierce shortwave heat.

Infrared patio heaters have become increasingly popular, if you have recently traveled around Europe, especially in the winter months you will see them in cafes and restaurants in outdoor seating areas. Also pubs and clubs now offer outdoor heating for smokers.

You can make a really bold statement with a patio area. Add color and if you have the right kind of furniture enhance the color with fabrics, new pillows and cushions can change the whole environment. Lights are a great way to add to the curb appeal of outdoor entertaining. So keep your guests warm, with a new heater, comfortable in their surroundings, well fed and drunk, which when added up equals happy guests and a successful night of entertainment.