It is important to get the right patio heater in order to provide warmth to your outdoor furniture and comfort for yourself and your guests. It is also a good idea to get a patio heater that has an adjustable heat setting so that you can adjust it to suit your outdoor requirements. You should also know that the price of a heater does not necessarily have to be the reason for choosing one over another. Just remember that it is better to spend money on something that is worth the purchase if you are going to use it.
Gas and electric patio heaters are generally more expensive than the other types of heaters. With these you may have to pay for regular maintenance and repairs that might have to be done periodically. There are some advantages of gas-based heaters. Gas heaters will not give you the same kind of heating effects that a propane heater gives. Gas or propane heaters have to be constantly fueled with oil which would require large amounts of fuel that will have to be bought regularly.
A gas patio heater is also energy efficient. However, in order to have an economical gas patio heater, the homeowner should consider purchasing an electric heater. With an electric heater, you do not have to keep buying fuel and it is also portable.
If you are ready to shell out a lot of money, you may also consider a propane patio heater. These have to be filled by a vehicle and then it has to be hooked up to a large tank. Because of the type of propane gas that is used, there is a considerable amount of smoke produced which you may have to contend with as well. In addition, you will have to deal with maintenance, installation and replacement of the tank whenever it becomes clogged.
The other option that you have is a combination of gas and electric patio heaters. These are much less expensive than the electric type but they do not have the same kind of performance as gas or propane heaters. This type of heater requires an electric outlet and you will have to keep it plugged in all the time so that it can work properly.
When choosing the type of heater to purchase, you have to consider how often you are going to use your patio heater. The longer the heater is kept used, the more it will cost to run. Although gas and electric patio heaters are easier to operate than propane or gas heaters, they tend to require more frequent maintenance.
If you have decided that you want to buy a patio heater, you should remember that there are other considerations that you should make. The heater should fit well with the design of your home and with the ambiance that you wish to create. Make sure that you have all the accessories necessary in order to use the heater properly.