Many people who buy a patio heater focus almost exclusively on the power. The more watts, the better the heat, right?
Unfortunately, the reality is not quite that simple.
At Infracenter, we have been working with infrared heating since 2014 and have helped thousands of customers heat everything from open patios and balconies to conservatories, restaurants and outdoor cafes. Experience shows that two patio heaters with the same output can give completely different results depending on the technology used, the environment and how the heater is placed.
That's why some patio heaters work great even when it's windy, while others are barely noticeable even though they have the same effect on cardboard.
The most common mistake when choosing a patio heater
Many only compare the effect.
2000W vs. 2000W.
2500W vs. 2500W.
But the power only tells you how much energy is used. It doesn't tell you how efficiently the energy is converted to heat or how well the heat works in the environment where the patio heater will be used.
Wind, location, mounting height, efficiency and the type of infrared heating used are often more important than many people think.
That's why some patio heaters are perceived to provide fantastic heat while others disappoint customers.
Wind is the patio heater's biggest enemy
When heating outdoors, wind is almost always the biggest challenge.
An open terrace by the sea has completely different requirements than a glazed conservatory or a protected pergola.
Short-wave infrared heat, also known as IR-A, is designed to work effectively even when the air is moving. The temperature in the heat source is often around 500–600 degrees, which means that the heat is felt after just a few seconds.
This is one of the reasons why many restaurants, hotels and outdoor cafes use shortwave patio heaters in open environments.
Long-wave infrared heating works differently. The heat builds up over time as floors, walls, furniture and other surfaces absorb the energy and then emit the heat back into the surroundings.
If the wind constantly cools these surfaces, the result will naturally be worse.
Therefore, it is not enough to compare watts
Two patio heaters can have exactly the same effect but still provide completely different comfort.
The difference often depends on:
What type of infrared heating is used?
How high is the efficiency?
How much it blows
How the heater is placed
What materials are found in the environment?
How high the heater is mounted
That's why you can't always compare patio heaters in the same way you compare a light bulb or a radiator.
The right technology in the right place almost always gives better results than simply choosing the most watts.
Placement is often more important than effect
A well-placed 2000W patio heater can provide significantly better comfort than a misplaced model with a higher output.
Infrared heating works by causing infrared waves to hit people, furniture, floors and other surfaces that absorb the energy.
When these surfaces heat up, some of the heat is stored and then emitted back into the surroundings.
This means that the placement is often at least as important as the effect.
Do not point the patio heater directly at the window.
A common mistake is to point the patio heater directly at large glass areas.
Glass works differently than many other materials. A large portion of infrared waves pass through the glass instead of being absorbed.
The result is that some of the heat disappears through the window instead of staying where you want it.
For best results, it is often better to:
Aim the heater at the floor in front of the seating area.
Point the heater towards a house wall
Let the heat hit furniture and people
Avoid pointing the heater directly at large glass surfaces.
As we usually say at Infracenter:
Feel free to heat the floor or wall – the neighbor is responsible for their own heating.
Therefore, the basis affects the result
Not all materials absorb infrared heat in the same way.
Wood, furniture, textiles and insulated structures often work very well with infrared heating because they help to store the heat.
Cold stone slabs, concrete floors and other heavy materials, however, can be significantly more difficult to heat up, especially in outdoor environments where cold is continuously supplied from below.
This is one of the reasons why the same patio heater may work wonderfully on a wooden patio but significantly worse on an open paved patio.
This is why different types of infrared heat are experienced so differently.
Not all types of infrared heat feel the same.
Shortwave IR-A gives an intense and direct feeling of warmth. Many describe the feeling as standing in the sun on a cold spring day. The warmth comes immediately and is clearly felt on the skin.
Medium-wave IR-B is often perceived as softer but at the same time requires a more protected environment to give the best results.
Long-wave IR-C is the gentlest form of infrared heat. It is not about intense heat directly on the skin, but about building up a smooth and pleasant comfort over time.
That's why many people who install infrared heating panels at home find that the heat feels different compared to traditional patio heaters.
Infracenter offers all types of infrared heating
One of the big advantages of Infracenter is that we work with the entire infrared heat spectrum.
Since 2014, we have helped thousands of customers find the right solution for their needs. Experience shows that there is no one technology that is best everywhere. It is about choosing the right product for the right environment.
Short-wave infrared heating is often used for open patios, terraces, balconies and outdoor dining areas. The Outside Heater series is a popular choice there.
For glazed balconies, conservatories and other protected environments, the Dark Heater series with medium-wave infrared heating is one of our most appreciated solutions. Many choose the softer feeling of warmth and the discreet light.
When the goal is instead to create even and pleasant indoor comfort, Infracenter's infrared heating panels with long-wave IR-C infrared heat are used.
The best patio heater is the one that suits the environment
Many people are looking for the best patio heater.
In practice, it is almost always a matter of finding the best patio heater for the location where it will be used.
An open terrace by the sea has completely different requirements than a protected pergola or a glazed conservatory.
When you understand how wind, location, substrate, efficiency and infrared waves interact, it also becomes easier to understand why some patio heaters work fantastically in one environment and significantly worse in another.
This is precisely why knowledge about infrared heating is often at least as important as the effect on the cardboard.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about patio heaters and attics
Why do some patio heaters work better when it's windy?
Short-wave infrared heat is less affected by air movement and can therefore provide better comfort in open and windy environments.
Are more watts always better?
No. Efficiency, location, technology and environment often affect the result at least as much as the effect.
Can I point the patio heater at a window?
It works, but the result is rarely optimal because some of the infrared waves pass through the glass.
Why does the Dark Heater feel different than the Outside Heater?
Dark Heater uses mid-wave IR-B infrared heat while Outside Heater uses short-wave IR-A. They therefore provide different heat sensations and are developed for different types of environments.
Why do infrared heating panels work so well indoors?
Long-wave IR-C heats walls, floors and furniture, which then stores the heat and creates even and pleasant comfort.
Summary
It's easy to think that the patio heater's effect is the most important thing. In reality, it's often the wind, the location, the substrate and the type of infrared heating that determine the result.
When the right technology is used in the right place, the difference in comfort can be enormous. That's why Infracenter works with short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave infrared heating to offer solutions for everything from open patios to glazed balconies, conservatories and homes.
The better you understand how infrared heating works, the easier it will be to choose the right patio heater and get maximum benefit from your investment.