February 29, 2008
Heating Up The Night
The nights are still a tad chilly, but the weather is OK for lounging outside in the privacy of your own backyard in the early spring evenings – there are no mosquitoes yet and the sky is clear. Rather than spend time indoors huddled around the TV set, you might want to consider heating your deck or patio. Keep in mind though that there are different heaters available for every back yard. For instance, a heater may be powered by propane, natural gas, alcohol-gel, electricity, wood, or wood substitutes such as charcoal or artificial logs. Depending on the size and the heat source, a heater might warm only a small space or heat a party-size yard. For all heating devices to function properly, they need the right location. The best site is a combination of walls or fences (to radiate the heat back into your space) and overhead structures that will prevent the wind from blowing directly through your selected area.
Here are some ideas for successful and safe use:
Wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits are generally the least expensive to buy and to operate. Check for zoning ordinances to be sure that you can burn wood on your property. Some cities allow wood burning in a small Mexican stove-like heater also known as a chimenea unit, but will not approve a built-in or dug fire pit. Wood-burning units range from small collapsible units on wheels for easy portability to huge built-in concrete fireplaces. If you are permitted to burn wood, you are sure to find something that will be perfect for your needs!
If you have a pottery fireplace, or chimenea, use it cautiously as these units are lightweight and reasonably fragile. To keep the fire from getting hot enough to break the chimenea, it’s best to use kindling-size wood.
Many wood-burning units have optional cooking grills so your fire can do double duty warming your toes and the rest of you.
Any open fire is a potential hazard. Keep any overhead sparks from tree branches or patio overheads, and be sure to teach children proper fire safety.
Natural gas heaters are easy to use but are usually built in and, although bottled gas may be purchased, are best limited to those areas that have natural gas service.
Propane heaters can be economical to operate. Depending on the heat output level you set, a standard propane tank can provide 10-12 hours of heat.
Propane-powered “mushroom” or “umbrella” heaters (so called because of their shape) are the best choice for heating large areas. Think of the ones that restaurants and cafés use. They radiate warming rays from the top cylinder and provide a comfort zone of 12 - 20 feet in diameter. The propane tank is hidden in the bottom of the unit. It’s a good idea to store these types of heaters when not in use as they can be sensitive to the elements. Smaller tabletop units are also available at various barbeque centers as well as discount stores and home improvement warehouses.
Although electric heat is usually the most expensive, there are a few electric heaters designed specifically for outdoor use. Be sure that any heater that is left outside is rated as such.
With such a wide selection of outdoor heating devices available, it’s easy to find the perfect unit for your own yard in the blink of an eye. Just think of all the possibilities you and your family can enjoy — from snuggling to lighting up the night — once you introduce the perfect heated unit into your outdoor living world!
