Spending time outside in the evening is a joy that most people enjoy during the summer. But, when the sky begins to darken and the air begins to cool down, do you really want to go inside? Maybe. But, you don’t have to let the setting of the sun dictate when the fun is over. This is where outdoor patio heaters become your best friend. But, which type of heater is best for your situation, electric or propane? We will discuss the benefits and drawbacks to each.
Outdoor propane heaters are great because they can be somewhat portable. They can be taken farther out into the yard away from the patio. If they are small enough, or you have the means to transport them, they can be taken on camping trips to keep the cool nights warm. The only thing you need to have for outdoor propane patio heaters is a tank of propane, which can be picked up fairly inexpensively at almost any store these days. Propane heaters are also nice because they put off quite a bit of heat and can cover quite a large area.
Electric outdoor patio heaters have the benefit of being used in areas where propane heaters cannot. If you have an enclosed patio, it might be dangerous to use propane in such an area. Electric heaters would be perfect for this situation and can be placed on a table top. The only restriction is that you will need to be within a reasonable distance from the outdoor patio heaters electric source, whether that is an electrical outlet or some sort of generator. These types of patio heaters are pretty lightweight and easy to move around.
Now that we have discussed some of the positives to both, let’s determine some of the negatives.
Propane heaters are bulky and, if you have a tall free-standing heater, they are hard to move around. The weight of the unit is generally above 50 pounds, and that doesn’t include the weight of the outdoor patio heaters propane tank.
Electric heaters have the restriction of having to be close to a source of electricity. It would be pretty difficult to take electric outdoor patio heaters on a camping trip with you. They take too much energy to connect to a 12V car battery, and unless you have an RV with electrical outlets, it would be pretty much useless. Also, you cannot leave the electric heaters outside, if they get wet from rain or any other source it can cause a malfunction and possibly start a fire.
So, which type of outdoor patio heater is the most beneficial? You will need to make a determination of how you spend your time outside. If you plan to move it around quite a bit without being close to electricity, then propane is your best choice. Likewise, if you plan on camping, and have a tabletop propane heater, it would be more beneficial than electric. But, if you have an enclosed patio, or don’t plan on moving it around, or using it as often, then electric patio heaters are probably the best bet for saving money on purchase price and not having to ensure you always have a tank that has sufficient amount of propane in it.
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