Are Outdoor Patio Heaters Expensive to Operate?

Although many of us would find any excuse to spend more time in the yard or dine in a natural setting, the winter weather is too cold for this.

The bitter months of winter aren’t welcoming while the evenings can get chilly even in summer.

That is why both domestic properties and commercial businesses buy outdoor patio heaters to provide warmth when external temperatures are off-putting.

Even so, there’s one thing that puts many people off – the operating costs associated with outdoor patio heaters.

Restaurateurs and pub landlords will try their best to protect their profit margins because the market conditions and economy of today can change anytime.

Then again, many homeowners are conscious of utility bills, which may skyrocket from an added expense of heating.

Thankfully, outdoor patio heaters can provide warmth to party guests and homeowners without incurring heavy bills.

But, what exactly are the costs of running outdoor patio heaters? Are they really expensive to operate? Are outdoor patio heaters expensive to operate?

Outdoor Patio Heater Running Costs

This is a tough question to answer because the operating costs of an outdoor patio heater will vary depending on the cost of electricity in the area and the power of the heater.

What’s more, households or businesses may have to pay a lot more if their outdoor patio heater is constantly powered on and keeps running  even when not in use. But, to give you an idea, here are some general figures:

If you’re using a 40,000 BTU natural gas outdoor patio heater, the average cost of usage would come down to about $0.476 per hour.

For 40,000 BTU, three 4KWh electric outdoor patio heater units are required. In this case, the average cost of usage is about $1.316 per hour.

Since electric outdoor patio heaters are directional, there isn’t any heat loss and upfront costs for fuel.

It costs about $16 to fill a five gallon tank with propone that’ll provide about ten hours of heat. Based on that, propone outdoor patio heaters that produce a total of 40,000 BTUs will cost an average $1.60 per hour.

Save Money with Outdoor Patio Heaters

Outdoor patio heaters cost a lot less to run than most other heaters available in the market. But, still there are certain ways you can save more money.

Outdoor patio heaters heat up within a few minutes, so you don’t have to wait for them to warm up your space. Therefore, you should install a push button for conveniently turning off the heater when it’s not being used.

If you are using the outdoor patio heater in commercial establishment, you could fit a motion sensor which would detect when customers have left the heater’s vicinity and then switch off the heater.

Another option you could consider with certain types of outdoor patio heaters is thermostat control. With a thermostat control, you may be able to adjust the temperature depending on the weather conditions.

Thus, you’ll be able to prevent wastage of unnecessary energy and save money from cost-effective heating.

Outdoor Patio Heaters vs. Traditional Fire Pits and Fire Places

Some homeowners and business owners consider fire pits or fireplaces for their outdoor spaces, but they aren’t the most suitable option.

While fire pits and fireplaces do add ambiance, they create smoke and may release gases that are harmful to the environment. Outdoor patio heaters use adjustable, real flames and come in different designs.

Moreover, there are a number of other factors that push many customers towards these heaters:

No Mess

Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces require a lot of maintenance and cleaning. When you are using an outdoor patio heater, you will not have to worry about wood, ashes and other kinds of mess.

Contained Heater

Generally outdoor patio heaters are safer to use. You won’t have to worry about any member of your family or guests getting hurt because of these heaters.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, from the average rates provided, we can say that outdoor patio heaters aren’t too expensive to operate. However, they could cost you a lot if you are careless using them.

So, make sure to keep your outdoor patio heaters off when not in use and follow the tips we’ve discussed to save more money on your outdoor patio heater.