Which Best Suits your Terrace?

Do you only use your terrace for half a year because of the cool weather chasing you indoors? Adding a patio heaters in the winter will do the same for you as installing an external ceiling fan in the warmer months. The terrace heater can heat your outside space, allowing you to enjoy the terrace even in low temperatures. But which one should you buy, electric or gas model?

Learn more about electric and gas patio heaters, and learn which one might be the best choice for your space.

Electric and gas patio heaters: what is the difference?

The main difference between these types of heaters is the power source. An electric heater must be plugged in to get power from the grid. Gas heaters rely on natural gas or propane as fuel.

But the difference does not stop there. The type of power the heater uses will affect the way it heats the space. This will change where you can place it and how it should be used.

Which Type Is Best?

The type of outdoor heater that is best for you depends on how you want to use it and the space you need to use it. When choosing an outdoor heater, please consider the following:

• The size of the space. How big is the external area you want to heat? This determines the type and size of heaters you can buy. Some have a larger capacity than others.
• Your spatial structure. Is your terrace completely open, partially enclosed, or completely enclosed? The level of ventilation in your space determines which type of heater may be the safest.
• Is power available? Is there a socket for an electric porch heater nearby?
• The climate of your area. Do you just want to stay away from the cold spring morning, or do you want to turn on the heater so that you can sit outside on a snowy day? This helps determine how powerful the heater should be.

Gas VS Electric Patio Heaters

Here are each type of heater to help you determine which heater is best for your patio:

Electric Patio Heaters

Electric patio heaters must be plugged into a power source, so they can only work where there are outlets nearby. This limits where you can place them in outdoor spaces. You might think that you can simply use an extension cord to expand the options for placing electric heaters, but this is not a safe practice. Since space electric heaters consume a lot of electricity, they may overwhelm the power cord and cause a fire.

The heating speed of the electric porch heater is also slower than that of gas heating. They take longer to heat the surrounding area and may not be able to heat a larger area.

That being said, electric heaters are easy. You insert them and open them. They also do not require ventilation, so they are ideal for enclosed or partially enclosed areas.

Consider choosing an electric heater if:

• You want portability. It’s easy to move an electric patio heater to any area with an outlet.
• You have accessible outlets for your outdoor space.
• You want to heat a relatively small or enclosed space.

Gas Patio Heaters

Gas heaters may not be as easy to use as electric heaters. Depending on the model you choose, you may need to spend money for professional installation. After installing the heater, you may not be able to move it to the terrace or other areas of the house.

You can find some floor-standing portable models that rely on propane, but they are slightly different from natural gas heaters. Either way, you need to use a gas patio heater in a well-ventilated area to avoid the danger of smoke.

The combustion of natural gas does help these heaters release more heat. They can quickly heat up the surrounding area, which means they are ideal for larger areas.

You should opt for a gas patio heater if:

• Want to heat up a large area, or you want to use the heater in very cold environments.
• You don’t plan on moving the heater once it’s installed.
• The area you are heating is well-ventilated.