What Are The Various Options and Benefits Available When It Comes To Electric Outdoor Heaters?

Even though the upfront investment for a high capacity electric heater is way more than a gas based outdoor heater, many people prefer electric outdoor heaters because of their high efficiency and economy overtime.

With manufacturers constantly working on new versions of electric heaters that have higher levels of efficiency, many commercial establishments that were forced to use propane heaters (because they had no other choice) are now shifting to electric heaters. In the past, electric heaters didn't accommodate the power requirements of a commercial establishment.

A residential setting or a medium sized commercial establishment would require a heater which has a power capacity of anywhere from 10,000 - 20,000 BTUs. On the other hand, a large commercial establishment would require a minimum power capacity of 30,000 BTUs to ensure efficient heating.

If you are thinking of heating a large outdoor space, you are going to need a more powerful heater. In that case, you have no choice but to go with propane based heater. Propane heaters can provide heating up to 50,000 BTUs. Some models can provide even more.

Many electric heaters in the past were not designed to accommodate such power capacities. But things have changed now. You have a variety of options to choose from when it comes to electric outdoor heaters depending on your requirements.

The only thing that you need to be concerned about (if you're a commercial establishment) is the upfront cost involved in purchasing the machine. It's a lot more expensive in comparison to gas based outdoor heaters.

Here Are Some Of The Benefits Of Electric Outdoor Heaters

1. Intelligent technology

One of the main reasons why electric outdoor heaters are preferred is because they use intelligent technology to ensure that no energy is wasted. These heaters use weatherproof PIR sensors that help detect movement through infrared waves. Traditional propane based outdoor heaters do not employ this technology. As a result, you are sure that the machine heats up the area where people are present.

Another feature of electric heaters is that their sensors actually heat only objects they come in contact with. They don't end up heating the air in between (which the propane based heaters used to do). This ensures that the least amount of energy is consumed for heating the room.

2. Requires no preheating

Propane based outdoor heaters required tons of preheating in order to run. You will have to preheat the unit a couple of hours earlier in order to ensure that the unit is running perfectly in the night. Electric heaters do not require such preheating. As a result, the net power consumption of electric heaters is lower when compared to gas based heaters.

3. Cost effective

Gas is expensive. Electricity is expensive, too. But when you compare the cost of running a gas based heater and the cost of running an electric based heater, you will find out that the electric based heaters are a lot more economical and highly efficient.

The main reason for this is because electric heaters employ intelligent technology that detects movement and ensures that the energy is used efficiently. They have a lot of sensors and thermostats that help regulate the temperature in the area according to your needs and preferences. This is unlike propane based heaters.

4. No harmful exhausts

The problem with propane based heaters is that they require an effective ventilation system to release the harmful exhausts. With electric heaters, there is no need to have an effective ventilation system in place.

Electric heaters release exhausts too (mainly carbon dioxide) but you don't have to set up a separate highly effective ventilation system to release these exhausts.

While the electric models only release CO2 and other normal gases, the propane based heaters actually release other harmful gases such as Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrous Dioxide which can be very harmful.

When choosing an electric based outdoor heater, make sure that you talk to a contractor or an expert to study your own requirements. The power capacity you will require is dependent on the size of your outdoor space, local climatic conditions, budget and needs.