•    Types of patio heaters

There are two types of patio heaters—commercial and residential heaters.

Commercial heaters are used in restaurants and other businesses that offer outdoor seating or conveniences. Since smoking indoors or in any establishment that serves food has been banned, smokers often flock outside restaurants or pubs. But during colder seasons, the number of customers, including the smokers, decrease because they would much rather stay indoors. To remedy this problem, restaurants and other such venues have installed patio heaters to cater better to their customers.

The high demand for patio heaters in restaurants has increased in the past few years, so buying one won’t cost you too much anymore.

•    Models

You can choose from free-standing, table-top, or wall-mounted patio heaters.

Free-standing heaters are more or less seven feet tall, with heat that can reach well over 20 feet in diameter. The lighter and smaller table-top heaters can produce heat around an 8-foot diameter.

•    Fuel

Patio heaters have three different types of fuel—natural gas, propane, and electricity.

Restaurants commonly use natural gas heaters, since it can be hooked up to the gas lines instead of refueling. This kind of heater cannot be moved, though.

Propane-powered heaters are ideal for catering or other uses that require constant moving. This kind of heater runs on tanks and can be set up in a few minutes.

•    Features

Patio heaters have features like automatic emergency shut off, with turns off the heater if ever it is upturned or hit hard. Other models have a piezo electric starter, which does not require a pilot light.

•    Before You Buy A Patio Heater…

Consider the heater’s power, rated in BTU’s. On average, a large heater makes a 20-foot heat circle, which is about 45,000 BTU’s. Smaller heaters will heat an approximately 10-feet diameter.

For convenience and safety, be sure the heater is equipped with an electric starter. This feature will not require you to light the pilot or handle fire.

To avoid an eyesore, pick a patio heater that goes with the rest of the style of your home or the establishment.

How do you plan on using the heater? Do you mean for it to stay in one spot or will you move it around often? It would be best to decide whether you should get a smaller portable model with or without wheels. Oftentimes, the wheels are obscured from view, so this should not affect your choice of style.

With outdoor activities increasing, a patio heater is a necessary addition to the household. Instead of spending nights cooped up inside the house or not being able to admire the dazzling city lights outside the restaurant, take advantage of the useful patio heater.

In a kerosene heater, a circular wick made of fiberglass is incorporated into a burner unit above a tank filled with 1-K kerosene. Through capillary action, the wick derives kerosene from the tank. When the wick is lit, it emits flames into the burner unit. The air is then heated through convection or radiation. Proper oxygenation and distribution of flames is controlled by the burner.

The height of the flame can be controlled by an adjusting mechanism that raises or lowers the height of the exposed wick inside the burner unit. To extinguish the heater, retract the wick into a cavity below the burner.

Like any other household appliance, a kerosene heater also poses risks and dangers. Because it involves the use of heat and fire, extra precaution is required to avoid the following:

• Air pollution

Kerosene heaters emit pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide. Inhalation of these pollutants can harm children, elderly, pregnant women, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.

• Asphyxiation

Oxygen is consumed as kerosene heaters burn. Operating unvented heaters in small area or places that do not have adequate ventilation can reduce oxygen level. This means fuel would be incompletely combusted, which results in carbon monoxide. Inhalation of carbon monoxide can cause dizziness, nausea, fainting, and in worse cases, death. Do not use heaters designed to heat large rooms in small ones.

• Burns

Direct contact with the heater while it is operating or hot can cause burns. Children, pets, and combustible materials such as clothing should be kept a safe distance away from the heater. Do not attempt to move a lighter kerosene heater. Extinguish the flame and wait for it to cool before moving it.

• Fires and/or explosions

Running the kerosene heater close to furniture, rugs, carpets, or any other combustible or flammable object can cause fires. Using fuel other than 1-K grade kerosene and operating the heater near fumes or fuel can lead to explosions. If kerosene spills, clean it up right away.

Never use gasoline or camp stove fuel as alternatives to 1-K kerosene. Similarly, be careful not to mix gasoline or kerosene—or even their containers.

Refuel the heater outdoors and only if it has cooled down. During refueling, do fill the tank to the brim. When the kerosene heats, it expands. Overfilling can cause spillage.

Most importantly, never leave the kerosene heater burning and unattended. Extinguish it if you are leaving the area or if you will go to sleep.

Carefully read and follow the instructions for the maintenance and usage of the kerosene heater from the manufacturer’s manual to ensure the safety of the household and yours.

Like a space heater, a garage heater is installed in your garage to provide heat during cold days. Staying warm is not a luxury, so don’t deprive yourself of this amenity.

Before you go choose and buy a garage heater, there are many things to consider so you won’t end up buying a model that won’t work, won’t fit, or won’t satisfy your needs.

The following are a few factors to think of prior to getting a heater for your garage:

• Gas or electric?
A gas garage heater requires a gas line, so if that is not available, opt for the electric heater instead. There are many brands and models that offer suitable heaters for commercial or residential use.

Although electricity costs much more than gas, electric heaters hold advantages over their counterparts. Electric heaters do not require running a flue through the roof or the side walls. They are also quieter and produce minimal vibration. Gas forced garage heaters require 120V power and a gas line.

However, gas heaters do heat up faster and are more energy efficient compared to electric heaters.

• Alternative

Besides electric and forced air heaters, there are also radiant tube heaters. These work through high intensity infra-red, are less noisy, do not produce drafts, and are more energy sufficient. Radiant tube heaters can be mounted onto a wall and connected to the thermostat and gas line. They require no electricity, as they operate on a millivolt control. They are more expensive, though.

• Garage ventilation

Radiant units can heat up an entire workshop, but if your garage is drafty, the hot air can easily escape. Additionally, if you work with solvents or other compounds, you will suffer more heat loss because you will need to open windows and doors for ventilation. For these kinds of garages, use radiant heaters instead.

• Power requirement and consumption

Check the size of your garage. A garage with two or three cars will require a heater than can provide 25,000 to 35,000 BTU’s. For electric heaters, choose one with a rating of 10.0 KW. Electric heaters usually consume a lot of energy, so they require a strong and dedicated circuit from the establishment’s electrical panel. Older and smaller buildings often do not have capacity for the power requirements of the heater. Check with an electrician if the panel can handle the heater.

• Placement

A garage heater is generally designed to mount from the ceiling or the wall. If the household has children and pets, do not get portable propane or kerosene heaters that are placed on the floor, to avoid accidents.

Do not compromise your safety. Choose your garage heater well. Hire a licensed professional to install your heater and check the local codes.

There are many types of air heaters: the tubular type, the regenerative air heater, and the regenerator.

The tubular type and the regenerative air heater are used in thermal power stations’ steam generators. The regenerator is used for glass or iron manufacturing.

The tubular type is built into the boiler flue gas ducting. It is made up of tube bundles that pass through the boiler.

The regenerative air pre-heaters are made of two types—the rotating-plate regenerative air pre-heaters (RAPH) and the stationary-plate regenerative air pre-heaters (Rothemuhle).

The regenerator is made of brick checkerwork that enables hot gas exhaust to flow through and heat the bricks. The airflow is then reversed, with the hot bricks heating up the combusting air and fuel.

An air heater uses any of the following heat forces: forced convection, radiant heat, or resistive heating elements to heat air.

•    Forced convection
Forced convection is the transfer of heat by the flow of air or water driven by fans, blowers, or pumps.

Forced convection devices include slow combustion wood heating, heat torches, flued and unflued gas heaters, and fixed electric fan heaters.

•    Radiant heat
Radiant heaters make use of electromagnetic heat, which raises the temperature of any substance or material that can absorb radiation. They use reflective shield to divert radiant heat to heated surfaces.

•    Resistive heating elements
Resistance air heaters are sheaths surrounding a resistive heating element.

Another type of air heater is a duct heater, which is mounted in air delivery ducts. It supplies heat to delivered air. An enclosure heater offers humidity control, and freeze and equipment protection. A strip heater is a flat device that can be attached to solid surfaces, and is likewise used for freeze protection and humidity control.

An air heater can utilize various power sources such as electricity, propane, fuel oil, natural gas, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline. Some heaters are also solar-powered while others burn wood products. Other heaters with fins improve dissipation of heat.

Air heaters are now manufactured to be portable, resistant to corrosion, finned, explosion-proof, controlled by microprocessors, or Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-approved. UL or other agencies rate air heaters. Other products encase their coil or grounding wire, and some have independent timing controls.

Portable air heaters are light and easy to move. Heaters that are to be placed in hazardous locations are designed for usage in such environments.

Air heater restrictions include heating capacity, maximum air temperature, and maximum air flow. Heating capacity is the wattage that the heater can deliver. It is also the measurement of the capability of the unit to add heat to the enclosed space. Maximum air temperature and maximum air flow are the highest temperature and flow of air produced by the heater, respectively.

1.    Shut off the heater’s gas or power supply before doing anything else.
2.    Connect a hose to the drain valve located near the base of the tank. Drain the tank by running it to outdoors or to a drain nearby. Unscrew the inlet and outlet fittings at the top of the tank by using two wrenches. For gas heaters, shut off the gas inlet valve and disconnect the union or flare fitting by using two wrenches. The fitting can be found between the gas supply pipe and the inlet valve. Remove the flue hat at the top of the tank.
3.    Remove the old unit and carefully set the new one in. The controls and burner should be accessible. Make sure the area around the new hot water heater is clear and far from flammable materials and substances.
4.    Wrap the heat trap fitting threads using pipe-wrap tape. Screw the fittings into the heater and make sure the arrows point in the water flow direction.
5.    Replace old flexible connectors on the water inlet and outlet pipes with new ones. You may also install a shutoff valve on the cold water side if the tank did not hav one before.
6.    Open the shut off valve to fill the tank with water. Turn on a hot water faucet to get rid of air from the pipes.
7.    Assemble the gas pipes by spreading the pipe dope on the threads and screwing together the parts. Tighten them using the wrenches. Connect the unit with gas supply tubing as explained in the manufacturer’s manual.

You now have a new hot water heater installed.

To maintain the heater, technicians recommend that you flush your hot water heater periodically to cleanse it of mineral deposits and sediment buildup. These foreign materials cause tank noise, unit efficiency reduction, and drain valve clogging.

To flush your heater, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the heater. Turn off circuit breakers, for electric units. Set the gas valve to “Pilot”, for gas units. This will prevent the burners from going on during flushing.
2. Connect a hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the tank. The hose can get hot, so make sure to keep children and pets away from the area.
3. Close the shut off valve on the cold inlet.
4. Open the temperature or pressure relief valve on the tank and leave it open.
5. Open the drain valve located at the bottom of the heater. This will allow the water to flow out through the hose. If sediments clog the drain valve, close the temperature or pressure relief valve and turn on the cold inlet valve. For hardened sediments that block the drain valve, drain the hot water. Remove the hose and use a long tool, perhaps a screwdriver, and chip away the clog.
6. The flushing is done as soon as the hose runs clear.
7. Close the drain valve and remove the hose.
8. Close the temperature/pressure relief valve and turn on the cold inlet valve.
9. Open a hot water faucet and let it run until there is no more air coming out. Then turn on the heater.

Using the same principles of the Bunsen burner, a gas heater flame heats the air, which is then spread by convection. Today, gas heaters have been developed to utilize radiant heat technology instead. This is incredibly useful, especially when used outdoors, because the heat is absorbed by people and objects rather than heat produced for warm the air.

More heaters use natural gas than electricity, while a small percentage use liquefied petroleum or propane, oil, or kerosene. Others rely on wood heat or solar energy. Gas heaters are generally cheaper and faster at heating than electric heaters, although they require running a flue out the roof to carry combustion emissions.

Because this kind of heater uses gas, air pollutant and combustion products are emitted. Prolonged exposure to gas heater emissions can affect health and safety.

Two of the most dangerous by-products of gas heaters are carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is colorless and tasteless. It is very hard to detect. It deprives the room of oxygen if the heater is left unattended and if the area is not ventilated well.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes impairment of thinking and motor reflexes. It can also cause chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and nausea. If a person is exposed to too much carbon monoxide, this can result in death. The elderly, sick, and children are most susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, is also a colorless and tasteless gas. However, it does have a strong odor, which makes it easier to detect than carbon monoxide. And like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide level also rises in unflued gas heaters and poorly ventilated rooms. Inhalation of this gas can cause respiratory tract irritation and shortness of breath.

Children, elderly, and people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are most susceptible to the effects of nitrogen dioxide exposure.

To protect yourself against dangerous exposure to air pollutants, make sure your gas heater is flued. Otherwise, use an electric heater instead.

If you get an unflued gas heater, check if is the right size for the area you will be using it in. Using a large gas heater for a small room will increase the levels of air pollutants faster.

Most gas heaters are now equipped with automatic shut off features, which turn off the heater once it detects low oxygen levels and/or high carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide levels.

Have the gas supply system installed by a licensed and qualified professional to avoid air pollutants and fire hazards. Once you are using the heater, open a window or a door to let fresh air in and air pollutants out. Do not block air vents. Additionally, never leave a gas heater running while you leave the area or the house, or when you go to sleep.

Read the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual, and explain the proper usage and maintenance of the gas heater to the rest of the household. It pays to let everyone know how to use the appliance.

Space heaters are either run by natural gas or propane, or by electricity. While electric heaters are cheaper and safer, they are more expensive to operate because electricity per unit of heat energy produced is costlier than using propane or gas.

The following are the risks involved and the precautions to be taken when buying a space heater:

• Buy a heater that has been tested and certified by a legitimate laboratory. Read and follow the owner’s manual to operate the heater safely.

• The heating element, or even the hot surface area of the heater, can cause fires and burns. Avoid close proximity to the appliance. For households with children and pets, get a heater that has a guard around the heating element or the flame area. Keep flammable liquids and materials away from the heater.

• Do not hide cords or wires under rugs or carpets. Always check for defective or loose wiring. Never operate a faulty heater.

• Properly ventilate fuel-burning space heaters to prevent nitrogen dioxide or carbon monoxide emission and poisoning. Set the heater on non-flammable, level surfaces instead of placing it on top of rugs or carpets.

• To save more energy and lessen the pollutants, get a heater that is designed for the size for the area you want to heat.

• Turn off the space heater and store it away if you plan to leave the area or go to sleep. Fuel-fired heater could produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide or cause a fire.

Here are additional information for specific space heaters:

Kerosene space heaters:

• Make sure to use only 1-K kerosene. Never use gasoline because it can cause a fire.
• When fuel warms, it expands, so it is unnecessary and dangerous to fill the fuel tank to the brim.
• Do not touch, move, or refuel the tank while the heater is operating or hot.

Gas space heaters:

• Gas space heaters emit carbon monoxide and other combustion products. For safety reasons, make sure the heater is equipped with oxygen depletion sensor (ODS), which can shut off the heater when it detects reduced oxygen and heightened carbon monoxide levels in the room.
• Have a professional install and inspect the gas heater and venting system.
• Do not light the heater if you smell gas. Switch off all controls and ventilate the area. Call a gas service person to see to the matter.

A space heater can be the savior come winter and cold nights, but if not properly maintained and operated, it can turn into a nightmare. It can cause fires, burns, and combustion products poisoning. To ensure that you and your family will stay safe while enjoying the warmth a heater can bring, acquaint yourselves with the instructions for proper handling of the equipment.

They are also more efficient that storage water heaters. Absence of a tank saves energy since other water heaters reheat cooled off water, resulting in standby loss. In tankless water heaters, the process is done between the faucet and the heater itself.

Tankless water heaters are used for remote BBQ or outdoor sinks, bathrooms or hot tubs, pool showers, dishwashers, washing machines, and showers, among others. They work whenever a hot water tap is turned on. The cold water travels through a pipe and into the heater unit. Electric heaters heat the water through electric heating elements, while gas-powered heaters use burners. These maintain the constant supply of hot water, typically at a rate of two to five gallons or 7.6 to 15.2 liters per minute. Gas tankless water heaters have higher flow rates as compared to the electric ones.

However, smaller tankless water heaters cannot supply hot water for simultaneous usage, such as washing the dishes while taking a shower. It is recommended to install either more tankless water heaters or one that is capable of running for the whole house.

Installation of tankless water heaters can be pricey. And because it is made to heat water instantly, it uses a lot of electricity whenever it is turned on. There is also a short delay between the water flow starts and the time the cold water is heated, which results in cold water immediately followed by hot water.

The following are factors to consider before selecting a tankless water heater for your home:

•    Application
Single point application means only one fixture will use the electric tankless water heater.

•    Thermostatic
Thermostatic tankless water heaters act as boosters for the loss of temperature from long pipe runs, dishwashers, and sanitation. These units are ideal for places such as hospitals, laboratories, and schools, where constant and precise temperature control is important.

•    Whole House – Indoor
Larger tankless water heaters are made to serve entire dwellings or establishments, where there are a lot of points of use.

•    Whole House – Outdoor
This is similar to whole house indoor tankless water heaters, except they are for use outdoors.

Once you have selected a tankless water heater, you will need to have it installed. Do not attempt to do the installation yourself unless you are a qualified, licensed plumbing and heating contractor. Proper installation can optimize energy efficiency, whereas haphazard installation will not only cost you more money to maintain, but may cause hazards as well.

Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the care and maintenance of the tankless water heater. While storage water heaters last ten to fifteen years, tankless water heaters can go for as long as twenty years, and longer with proper care and replacement of worn-out parts.

Electric heaters are rated in British thermal units, or BTUs, that determines the space heated. It is also the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

There are numerous types of electric heaters. These are the following:

•    Convection heaters
Convection heaters, or electric fires, raise air using a heating element that conducts heat. As the hot air rises due to buoyancy, the cool air is heated to create a constant flow. The current of hot air is emitted through vent holes in the appliance. This type of heater is ideal for closed spaces.

Convection heaters operate silently. They also have low risk of ignition hazards.

•    Fan heaters
Fan heaters, or forced convection heaters, operate similarly to convection heaters, except they have an electric fan to speed up the flow of the hot air and decrease thermal resistance between the heating element and its surroundings.

Fan heats operate with noise because of the fan. They should not be left unattended, too, because they pose a risk of igniting nearby objects.

•    Radiative heaters
Radiative heaters, or space heaters, utilize reflectors and infrared beams to produce heat. Instead of heating the air in the entire room, the heating element travels through the air and allows itself to be absorbed by people and objects. This type of heater is ideal for places that need spot heating, like basements and garages.

Radiative heaters operate silently, but they also present potential danger of igniting nearby objects and furnishings because of their output’s focused intensity and the lack of overhead protection.

•    Storage heaters
Storage heaters, or heat banks, have clay bricks or other ceramic material that absorbs and stores heat during night, when base load electricity is cheaper, and releases the heat during the day.

•    Underfloor heaters
Underfloor heaters work through domestic electrical underfloor heating. This system is called radiant heating system, and either includes a heat exchanger or a radiator, or electricity. Underfloor heaters heat flooring to a temperature set by a floor thermostat, and through convection, heat the adjacent air. They create consistent temperature and even heating.

Now that you know the different types of electric heaters, you are now ready to buy yourself one. But before buying an electric heater, consider the model’s efficiency, safety features, and size. Choose one that is the right size for the room you intend to use it in. Make sure it can heat up the room at moderate speed to save you money and energy. Get a heater that has automatic shut off that prevents overheating and shuts off the heater if it is hit too hard.