Hey there, it’s Jake from the patio heater team here—been selling these things for nearly seven years now, and let me tell you, every time a new customer walks in or calls about stocking our heaters, I start with the same question: “Do you know what you’re actually getting into with these things?” Patio Heater
I know, I know—patio heaters sound like a dream come true for anyone who runs a bar, restaurant, owns a backyard event space, or even just wants to sit outside on a crisp October night. Last month alone, we shipped 42 units to a new beer garden in downtown Austin, and they texted me three weeks later saying their weekend foot traffic was up 38% because people could stay out later without freezing. That part works, no lie. But after fixing a few of those same Austin heaters when they broke (you should see the bent gas lines from a rogue patio umbrella—yikes), I’ve also seen every single one of the downsides that come with these units, firsthand. Today I’m pulling back the curtain—no marketing fluff, just real stuff I’ve witnessed as a supplier who’s dealt with every angle of patio heaters.
Let’s start with the big one I can’t sugarcoat: sky-high operating costs. Early on, we had a customer in Denver who bought three of our traditional gas patio heaters for their rooftop patio. They thought a 20-pound propane tank would last all weekend—turns out, it barely lasted 12 hours on high setting. A standard patio heater runs on either liquid propane (LP) or natural gas, and both are gas guzzlers when cranked. I did the math once for a local café here in my hometown (Raleigh, NC) that uses their heaters 12 hours a day, five days a week from October through April. A single propane heater on high uses about 1.5 pounds of fuel per hour, so that’s 18 pounds a day—meaning two full 20-pound tanks a week, at current prices that’s $35 a week per heater, $140 a month, and over $800 a heater per season. If they’d gone with natural gas, it’s a bit cheaper, but only if their patio is plumbed to a gas line. If it’s not, installing a gas line for a commercial patio? That’s $1,500 to $3,000 per heater, plus permit fees. I’ve had more than one small bar tell me they switched to space heaters or even just patio blankets because the monthly gas bill was killing their profit margin.
Next up—safety risks that aren’t just “you might burn yourself.” When I first started, I had a rule: if a customer tells me they’re placing a heater within three feet of a table, umbrella, or stack of wooden chairs, I say no. Those heaters get way too hot. The metal hood at the top can reach up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt aluminum, let alone singe a tablecloth, set a paper menu on fire, or char a flimsy patio umbrella. Last year, I got a call at 2 a.m. from a customer in Atlanta screaming that their heater had set their patio umbrella on fire mid-wedding rehearsal dinner. The fire department put it out, but the umbrella, three chairs, and a side table were total losses, and they had to reschedule the dinner. That’s thousands in damage, all because someone tried to cram an extra table in a tight space. And it’s not just open flames—carbon monoxide is a silent killer. I always specify to customers that propane patio heaters need at least 10 feet of open space above them and 3 feet on all sides, and never to use them in enclosed spaces like gazebos or covered patios with limited airflow. A few months back, a small café in Charlotte had a family get sick—headaches, nausea—because their patio was covered by a low wooden canopy; the inspector found 40 parts per million of CO, way above the safe limit. I’ve replaced their old heaters with vented commercial ones, but that mistake cost them a $1,200 fine from the health department.
Then there’s the maintenance and hassle, which I swear no one tells you about when you’re picking out patio heaters for your space. Every time the weather changes, you’ve got to prep these things for storage or cold use, and skipping steps means they don’t work when you need them. For propane models, that means checking the gas line for leaks (I keep a soapy water bottle with me to test—if bubbles form, there’s a leak), cleaning the burner regularly because debris like leaves, spider webs, or food crumbs can clog the ports, and making sure the igniter doesn’t get wet or rust. We had a customer in Charleston who stored their heaters outside all winter with the covers half-on, and when spring came, half the heaters wouldn’t light because water had gotten into the gas tanks and rusted the burners. Replacing all those burners cost them $2,000, and they lost three weekends of patio use waiting for parts. And it’s not just gas models—electric patio heaters have their own maintenance: the cords get frayed from being dragged across concrete, the heating elements burn out if you leave them on 24/7, and they need a grounded outlet within a few feet, which isn’t always easy to install for larger outdoor spaces.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the environmental impact, which is a big one for customers these days. I get at least one email a week from a restaurant asking if their patio heaters are eco-friendly, and to be honest, for the most part, they’re not. Traditional gas patio heaters burn fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air—one heater running on high for an hour emits about 10 pounds of CO2, same as driving a car 10 miles. Multiply that by 10 heaters running 12 hours a day six months a year, and that’s 21,600 pounds of CO2 a year—more than most small households. Even the newer “eco-friendly” propane patio heaters still burn fossil fuels, just a bit more efficiently. Electric models are better, but only if your electricity comes from non-renewable sources—if it’s from coal or natural gas, you’re still contributing to emissions, just not right on your patio. I work with a few sustainable bars that have swapped their gas heaters for a mix of solar-powered electric units and patio blankets, because the carbon footprint is way lower, even if the upfront cost is a bit higher.
Last, but definitely not least, is the noise factor. If you’ve ever been within 10 feet of a running gas patio heater, you know what I mean— that constant, low rumble from the burner that sounds like a tiny jet engine idling. It’s not loud enough to deafen you, but it’s persistent, and it makes holding conversations really hard. I had a customer in Boston who bought six heaters for their rooftop, and within two weeks, they got 12 complaints from patrons saying they couldn’t hear their friends talk. They tried turning them down, but then they weren’t providing enough heat, so they ended up having to add sound-dampening mats under each heater, which cost $150 each, and even then, they still get the occasional complaint. Electric patio heaters are quieter, but many of them still have a slight hum from the fan that blows the heat, so if you’re in a space where people are trying to have intimate conversations, it can be a problem.
Now, before you write me off as the patio heater guy who’s anti-heater—hear me out. I sell these things because I know they work when used right, and I’ve helped hundreds of customers make them work for their spaces. But the point of this isn’t to scare you; it’s to be honest, because as a supplier, I want my customers to be happy long-term, not just happy when they first unbox the heater. If you’re a restaurant owner trying to extend your patio season, a homeowner hosting a lot of backyard events, or anyone who’s thinking about adding patio heaters, the key is to go into it with your eyes open.
We don’t push the cheapest models here, because the cheap ones are the ones that break, leak, and cause safety issues. We work with customers to figure out the right size for their space, whether they need gas or electric, how to install them safely, and even how to cut down on operating costs—like suggesting programmable timers so they only run when the patio is in use, or pairing them with wind screens to make them 30% more efficient (less heat blowing away in the wind means you use less fuel). If you’re worried about noise, we carry quiet-burn gas models and low-noise electric ones. If you care about the environment, we have solar options that don’t run on grid electricity at all.
At the end of the day, patio heaters are a tool—they’re amazing when used correctly, but like any tool, they have downsides that you can’t ignore. I’ve fixed more broken heaters than I can count, and I’ve seen more than one business suffer because they didn’t do their homework before buying. That’s why I’m always willing to sit down (or hop on a call) and walk through all the pros and cons, help you pick the right setup for your space, and make sure you avoid the mistakes I’ve seen over the years. If you’re looking to add patio heaters to your business or home, let’s chat—no pressure, no sales pitch, just real advice from someone who’s been in the trenches with these units.
Fan Heater References:
- U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2024). Average Propane Prices for Residential Consumers.
- National Fire Protection Association. (2023). Outdoor Heating Safety Guidelines for Commercial and Residential Spaces.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2022). Carbon Monoxide Exposure Limits for Workplace and Public Outdoor Spaces.
- EPA. (2023). Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Portable Outdoor Gas-Fired Equipment.
- Patio Industry Association. (2024). 2023 Commercial Patio Heater Usage and Maintenance Survey.
Ningbo Jumar Products Ltd.
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