Your outdoor living spaces are an extension of your home. If they are unusable during the winter, you lose valuable square footage. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to warm up outdoor living spaces so that you are more comfortable in cold temperatures. Check out these various methods to stay warmer on a deck, patio, or porch.
Types of Outdoor Heaters
If you plan on using your deck, patio, or porch year-round, invest in an outdoor heater. Outdoor heaters are the most convenient way to heat an outdoor living space. You simply turn them on for extra warmth without having to build a fire.
Gas
Propane heaters are commonly used for restaurant patios, but can also be used to warm up residential outdoor areas. These heaters hook up to a propane cylinder and warm an area of 100 square feet, on average. They are safe to use on covered and open-air areas.
Electric
Electric outdoor heaters are affordable to run because they don’t burn expensive fuel, but you will need a power source to plug them into. You’ll be able to choose from models that can be mounted to the wall or ceiling of a deck or porch or standalone portable heaters that use infrared light to heat up space.
Types of Fire Pits
While you may use a fire pit for ambiance and entertainment, they also fulfill the basic need for warmth. There are different types of fire pits, but none of them should be used in a space with a roof or covering overhead.
In-Ground
Build an in-ground fire pit for a patio or garden courtyard space. Make sure that the hole is at least 10 feet away from trees and buildings, with no tree branches overhead. A flame could shoot up or be blown sideways and catch a tree or structure on fire. Dig a large hole and line the bottom with sand. Then create a border of pavers, bricks, or stones.
Above-Ground
There are countless models of above-ground fire pits at home improvement stores and online. This type of fire pit is useful because you can move it to wherever you want to have a fire. The same fire pit safety rules apply to above-ground fire pits as in-ground ones.
Gas
A gas fire pit is similar to a propane heater, except there is an open flame. They do not give off as much heat as a wood-burning fire, but you save time by simply turning them on instead of building a fire.
Other Ways to Warm Up Your Outdoor Living Spaces
- Build a barrier to block the wind.
- Fill a chest or basket with warm blankets for your space.
- Grill food outdoors.
- Invest in heated seats.
All of these methods must be used with caution and common sense.
Inspect Co. LLC provides home inspections to North and South Carolina. Contact us to schedule our services.