Why take the party inside when you can heat the outdoors just as easily?
Fun by the pool is a given when the weather is warm and sunny, but what happens when those colder winds start to blow? No, you don’t need to take the party inside just yet… instead, bring that indoor warmth to your outside bash.
Outdoor heating has increased in popularity as more and more homeowners discover the beauty of outdoor living. After all, who wants a custom outdoor kitchen and living area if you can only use it a few months out of the year?
To remedy this problem, there are a number of outdoor heating solutions that will keep you toasty warm in the chilliest of months.
Patio Heaters
The most common form of outdoor heating, patio heaters can be powered by natural gas, propane or even electricity, depending upon the model you choose. They can raise the temperature by as much as 25 to 30 degrees and some models can heat an area over 300 feet in diameter. Patio heaters are available in stand-alone for larger backyards as well as tabletop models for more intimate gatherings.
Fire Pits
Probably the first and most versatile way to heat the outdoors, fire pits were originally simple holes in the ground designed to contain a camp fire. Over the years of course, the design has evolved but you can still find a number of fire pits that are built into the ground. Usually made of stone and brick, these permanent fire pits are typically installed in the center of your outdoor seating area and covered with a metal grate when not in use. Of course, not everyone wants a hole in the ground which is why portable fire pits were designed. Available in both wood burning and gas burning, these fire pits are usually made from a metal construction and surrounded with a metal grate for added safety.
Fireplaces
A bit more extravagant than the fire pit, traditional fireplaces have definitely found their niche in outdoor living areas. Like their indoor counterparts, outdoor fireplaces can be gas or wood burning, bricked in, complete-with-mantel and have all the romantic allure that you’d expect when curling up by the fire.
Chimenea
Originating in Mexico, chimeneas are essentially front-loading fireplaces made from clay. Legend has it that these decorative heaters were created thousands of years ago by tribesmen who needed a way to generate heat as well as cook and bake. Although lovely to look at, modern chimeneas don’t adjust well to sudden temperature changes, such as an unexpected rain while lit. The result is that many crack and even crumble under severe circumstances which is why most clay version are used primarily as garden decor. Metal chimeneas are also available and are much better at withstanding changes in weather.
