Outdoor heater: 115 photos of beautiful ideas of use for summer verandas and cottages

With the arrival of spring, when fine warm days come, there is an increasing desire to get out into nature. But by the evening the air temperature drops, which makes the rest not comfortable. In such situations, the real salvation will be a street heater. It will increase the temperature within the radius of its action by 10-15 degrees. The device is placed on outdoor terraces of cafes and restaurants, barbecue areas.

The advantages of the device were also appreciated by summer residents and owners of private houses. The heater for the cottage prevents the death of immature plants from frost, warms the greenhouse frozen over the winter, creates an optimal temperature regime for chicken coops. And installation near stairs or steps reduces the likelihood of icing and the complexity of cleaning.

Summary of the article:

There are many options for outdoor heaters on the market. All of them differ in installation location, degree of mobility, wavelength (short wave, medium wave and long wave), power and design.

But the basis of classification is the division into types of street heaters by heat source. The choice of a specific model depends on the area to be heated and on the purchase budget.

Installation location

Based on where the heater is located, floor, wall and ceiling structures are distinguished. For urban outdoor areas and sports grounds, the optimal choice is floor products.

Wall-mounted radiators can be used to heat the adjacent territory. An interesting variety is heaters mounted in outdoor and garden furniture (benches, tables).

There are stationary and portable options. The latter are equipped with rollers for the convenience of moving the mechanism. Below are photos of all types of outdoor heaters.

Heat source

Gas and electric products have become the most widespread.

Gas heater

The gas heater consists of a housing, gas transmission lines and a burner. For a stable position, excluding overturning, the body is made massive and durable. The material is stainless steel or ordinary steel with a protective polymer coating.

At the base of the housing is a gas cylinder with liquefied propane or butane. Through special pipes and nozzles, the gas rushes up to the burner. When it burns, it produces infrared radiation that heats objects, but not air masses. The burner is ignited using piezoelectric elements.

The most popular form is a heater in the form of a floor lamp. It is a rack covered with a conical cap. Such a "lampshade" is made of a material with a high degree of reflection of light and heat waves. Its purpose is to evenly distribute the heat received.

Heaters are often purchased in the form of a truncated pyramid. An aluminum reflector is installed on top, working like a floor lamp heater hood.

A flame burns inside the frame of refractory, tempered glass. Thanks to the design, not only heating is provided, but also the aesthetics of a burning fire.

Advantages of gas types:

the appearance fits well into any interior;
simplicity of design;
compactness, do not require special preparation of the site for placement;
autonomy and electronic independence;
when working, they do not make noise and do not emit hazardous combustion products into the air.

Gas models are more economical than their electric counterparts. According to equipment manufacturers, about 92% of the total amount of energy generated is spent on heating objects, the rest is accounted for by air.

Disadvantages of gas types:

relatively low efficiency;
infrared rays heat the human skin, dry it;
long-wave models are quite expensive;
the recommended temperature range for the heater operation is limited to +10 degrees. and higher;
it is undesirable to use it indoors;
it is necessary to monitor the availability of cylinders and replenish their stock in time.

Safety should be a priority in the operation of gas appliances. It is ensured by the implementation of a number of rules:

Before turning on the gas heater, it is necessary to visually inspect the rubber hoses for defects.
It is better to store the cylinders in a separate room, not connected to the house.
It is forbidden to use gas cylinders near an open fire.
If a long absence is planned, then the valves on the gas tanks should be closed.
Compliance with these requirements is a guarantee of safe and long—term operation of the equipment.

Electric heater

Electric heater is the main competitor of gas models. It contains a metal frame, a reflective reflector and auxiliary parts (fencing grilles, security elements). IR radiation is produced by quartz, carbon tubes or halogen lamps.

The positive aspects of purchasing an infrared electric heater:

less weight, since there is no gas cylinder;
quick warm-up;
safety provided proper installation;
they operate at lower temperatures than gas heaters.

There is only one negative side — an electrical connection is required.

On sale you can find heaters that operate from solid fuel. These are simple stoves in design, without complex electronics and gas components.

Despite the attractive price of the heater itself, the cost of combustible consumables after a few years of use will far exceed the cost of a gas or electric outdoor appliance.

Tips for choosing outdoor heaters

Experts have developed several recommendations that will help you understand which heater to choose in each case:

Power. It depends on what dimensions need to be heated. To improve the microclimate of 1 sq.m. by 20 degrees, a source of 0.75-1 kW will be required. If the task is to heat the situation by 10 degrees, then the required power is 0.5 kW.

The average range of the heater is 2.5 m. By calculating the dimensions of the heating zone (using the circle area formula), it is possible to determine the required power of the installation.

Case material. Models made of stainless steel are suitable for placement in an open space without protective canopies. They are not afraid of precipitation and corrosion.

If the steel heater is not made in stainless steel, it is better to install it under hinged canopies or purchase an additional accessory — a cover from the sun and rain.

Auto-protection mechanisms. Today, even budget models are equipped with automatic shutdown devices in an emergency situation. Usually, they stop the gas supply to the burner when the flame fades. More advanced heaters are turned off when the working position deviates from the vertical (with the threat of falling).

Type of gas. Heaters consume 2 types of gas: propane or butane. If the cottage or the equipped space is used only in the summer months, then Bhutan is the best solution.

In the autumn or spring season with an unstable temperature gradient, propane is used. Ideally, if the heater will run on both types of fuel.

Installation of heaters

The question of how to install a heater visits each of its owners. The general rule is that heaters should not be installed near flammable items.

Installation of floor structures is not difficult. It is enough to choose a flat base for placing the device. It is somewhat more complicated with the rest of the constructive varieties.

Wall models are placed at a height of at least 1.8 m. The distance from the upper edge of the device to the ceiling or roof is at least 0.25 m. In the work you will need a screwdriver, a set of mounting brackets (usually included with the product) and hardware. Ceiling heaters are hung on hooks screwed into the ceiling.