Outdoor Propane Heaters for your Home and business

Outdoor propane heaters can be found in increasing numbers of backyards, patios, garages and garden sheds all over the country. Propane heaters are the best choice, bar none, of heating enclosed outdoor areas with poor insulation cheaply and effectively.




Propane heaters certified for outdoor use should only be used in a well ventilated outdoor environment where there is enough air circulation and never indoors. There are propane heaters available that are certified for safe used indoors. It should be pointed out that outdoor propane heaters should never be used indoors or vice versa. Even though many outdoor propane heaters are designed to be portable, they must never be moved from place to place while in use, as this can be very dangerous.




Outdoor propane heaters use liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, for fuel.


The fuel is stored in canisters or pressurized storage tanks depending on the size of your heater and is cheap and readily available all over the country. Most outdoor heating units have adjustable settings for the amount of heat they emit, making them versatile enough for use in a variety of winter conditions and temperatures. Here are a few the major types of outdoor propane heaters:



  1. Propane convection heaters - working on the principle of convection, this type of heater acts by heating cold air from below which then rises and spreads throughout the room. Convection heaters are ideal for use in large drafty places like garages, warehouses or barns.

  2. Forced air heaters - Similar in function to a convection heater, forced air heaters make use of an additional electric powered fan that circulates heated air in its proximity. This makes the heat spread much faster at the cost of decreased portability due to the requirement of a connection to the electrical mains.

  3. Infrared heaters - these types of heaters use a reflective cover that refocuses he heat generated by the unit downwards to its surrounding area. Infrared outdoor heaters are available in many different designs and work best in windy conditions as it is able to maintain a steady heating capacity even through moving air.

Portability is a major selling point of outdoor propane heaters. Light enough to be moved from place to place by a single person, propane heaters are very convenient to use. It must be pointed out, however, that moving a propane heater while in use can result in a fuel leak, which may cause a fire or explosion. The best practice is to make sure the propane heater is fully turned off and disconnected from its fuel source prior to moving it about.

Safe Operational Procedures of an Outdoor Propane Heater


When installed and handled properly, outdoor propane heaters can be considered to be as safe as houses. Many restaurants make use of outdoor propane heaters to heat their patios, terraces and outdoor dining areas. The National Fire Protection Association or NFPA have a list of guidelines and stipulations that must be followed by homeowners and business managers for the safe operation of outdoor propane based heating systems. These provisions include adequate ventilation of areas receiving heat from propane heaters, the layout and spacing of outdoor heaters and even the storage and handling of the heater's fuel tank.

Outdoor propane heaters cannot be places within five feet of the entrance or exit of any room or confined space. This was done to prevent the risk of the heater being accidentally knocked over and starting a fire. Restaurant and bar owners should pay special attention to this and all other safety legislation as laid out by the NFPA.


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