Patio Heaters

Do you want to keep enjoying the outdoors during cooler weather? You can extend the time during which you can enjoy dining on your patio by purchasing a patio heater.

Before you choose a patio heater, take a hard look at the area where you will be using it. Are you planning to use your heater on a deck? If so, you may not want to use a wood burning heater for this area. A heater that is fueled by propane and has no open flame would be a better choice. The wood burning heaters are ideal for open patio areas.

Next, make sure you do not have any tree or shrub branches that are too close to the heater’s location. Prune them back before you light up your heater for the first time to avoid unsafe conditions.

One type of patio heater that is currently quite popular is the Chiminea, which is a wood burning patio heater with a Southwestern feel. These fun heaters come in many sizes and colors. They are basically free standing fireplaces, complete with a chimney. Chimineas are perfect for family gatherings on the patio during late summer and early fall evenings. You and your children can enjoy toasting marshmallows over an open flame without the worry of an uncontained fire.

Many patio heaters are actually on posts several feet above the ground and are designed to reflect heat downwards onto the patio’s inhabitants. These heaters may not be terribly attractive, but they work well. Also, it is not quite as easy for small children to burn themselves as it is with the open fire of a Chiminea.

Be sure you look for safety features such as temperature controls in heater models that are fueled by propane, kerosene or natural gas. If you will be using your patio heater in several areas, look for a heater on wheels so that you can move it easily from place to place.

Whichever type of heater you choose, be aware that it will only warm a small area around it, since the heater will be attempting to heat the entire outdoors. However, a good heater can raise the temperature of that small area a good ten degrees Fahrenheit.

Now, with a patio heater to keep your feet nice and warm, you can drink a cup of coffee while you enjoy the beauty of the sunrise despite the lower temperatures of the early morning hours.
Greenhouses

Some useful and insightful articles on greenhouses including Compare the different types of greenhouses and in particular the relative merits of Lean-to Greenhouses and Free Standing Greenhouses