A patio heater can be an excellent addition to your patio if you enjoy spending time outdoors. Since you’re typically using them in windy and chilly conditions, they might be prone to tipping over if you’re not careful enough, which can massively shorten the heater’s lifespan.
If you want to know how to keep a patio heater from tipping over, this guide will have you covered.
Keep on reading as I walk you through some of the best tried-and-true tips to stabilize it and what to do if it falls over.
7 Tips to Help You Keep the Patio Heater from Tipping Over
The following section will walk you through some of the best ideas to keep the heater upright and safe. You can use a combination of these tips for added security.
1 – Place the Heater on a Level Surface
The first and most important thing you should consider while setting up a patio heater is the ground it stands on.
Ideally, you should pick a perfectly flat and non-sloping surface to keep it from wobbling around when the wind is blowing.
The surface should also be quite hard to provide a stable base for the heater. This includes concrete, stone, or bricks.
On the other hand, avoid softer surfaces like grass, which aren’t flat enough in addition to being a fire hazard in the case of a tip-over.
2 – Use Weights to Stabilize the Heater
Most modern patio heaters come with a reservoir at the bottom, allowing you to fill them up with some sand or water.
This adds heft to the heater’s base and lowers its center of gravity, making it harder to tip over.
If your heater doesn’t come with a built-in reservoir, you can fill up a bucket or a bag with some sand or water and place it over the base.
Make sure that you double-bag the weight so that it doesn’t make a mess if one layer breaks.
3 – Fix Your Patio Heater to the Ground
Freestanding patio heaters can be quite convenient and portable, but they’re quite wobbly and prone to tipping over more than other types.
If you don’t move around your heater, you should consider anchoring it permanently to the ground. You can do this in a variety of ways, depending on your DIY skills.
Some patio heaters come with built-in holes that allow you to fix them to the ground using screws.
If your heater doesn’t have one, you can drill the holes into the ground (while minding the reservoir) or opt for a ground fixer which is a metal bracket that helps you fix the heater to the patio ground.
4 – Anchor the Patio Heater to a Stable Structure
Besides fixing your patio heater to the ground, you can also attach it to a stable structure in your patio, which prevents it from falling. This includes using heat-resisting zip ties to secure it to a post.
However, stick to metal or concrete posts and avoid trees and wooden posts as much as possible, as they’re a fire hazard.
5 – Use Deflectors and Windbreakers to Protect It Away from the Wind
Keeping the wind away doesn’t only reduce the risk of your patio heater tipping over, but it can also preserve the heater’s warmth, which reduces your energy consumption and saves you money in the long run!
6 – Consider Switching to a More Stable Patio Heater Type
Patio heaters come in a variety of types, and some of them are much more stable than others.
If you have a relatively old freestanding or tabletop heater and you don’t mind an upgrade, you should consider a more stable option, such as wall-mounted patio heaters and fire-pit patio heaters, which are highly effective and not prone to tipping over.
7 – Relocate Your Patio Heater to a Safer Area
The chances of your patio heater tipping over is much higher if it’s in the walkway, near a door, or if you have children and pets going near them.
To avoid this problem, simply transfer the portable heater to a more secure location where it’s technically out of the way but still provides warmth to the patio.
What Should I Do If the Patio Heater Falls Over?
In the event of a patio heater falling over, safety should always be your number one concern.
First, if the heater doesn’t have a functional tip-over switch, turn it off immediately to prevent fires, then set it upright to keep it away from the ground.
Next, you’ll need to evacuate the area by moving people and pet away from the patio as soon as possible.
This also helps you inspect the area around the heater carefully for any signs of damage. You may need to put out any potential fires with an extinguisher or call the fire department if you think a fire will break out.
Once you’re sure everything is safe, inspect the patio heater for any signs of damage. If you suspect the heater is damaged, you should avoid using it again until it’s checked by a professional.
Final Thoughts
This marks the end of today’s guide that shows you how to keep patio heaters from tipping over. As you can see, keeping it stable and anchoring it to the ground or non-flammable posts can be a great way to secure it.
Alternatively, you can relocate the heater to keep it out of the way and protected from direct wind, which is also a great way to boost its efficiency.
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.
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