Your Complete Guide to Infrared Patio Heaters

Your Comprehensive Guide to Infrared Patio Heaters

Published: February 02, 2022 at 03:40 PM

9-minute read | Heaters

Outdoor infrared heaters provide a fantastic way to add warmth and coziness to your patios, dining areas, and grilling spaces. With their ability to extend your outdoor living experience, these heaters from AEI allow you to enjoy the outdoors comfortably even during cooler weather, making them a perfect addition for gatherings with friends and family.

Infrared Heaters

Though infrared heating technology isn’t exactly new, it remains somewhat innovative compared to other methods of heating. As such, it’s completely normal to have questions or misunderstandings about infrared heaters. Our team of experts at AEI Corporation sat down to address some of the most frequently asked questions and common misconceptions regarding infrared heaters. Here’s what we found.

Infrared heaters generate heat through infrared light, regardless of the fuel source they use. These heaters can operate on propane, natural gas, or electricity. Each fuel source offers its own set of benefits—energy efficiency and safety being key factors—while influencing how and where the heaters can be mounted.

Infrared heaters can be safely and effectively used both indoors and outdoors, especially on patios. Available in mushroom and box shapes, our infrared heaters are widely used across homes and businesses throughout North America.

Natural Gas Heaters

A natural gas patio heater is a fantastic option for any setting and comes in several configurations. Natural gas outdoor heaters typically come in the classic round mushroom shape or the easier-to-install box-shaped designs. These heaters can be installed via a floor-mounted pole, integrated into a wall, or hung overhead.

The primary advantage of natural gas-powered heaters is their constant connection to your natural gas line. This means you’ll never need to refill a fuel tank, and the heater can be turned on at any time. However, because they’re directly connected to a natural gas line, they must remain stationary.

To ensure you always have enough heat, consider complementing your natural gas heaters with propane-powered units, particularly if you anticipate large crowds or varying activities. If you prefer natural gas but don’t have a natural gas line, you’ll need to collaborate with a contractor and your local utility provider to install one.

Propane Heaters

Liquid propane is a popular and well-known fuel source for portable outdoor heaters. These units offer distinct advantages tied to their power source. Here are a few things you should know about these portable outdoor gas heaters.

Propane heaters generally come in the versatile and convenient mushroom shape, which distributes heat evenly in a 360-degree radius. They also come in a box-shaped configuration, ideal for directing heat in a specific direction.

The portable propane mushroom heaters are the only type that can be fully portable, as they run on onboard propane tanks that need regular refilling. These heaters can also be mounted permanently on a floor-mounted pole or suspended overhead.

Since these portable heaters have an onboard propane tank, they can be moved whenever needed to suit your requirements. Portable propane heaters are excellent for residential use since they can be easily stored away during the off-season or secured for added safety. On the other hand, permanently mounted propane heaters might be a better fit for apartment complexes and other public or semi-public venues, especially in areas without access to natural gas. For permanent installations, however, natural gas or electricity is usually a better option.

Propane tanks require periodic replacement. Thus, it’s wise to keep an extra tank in storage. Additionally, users will need to familiarize themselves with tank swapping procedures. Once mastered, this process becomes straightforward.

Electric Infrared Heaters

Lastly, we have our electric-powered infrared heaters. These heaters offer numerous advantages along with certain limitations you should be aware of.

Our electric heaters come exclusively in box-shaped models, but they vary in size and output capacity to meet your heating needs. Electric heaters must be installed permanently since they need to be wired directly into the electrical system of the building they serve. This doesn’t limit your mounting options, though—you can still install them in walls or overhead.

With a flush-mount kit, wall or ceiling-mounted electric heaters can be installed flush with the wall, making them discreet and always ready to be activated and adjusted according to your preferences. Their design, mounting options, and power source provide a broader range of control options and power settings.

Our electric heaters offer multiple control options. You can choose simple on/off switches or opt for a dial control system. Alternatively, you may select the smart control package, which includes a wide array of control capabilities, including the ability to sync your electric heaters with your mobile device for an impressive range of remote and automated functionalities.

Remember that once installed, electric infrared heaters cannot be unplugged and moved. Being high-power appliances requiring proper grounding, they must be hard-wired into your electrical system. They cannot be plugged into standard outlets and must be installed and removed by professionals.

Quick Infrared Heater Reference Guide

Infrared

All AEI heaters produce infrared heat, whether powered by Propane, Natural Gas, or Electricity.

Propane Heater

• Portable or fixed installation
• Come in mushroom and box shapes
• Offer a wide range of control options

Natural Gas Patio Heater

• Installed in a fixed position
• Come in mushroom and box shapes
• Offer a range of control options

Electric Patio Heater

• Installed in a fixed position
• Come in box shape only
• Come in a range of sizes and output capacities
• Offer a wide range of control options

Get in touch today to learn more. Our team is excited to answer all your questions about our extensive selection of exterior gas heaters and electric models.