Extend the terrace season with heaters

Sales of terrace heaters have grown rapidly year after year. The greatest benefit from heaters is that with them, you can start the terrace season much earlier and also extend it much longer. Heaters do not only provide warmth, they also create a nice atmosphere.

One gas cylinder for the BBQ grill and heater

The space to be heated determines what kind of a device you should purchase. You must make sure that you have sufficient safety distances in the space for the size of heater you buy.

At the moment, there are terrace heaters operated with both electricity and gas in the marketplace. Halogen, infrared and panel terrace heaters are operated with electricity. As a general rule, gas heaters require more space than electrical heaters.

However, gas-operated terrace heaters are usually more efficient than electrical ones, and they are also better suited for outdoor use. A gas heater has the additional advantage that you do not need electricity to use it.

Gas heaters use the same gas cylinders as barbecues and caravans. Heaters are available for both screw and click-on valve cylinders. The evaporating point of gas is -42 °C, so in theory you can use a heater whenever the temperature is above that. When the weather is really cold, not much gas comes out of the bottle, so the heater may not be as effective as on warmer days.

Often people have a gas grill on the terrace, so the gas cylinder of the terrace heater can used as a spare cylinder for the gas grill or vice versa, in case either device runs out of gas.

The gas consumption of gas-operated terrace heaters varies a great deal between different heaters. Depending on the heater output, consumption is 0.3–0.9 kg per hour on average. If consumption is 0.5 kg per hour, an LPG cylinder weighing 11 kg lasts for approximately 22 hours.

Observe safety of all gas devices

After the heater has cooled off after use, you should cover it with a protective hood. This way debris cannot block up the device. You should also check all gas connections when installing the device and after prolonged storage.

Risks involving the use of a gas-operated terrace heater are very small, provided that you carefully study all safety regulations and observe safety distances when installing the device.

Before the winter sets in and you take your gas terrace heater out of use to wait for the next season, you should inspect its condition one more time. You can prevent damage to gas cylinders and devices through regular maintenance and appropriate use according to the manufacturer’s instructions.