Patio heater guide: gas and electric outdoor heaters

A patio heater lets you keep the stoep, braai area or outdoor table usable on cool evenings. Gas patio heaters (mushroom and pyramid flame styles) are portable and work in load shedding; wall-mounted electric infrared heaters are neat and simple but need power. Whichever you choose, a patio heater is for outdoor use only: never use one indoors, in a garage or in an enclosed room.

Patio heater types compared

Type	Fuel	Heat pattern	Best for	Wind	Load shedding
Mushroom (umbrella) gas heater	LPG cylinder in the base	Radiates down and outward in a circle	Open patios, gardens, restaurant terraces	Affected by strong wind	Works
Pyramid / flame tower gas heater	LPG cylinder in the base	Radiates outward from a glass flame tube	Ambience plus moderate heat	Affected; some have wind guards	Works
Tabletop gas heater	Small cylinder or cartridge	Small radius	Small tables, balconies where allowed	Easily affected	Works
Portable outdoor panel heater	LPG cylinder	Directional, like an indoor cabinet heater	Covered stoeps with open sides	Moderate	Works
Wall- or ceiling-mounted electric infrared	Electricity	Directional radiant heat	Covered patios and braai areas	Infrared is less affected than warm air	Doesn’t work (unless on backup power)
Freestanding electric infrared	Electricity	Directional	Small patios, balconies	Less affected	Doesn’t work

Gas patio heaters

Mushroom heaters

The tall stainless steel or powder-coated heater with a reflector on top. The burner heats an emitter under the reflector, which bounces radiant heat down onto the people beneath it. The cylinder sits in the base, which also gives the heater stability. They’re the most common choice for restaurants and big patios, and they work anywhere you can safely put a cylinder.

Pyramid and flame tower heaters

These have a visible flame dancing in a glass tube, which makes them as much about atmosphere as warmth. Heat output varies widely between models, so check the kW rating rather than assuming a tall flame means lots of heat.

Tabletop and portable heaters

Smaller units that run from small cylinders or cartridges. They’re handy for a small table or camping, but the warmth stays close to the heater.

Electric patio heaters

Electric infrared heaters (often halogen or carbon element types) mount on a wall or ceiling, or stand on a tripod. They heat people and surfaces directly, which works well outdoors because there’s no warm air to blow away. They’re tidy, have no cylinder to swap and suit covered braai areas.

The downsides: they need a suitable outdoor-rated power point (fixed wiring should be done by an electrician and covered by your electrical certificate of compliance), and they won’t work in load shedding unless you have backup power that can handle their load. To work out running cost, use: cost per hour = kW × your tariff in rand per kWh.

How much area will it heat?

Manufacturers usually quote a heating radius or area. In practice, coverage depends on:

kW output: higher output reaches further.
Mounting height: too high and the heat spreads thin; too low and it’s uncomfortable directly underneath.
Wind: even a light breeze carries heat away from gas heaters.
Shelter: a patio with a roof and one or two walls holds heat far better than an open lawn.
Air temperature: a Highveld winter night needs more heat than a mild coastal evening.

For a long table or large group, two smaller heaters at either end often work better than one big heater in the middle.

Wind and placement

Place gas heaters out of the strongest wind, or on the sheltered side of the patio. In windy coastal areas, look for heaters with flame-failure protection and a wind guard.
Stand heaters on firm, level ground. A heavy base, and in some cases anchoring, helps stop a tall heater blowing over.
Keep the area above and around the heater clear: umbrellas, awnings, shade cloth, thatch, tree branches and curtains must be well outside the manufacturer’s stated clearances.
Under a covered patio, the space must remain open enough for combustion gases to escape, and the roof must be at least the manufacturer’s minimum height above the heater. If the space has been closed in with blinds, glass or walls, treat it as indoors and don’t use a gas patio heater there.

Safety features and rules

Never use a patio heater indoors, in a garage, in an enclosed braai room or in a closed-in patio. Outdoor heaters can rapidly consume oxygen and produce carbon monoxide in an enclosed space.
Look for a tip-over switch and a flame-failure device (also called a thermocouple safety valve), which cut the gas if the heater falls or the flame blows out.
Leak test with soapy water every time you connect a cylinder, and never test with a flame.
Close the cylinder valve when you’re finished.
Keep children and pets away from the hot emitter and glass tube.
Don’t hang anything on a heater or use it to dry towels.
Don’t move a gas heater while it’s lit.
Store cylinders upright and outdoors in a ventilated, shaded place.

For indoor heating, see our gas heater guide and the gas heater safety guide.

Cylinders

Most mushroom and pyramid heaters are designed to take a 9 kg LPG cylinder in the base; check the manual for the cylinder size and regulator your model needs. Larger cylinders won’t fit inside most bases and shouldn’t be connected to a portable heater unless the manufacturer allows it. To estimate running cost, find the gas consumption in kg per hour in the manual and multiply by your price per kg (refill price ÷ cylinder size).

Brands and where to buy

Gas patio heaters from brands including Alva and Cadac are sold in South Africa, along with many house-brand models. You’ll find patio heaters at hardware and home improvement chains, big-box and outdoor stores, gas dealers and online. Price bands:

Entry: tabletop and basic mushroom heaters.
Mid: full-size mushroom and pyramid heaters with tip-over and flame-failure protection, and freestanding electric infrared heaters.
Premium: commercial-grade gas heaters and fixed electric infrared systems.

Care

Clean the reflector and housing with a damp cloth; stainless steel cleaner keeps it looking good.
Check hoses and the regulator for cracks before each season.
Cover the heater when it’s not in use, especially at the coast where salty air causes corrosion.
Look out for spiders and insects in the burner and venturi tubes if the heater has stood unused; blockages can cause poor burning. Have it serviced if the flame looks irregular.

If you’d rather gather round real flames, see our fire pit guide.

FAQ

Can I use a gas patio heater under a covered patio?

Only if the patio is open enough for combustion gases to escape and the roof is higher than the manufacturer’s minimum clearance above the heater. If the space is closed in with blinds, glass or walls, don’t use a gas patio heater there.

Are electric patio heaters better than gas?

They suit different situations. Electric infrared heaters are neat, need no cylinders and handle a breeze better, but they need power and won’t work during load shedding. Gas heaters are portable and work off-grid, but need ventilation and cylinder swaps.

How long does a 9 kg cylinder last in a patio heater?

Divide 9 kg by the heater’s consumption in kg per hour, which you’ll find in the manual. Running on a lower setting makes the cylinder last longer.

Why does my patio heater keep going out?

The most common causes are wind, a low or empty cylinder, a faulty regulator or a blocked burner. If it keeps happening in still conditions with a full cylinder, have it serviced.