Home Improvement Information

Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits


In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio.

Different heaters are available for different needs and circumstances. A heater will 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, they may warm only a small space or heat a party-size yard.

For all heating units to perform optimally, they will need the right location. The ideal 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 tips for effective 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 municipalities allow wood burning in a small 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 a unit to suit 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 your tummy. Try this yummy "pizza" recipe, cooked up in campfire irons.

  • 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. 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 put these units away when not in use as they can be sensitive to the elements. Smaller tabletop units are also available.

  • 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 the wide selection of outdoor heating devices available, you're sure to find one that right's for you. So heat up the night - and go right on enjoying your outdoor space.

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com


MORE RESOURCES:

THE GOODS ON HOME IMPROVEMENT: Beat the heat - and those energy bills
Lancaster Newspapers, PA - Jul 3, 2008
By ALAN J. HEAVENS / McClatchy Tribune WITH SUMMER JUST OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY, it's already been broiling hot. If this keeps up, there's little doubt that ...


Clayton News Star

Board backs shopping center with home-improvement store
TheHerald, NC - Jul 2, 2008
Their plans call for retail and office space, a bank, national chain restaurants and a home-improvement store. “Instead of traveling and sending business ...
West Main may be extended through new commercial areas Clayton News Star
all 2 news articles


411mania.com

The Hall of Shame 07.02.08: Home Improvement
411mania.com, TX - Jul 1, 2008
And what better way to make money then to cash in one of the most popular sitcoms of the 90's, Home Improvement? Well, actually, there are a lot of better ...


Best Syndication

Bad Credit Home Improvement Loans: Increase Equity And Resolve ...
Best Syndication, CA - Jul 1, 2008
So in order to assist you, lenders have devised Bad Credit Home Improvement Loans. The loans are designed especially for those with blemished credit history ...
Ultimate Respite From Troubles: Low Rate Unsecured Loans Best Syndication
Loans For Bad Credit: Financial Remedy Without Any Credit Hassles Best Syndication
No Credit Check Unsecured Loans: Adverse Credit, Not A Burden Anymore Best Syndication
Best Syndication
all 14 news articles


Home Improvement Costs Soaring
WLWT, OH - Jul 1, 2008
Lowes executives said that the home improvement store has also taken a hit due to material costs. For the time being, the store said it would not pass the ...


IFA slams home improvement tactics
FT Adviser, UK - Jul 1, 2008
The results of a survey showing estate agents' views on ways to raise property values through home improvements are "wrong", according to one IFA. ...


Westchester to require tests for home-improvement contractors
Lower Hudson Journal news, NY - Jun 30, 2008
By Allan Drury Starting today, anyone who wants to get a license to work as a home-improvement contractor in Westchester County will have to pass a test. ...
Westchester County to require test for home building license Lower Hudson Journal news
all 3 news articles


Old home appraisal was for a much bigger lot
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 17 hours ago
That is a simple contract prepared by most home improvement contractors that merely spells out in general terms what work will be done and how much the job ...


A Gust of New Home Improvement Resources From Fix The Home
Market Wire (press release) - Jun 30, 2008
This means residents of this Illinois (IL) city have a one-stop-shop for anything home improvement related. Local Chicagoland contractors will see the plus ...


German home-improvement stores may see sales stagnate this year ...
Forbes, NY - Jun 23, 2008
Germany's 2500 home improvement stores, run by companies including Praktiker AG. and Hornbach Holding AG., posted a 6.9 percent decline in revenue in the ...
Praktiker has no plans to cut FY guidance after industry ... Forbes
all 5 news articles

Home-Improvement - Google News

home | site map
© 2006