Stop Letting Your Patio Go to Waste in the Winter
It’s a bummer seeing a great outdoor space sit empty just because the temperature dropped. Most people try to fix this with forced-air heaters, but that’s basically like trying to heat the entire neighborhood—the warmth just blows away. That’s why we use infrared heaters. Instead of fighting the wind, they send heat straight to your guests and their chairs. It feels like sitting in the sun on a crisp October day.
The Nitty-Gritty Stuff
We stick with short-wave infrared. Why? Because it actually cuts through drafts. If you’ve ever sat under a heater and still felt a breeze hitting your back, you know why this matters. We also make sure everything is IP65-rated. In plain English: they’re built to handle the elements. Dust and rain are the enemies here. If moisture gets into the circuitry, the whole thing shorts out, and you’re back to shivering. One thing to watch out for is your power. These units usually pull between 2kW and 3kW. If you plug in a dozen of them at once without checking your electrical panel, you’re going to trip a breaker right in the middle of the dinner rush. Not a great look.
Built to Last
Inside, we use coated quartz glass tubes. They’re great at pushing out heat. The outside is usually powder-coated aluminum or stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about rust or salt air eating away at the frames. The real secret is the seal. We use high-temperature silicone gaskets. These let the metal expand and shrink as it heats up and cools down without cracking. If that seal fails, water gets in, and the unit is toast.
Making it Pay Off
Turning your patio into a year-round spot is a huge win for your bottom line. When people are warm, they stay longer. They order that extra drink or a dessert they weren’t planning on. But here’s the catch: infrared is directional. You get a “hot spot” right under the lamp, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with cold gaps between tables. The trick is to overlap the heat cones. Map it out carefully so the warmth blends together. That way, your guests feel a steady, cozy glow no matter where they’re sitting.