Gas heaters are a great way to extend your ‘sitting outside’ season when the temperatures drop. Whether they are for home use, or to heat up shared areas that are used all year round, gas patio heaters are a great way to keep you or your customers cosy and warm.
How it works
The gas patio heaters in the UK require a gas cylinder to work, as opposed to the outdoor gas heaters found in America that connect to the house or building’s main gas supply.
Put simply, the gas from the cylinder is piped into a hose which runs the length of the heater. The gas is then ignited at the top of the heater which then produces a steady flame of heat.
The range of the heat span varies by device. For instance, our Sherpa 13kW Stainless Steel Gas Patio Heater, covers an area of 18 – 20 square metres, and our Curve Gas Flame Heater covers an area of 9 square metres, which can easily be adjusted by turning the knob on your heater. This means you should easily find a heat span to fill your area.
Since the modernisation of gas patio heaters, we no longer have to use matches to light them. Most now include a built-in ignition which activates after an electric charge is produced when the materials respond to high pressure. This happens straight away when you turn on your heater.
Types of Gas Used
The most expensive but most sophisticated gas patio heaters use a liquefied petroleum jelly (LPG) in their gas cylinders. These LPG heaters are commonly found in pubs, bar gardens and smoking areas.
LPG is not only used in heating but also cooking, hot water and vehicles. It consists of a group of flammable hydrocarbon gases, including propane and butane. Some of which can only be found in certain countries. However, the most frequently used is propane.
For reference, our very popular Athena Plus Pyramid Flame heater and our stylish Goliath Gas heater run using propane or LPG gases.
Something to bear in mind is that these gases contribute towards carbon emissions and have been widely criticised, but there are many other options available if this concerns you.
Safety Features
Now that we’ve gone through how gas patio heaters operate and what kinds you may find, there are some safety features and other parts that are useful to know, to understand the full picture.
One of the most important safety features is the gas regulator. The simplest of these regulators basically reduces the gas pressure from the cylinder to whatever level is required. These regulators are a requirement and the type of regulator will depend on the type of gas. Most heaters come fitted with a propane regulator.
One of the biggest concerns with gas heaters in general is gas leaks, but it is important to remember that there are features put in place to reduce these risks. An example of this is a thermocouple, which is used essentially to measure temperature. It prevents gas leaks by closing the gas valve when the heater reaches a certain temperature.
Some devices are also fitted with a flame failure device which cuts off the supply of gas, should the heater lean or tip over. However, many of Heat Outdoors gas heaters have an anti-tilt system to further prevent this.
To find out more about whether gas patio heaters are for you, or whether you’re more suited to an electric patio heater, take a look at our advice on Gas vs Electric heaters.
