9 best patio heaters to warm any garden or outdoor space
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. There’s nothing more important when you’re looking for al fresco patio heaters to keep you toasty and help you make the most of your outside space as the evenings lengthen.
As a general rule, electric infrared heaters are regarded as the best option, because they target their heat output (measured in watts) at people rather than simply heating up the air around them, which is what you will find with gas heaters.
Not that the latter style of heaters are redundant, as they’re often better served for heating larger areas and are also more versatile in terms of where you place them in your outdoor setting, as they only rely on the gas supply, whereas the placement of an electric heater will be restricted to the length of a power cord.
We have weighted this round-up towards infrared, because this usually translates to better value, minimal wastage and the benefits are felt as soon as the heater is switched on. Plus, the carbon footprint of these heaters is also less, compared with similar heaters that run on gas, according to research from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
However, it’s not just about how much heat the appliance can generate. It’s also important that the heat source is
