Making the most out of your outdoor living space is the goal of any homeowner with a patio, deck, or yard attached to their house.
The thing is, enjoying your time outside can be challenging when winter rolls. You can fight the cold with layers of clothing, but that won’t work all the time.
You need a more effective solution to provide scalable heating that can accommodate all your outdoor activities. This is where a patio heater comes in!
Do patio heaters work in the winter? How do they perform against rain, wind, or snow? What about temperatures below freezing?
In today’s guide, I’ll be answering all these questions and more to help decide if a patio heater is right for your outdoor heating needs.
Are Patio Heaters Effective in Winter?
Patio heaters are equipment designed to provide warmth across an outdoor space. They’re meant to be used in cold weather, which happens mostly in winter.
As such, you can definitely use a patio heater in the morning. It’s one of the most convenient heating methods, unlike the potentially messy or impractical bonfire, fire pit, or space heater.
Patio heaters work better in generating heat and distributing it throughout a larger space. So whether it’s one person or a group, a patio heater can effectively warm up the surroundings.
That said, you need to choose the right type and size of patio heater equipped with a high enough BTU rating to deliver sufficient coverage for your outdoor space. This is key for maximum heating efficiency in winter.
Patio heaters come in various designs and powering options to cater to varying heating needs.
For example, free-standing patio heaters usually produce more heat than wall-mounted or tabletop models.
Similarly, gas-powered patio heaters (propane or natural gas) typically offer a higher heating capacity than electric patio heaters.
Do Patio Heaters Work in Windy Areas?
If you live in a windy area, you need to know if a patio heater can withstand such conditions.
The good news is that patio heaters can generally operate without hiccups in windy open spaces given that the wind speed is mild.
Anything over 10 mph (miles per hour) isn’t suitable for running a patio heater. This can disrupt the heat distribution and decrease the efficiency of the device, causing your patio heater to overheat.
Additionally, strong winds can tip over the device, potentially damaging it or hurting someone nearby.
Do Patio Heaters Work Below Freezing?
A patio heater can work effectively at temperatures below freezing as long as you choose the right type and size device and set it up properly.
This goes for both gas-powered and electric patio heaters.
One thing you need to take care of is preventing your patio heater from overheating. This is a bigger concern in temperatures below freezing as people often set the device’s temperature too high and leave it running for too long.
Should I Choose Gas-Powered or Electric Patio Heater for Below Freezing?
Gas-powered patio heaters generally offer higher temperature settings than electric models, so they’re a better choice for keeping you warm in extremely cold weather.
They can be effective in temperatures as low as 20 degrees (sometimes even colder).
Can Patio Heaters Work in the Snow?
Yes, you can use patio heaters in the snow. These devices will continue to generate heat waves through the air, which will warm up your surroundings and may also melt some snow in the process.
The extent of snow melting depends on the amount of snow existing and the amount of heat generated.
This doesn’t mean you can rely on your patio heater alone to clear the snow in your yard.
While it can take some of the work off your hands, you’ll still have to shovel away most of the snow since patio heaters aren’t meant for the job.
In case of heavy snow or prolonged snowing, you should cover your patio heater or store it inside to avoid any damage from extended exposure.
Can You Leave a Patio Heater Outside in Winter?
Patio heaters are designed specifically for use in outdoor spaces. As such, leaving your device outside in winter should be fine as long as you’re using it.
If you’re not planning to run your patio heater for a while, I recommend covering it or storing it indoors to protect it from exposure to elements such as humidity.
While patio heaters are generally durable, too much exposure can still cause corrosion and damage.
Do Patio Heaters Work in the Rain?
You can use a patio heater to warm up in rainy weather but you have to keep it protected from the water.
You can do that by placing the device under your patio cover while it’s raining, or installing a waterproof cover over the patio heater.
Final Thoughts
So, do patio heaters work in the winter?
The answer is yes, as long as you pick the right type and size that delivers enough BTUs to overcome the cold in your area.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel