I am sure that you all are in the same boat as I am with the weather starting to get warmer. With every new day I am becoming more and more eager to get outside and start enjoying my patio. Here in Northern Michigan we still have quite a while before the snow is gone and the weather will be warm enough to entertain outside without the assistance of a heat source.
Spring is right around the corner finally but who wants to wait that long? Not me, so I have some heat sources that will make it more enjoyable for all of us to get outside and enjoy our patios without having to worry about what the temperatures will be.
Heat Sources to Warm Up your Patio during Colder Weather
Each of these heat source options will allow you to get out on your patio sooner than waiting for the cold weather to break. Let’s take a closer look at each option though.
Fire Pits – There are so many options available when adding a fire pit to your patio or outdoor living space. You have many styles to choose from such as traditional fire pits to fire pit tables and everything in between.
The fuel type is also going to be another choice for you make. The main fuel types are ethanol, natural gas, propane, or wood burning. Obviously if you do not already have gas lines ran to your outdoor space natural gas will most likely not be a very good option for you until the weather breaks. Ethanol will make a small difference in the temperature of the outdoor space but if you are in need of a greater heat source a wood burning or gas fire pit is going to be the best fit.
Click here to learn more about outdoor heating with a Fire Pit.
Patio Heaters – These are a great way to warm up your outdoor entertaining area. Most patio heaters are portable and give off a good amount of heat. Just like with the fire pits you have different styles and fuel types to choose from. There are table top models for small spaces or larger stand up models that will warm up a good size deck area. There are also wall mounting models for inside a garage or around the patio.
The most common fuel types for patio heaters are natural gas, propane, and electric. The propane patio heaters are going to be your most portable fuel source. Natural gas is going to require gas lines to be ran to your patio or outdoor living space and will require the patio heater to be stationary. Infrared or electric patio heaters are going to be very limited as far as placement is concerned because they will require being close to an electrical source.
Click here to learn more about Patio Heaters.
Outdoor Fireplaces – Adding an outdoor fireplace is definitely more of a permanent option. They have to be built in and are not portable. However, you do still have fuel options. You can choose from either gas or wood fuel. One perk of an outdoor fireplace is that you will be able to design it to perfectly match the outside of your home or the décor of your patio.