In order to stay warm while eating outside or relaxing in the garden, there are a couple of options available. You can either wrap yourself in a blanket, which several restaurants will provide, or try to make a fire with whatever you can find lying around.
However, there is a much better way of warming up during winter or those chilly summer evenings. An outdoor heater promises to deliver instantaneous warmth and can help you enjoy the great outdoors for a little bit longer.
Unfortunately, gas powered heaters and outdoor wood burners tend to be rather inefficient, which can result in hefty fuel bills. Thankfully, there is a much better option in the form of an outdoor infrared heater.
About Outdoor Infrared Heaters
In recent years, infrared heating technology has come a long way and it is now a viable option for homeowners as well as commercial premises such as restaurants and bars.
Essentially, these outdoor heaters are safe and operate in the far infrared spectrum tuned between 9-14 micron metres. To produce heat, electromagnetic waves cause molecules to oscillate and subsequently release energy.
This is very similar to how the sun provides us with warmth. But as opposed to ultraviolet rays, which have the potential to cause skin damage and diseases like cancer, the narrow range of infrared radiation is totally safe and will not compromise your health.
Energy Efficiency of Outdoor Infrared Heaters
There are various reasons why outdoor infrared heaters are much more energy efficient than gas and oil alternatives. But the most important rationale you should consider is how they actually provide warmth.
Outdoor infrared heaters don’t warm up the air, as there is no convection current to speak of and no moving parts. In contrast, gas and oil outdoor heaters work hard to warm up the air, which is actually fairly pointless because when an optimum temperature is achieved, the heat will rise and escape your garden or outdoor space.
So, outdoor infrared heaters will target objects nearby like people, furniture, walls and floors. Energy expelled by infrared radiation gets absorbed and then dissipated to produce an even and consistent heat.
This means when you are sitting outside, you can instantly feel the warmth of an outdoor infrared heater on your face and hands. What’s more, the furniture will be nice and cosy too, but still releasing warmth into the atmosphere at the same time.
When compared to gas heaters and wood burners, which produce a lot of heat that soon escapes upwards and out of sight, the energy efficient benefits of infrared technology is clear to see. However, there are several other advantages to these outdoor heaters.
Additional Advantages to Outdoor Infrared Heaters
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Low wattage – Outdoor infrared heaters usually operate at a very low wattage, which means not much electricity is required and you can save money on your energy bills.
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No maintenance – With no moving parts or lubrication to worry about, you don’t need to carry out any regular maintenance on an outdoor infrared heater and are less likely to suffer from problems too.
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Zero emissions – Seeing as outdoor infrared heaters do not rely on fossil fuels like oil and gas to function, you won’t be pumping toxic carbon emissions into the environment.
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Weather-proof – Outdoor infrared heaters can be used at virtually any time of the year, as they will withstand the elements yet still provide ample amounts of heat.
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Easy to install – Due to their compact size, outdoor infrared heaters are very easy to install and can positioned almost anywhere. Traditional oil and gas heaters can take up a lot of room with their huge fuel tanks.
So, in addition to their extremely efficient nature, outdoor infrared heaters also bring about a number of additional advantages. For this reason, they are the ultimate outdoor heating solution.