BRRR..It has been a cold start to summer!

Now that the shovels, ice picks, bags of rock salt, and snowblowers are out of the yard, the hammocks, fire pits, patio bricks, flowers, tiki torches and BBQ grills are blooming! It is time to get the party started! Get the pool ready, the fertilizer and weed control, and oh yea. The PATIO HEATER. What is that, you ask? A patio heater is my new best friend! Remember those days of sitting outside on spring evenings, or summer overcast days with your teeth chattering because it decided to get cold that day? (You Yankees know what I am talking about) well, that is a thing of the past. Not only do you have your fire pit, but now there is a heavy duty - outdoor furniture patio heater that will keep you toasty on those chilly nights. If you are out on the water where you live, you also know how cold summer nights can get!


WHAT DO I DO ONCE I BUY ONE?

This is best used on either a deck or a brick patio. A driveway that is cemented will do just fine too. This stands a whopping eight feet, and runs on gas propane. It is a 40,000BTU, so it gets VERY HOT. You want to make sure that you keep kids away from it the same way you wouldn't want them leaning on a radiator heater. It is very large, and holds a tank up to about 20 pounds. It can last up to 15 hours with ours, and we have only had to use it a few times. I am sure by next spring, we will need more, because I plan on using this during the winter, along with my BBQ grill! This is not for everyone. If you are outside a lot, throwing parties and like sitting outside it is worth the investment! It is attractive, but you want it to "go" with other things that you have outside, like in the eating area or on your deck. This is to be used outside. I would not recommend it for pole barn/garage use and never indoors. We got ours at a lumber/farmer store in our area and got a deal at $185 plus tax.

It is reasonably easy to assemble, and once you have it together, there is not much reason to take it apart. It is not any easier to store it in pieces as it is as one piece. It is on the thin side, so it takes up more height than width when it comes to space. You want to make certain that you keep flammable items, as well as chairs and other belongings a safe distance. Make sure that you have it in an open area, not near umbrellas from picnic table or patio sets. The lamp could cause a fire hazard in doing so. The stainless steel protects the rest of the lamp from overheating, and to be warm, all you have to do is stand or sit underneath it or around it. All of the heat comes from the overhead lamp.


TURN ME ON, BABY

The heater lights up with electricity, not gas. The electronic lighting system is turned on by a simple switch. It is fueled by the propane, but neither will work without the other. Again, much like a radiator heater heats. It takes a few minutes but starts to sizzle up quickly and you can feel the heat from about 12 feet away. Much like a firepit, you don't want to stand too close, but you don't want to be too far away, either! It has an internal safety switch in whereas the gas will shut off if for some reason the pilot light goes off, saving you from any kind of dangerous exposure of chemicals. It does have a wick that is adjustable to increase or reduce the lit flame. I am always nervous around heaters of any kind so with all of the kids running around, it is good to know that this stays in check. The lamp is the only part of the heater that is hot, everything else is fine, so you can move it even when it is lit, if you need to.

This is not only just good for gatherings and star gazing, it is wonderful for Halloween, chilly autumn evenings, or even if you need to melt snow or ice! This is rather bulky and large, and can be stored (without use) in a tall garage, behind your house and will fit in nicely if you have a little garden area with lawn chairs, a hot tub or back deck. You want to blend it into your landscaping so that it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb!

Overall, it is a great addition to your summer fun! Just because the temperature drops doesn't mean the fun has to!

Recommended: Yes