Why, you may ASK, is it better to use a radiant heater outside than a convection heater? Well, when I researched the heck out of space heaters, this is what I learned.
How Radiant Heaters Work
For starters, all infrared heaters are radiant heaters. Radiant heaters transfer thermal energy to objects directly, including people (not to objectify you), warming them in the process. Convection heaters draw in cool air that is heated by the heating element & then dispersed with a fan to heat an area or room.
In an outdoor space, a heater simply cannot heat & recirculate all the air around you to make the area warm, as it would in an enclosed room inside your home or office. Since radiant heaters heat objects and not space, they are more effective at warming you in a specific area, such as, on a terrace, patio, lanai, or in a pop-up tent.
NOTE: Do NOT keep a radiant heater near fabric, furniture, screens, or the sidewalls of your tent or they will burn or melt.
Radiant Heater Features
Quiet
Most radiant heaters don’t use a fan to distribute heat so they are virtually silent. Even those heaters with an oscillating feature, are still very quiet.
Durable
With fewer moving parts, there’s less to break.
Efficient
Radiant heaters are more efficient because they heat a desired area so there’s little waste.
Safe
Many space heaters have an auto shut-off if knocked over by a child, pet or inebriated guest. Many also come with a programmable timer so you don’t have to worry about leaving it on all night (just don’t forget to set the timer).
Again, I can’t stress this enough, space heaters need to be kept away from anything potentially flammable, including but not limited to all bedding, draperies, upholstery, furniture, paper products, tent sidewalls, & family pets.
Portable or Fixed
If you’re planning to use your heater in a pop-up tent, as I do, then portable is the way to go (click here to read my pop-up tent post). If you plan on using your heater in a covered porch or in your garage, you can buy a fixed wall- or ceiling-mounted heater, similar to the ones you see at restaurants & hotels.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
There are radiant heaters designed specifically for outdoor use. There are also portable heaters that can be used both indoors & out but are not intended to be left outside, especially in inclement weather.
Now let me preface what I’m about to say next with this, I have a tendency to make my own rules about things. So this is not a kosher recommendation, do not use me as an example or hold me to this in any way (disclaimer, use at your own risk)…BUT, I can’t see any reason not to use a portable indoor radiant space heater outside as long as I don’t use it in the rain or snow & I don’t leave it outside where moisture could corrode the motor.
It goes without saying (but, of course, I’m going to say it anyway) that you should not use an indoor heater outside if it is raining or snowing unless it is completely sheltered from the elements, like in your garage or pop-up tent, for instance, which is where I use mine with a heavy-duty extension cord made specifically for outdoor use. And again, keep it away from the sidewalls.
Wattage
The basic rule of thumb is you need about 10 watts of heating power for every square foot. So a 1500-watt heater will warm approximately 150 square feet.
Design
Portable heaters range in shape from boxy to tower. Fixed heaters are usually rectangular & mounted to a wall or ceiling. Tower shaped heaters made the most sense to me for outside so it heats a seated person from the floor up & because heat rises, obvi. In addition, the tower heaters tend to have a smaller footprint & no corners for people to trip on or stub their toes.
Power Source
Electric or propane is a personal preference depending on where you plan to use your heater. A propane tank makes your heater more portable & the right choice if you’re taking it camping, won’t be near an electrical outlet, or don’t want a long extension cord hanging about as a tripping hazard. Warning: An unvented propane heater should never be used indoors.
With an electric heater, you never have to worry about running out of propane. Unless, of course, your power goes out. In which case, you’ll be glad you have a propane heater or you’ll need to buy a generator (that will have to be another blog).
Electric heaters are generally a little more expensive to run while gas heaters cost more to purchase. Be sure to check the voltage of the electric heater you buy so it is compatible with your home, i.e., 120v here in the U.S.
Bells & Whistles
Additional features to consider when buying a radiant heater are:
- Thermostat or adjustable heat settings
- Auto shut-off
- Remote control
- Size — small footprint, if portable, depending on where you’re using it
- Weight or wheels for mobility
- Enough wattage for the space you plan to heat
- Programmable
- Oscillates (if you plan to share the heat with your friends or loved ones). Remember, radiant heaters directly heat objects within their line of sight, so one that oscillates will warm more people than one that does not.
Cost
Depending on the size, wattage, power source, and bells & whistles, the purchase price of a radiant heater can run from $50 to $500.
To figure out how much it will cost to run an electric heater, you will need to do some calculations that are above my pay grade. According to my research, you will need to find out how much your electric company charges per kilowatt-hour, which can vary by season, & multiply that rate by the number of kilowatt-hours the heater consumes.
Other Outdoor Heating Options
A free-standing torch heater that runs on propane is another great way to heat your patio. As is a propane fire pit, many of which now come built into tables so they do double duty. More about these sources of outdoor heating can be found in my Best Outdoor Heaters posts, one on Wood Burning fire pits & fireplaces & the other on Propane Burning fire pits & heaters.
What To Buy
The best portable heater is the one that fits your individual needs and budget. Based on my research, I purchased 2 different 1500-watt, oscillating portable radiant heaters; one with a remote & one without.
Why 2, you ASK? Well, for one, I wanted to try two different styles to see if one was more effective than the other so I could share my findings with you here. But more importantly, two heaters will keep twice as many people warm in my 10’ x 20’ tent, thereby extending my outdoor entertaining season.
To Get What I Got
This little powerhouse by Zenova (pictured at the top & below) has adjustable heat settings & two heating modes (high & low), with or without oscillation. It’s 22″ tall, 10″ wide & weighs only 4.69 lbs. I got it on sale for $83 + tax. But it’s on sale as of this writing for $68! It’s got fewer bells & whistles than the other heater but works better.
Although it says it has an auto shut-off feature, the heater does not turn off when I lift it to reposition it. Unlike the one below, which turns off & has to be reset every time I move it, which is annoying (to me anyway). So I do not recommend this heater if you have young kids &/or energetic pets.
Similarly, this well-reviewed heater by Costway looks exactly like the Zenova & is only $62. I’m tempted to get it so I have two matching powerhouses.
The other heater I have by Zokop ($67) comes with a remote control, oscillates, has a digital display, digital thermostat, timer, auto shut-off, & a tip-over switch. But for all its bells & whistles, I find it just doesn’t put out as much heat. It’s 24″ tall with a 5.9″ x 7.28″ base & weighs 8.4 lbs. It does have a fan function that can be used without heat, which might be handy in the summer.
A similar heater by Pelonis has almost 5 stars and over 2700 reviews on Amazon! It has all the bells & whistles of the Zokop & is about the same size at 23″ tall with a 7″ square base but is a little lighter, weighing in at 6.19 lbs. It’s currently selling for $63.87 less 10% when you click the coupon box.
Let me know if you bought any of these radiant heaters or others that you would recommend.
