Table of Contents
Introduction
Parasol heaters are specifically designed to make sure that everyone beneath your patio umbrella is toasty on chilly evenings. They also won’t be distracting, or get in the way whilst in use, unlike some of other typical parasol patio heaters.
Whether they are placed at your outdoor dining table or by your patio sofa, these heaters clip around the parasol’s pole to distribute heat evenly. There can be chilly evenings in the summer too, so having the best patio heaters is necessary along with buying a top class parasol.
Advantages of Parasol Heaters
Space Saving and Adjustable
Sitting beneath a parasol whilst attempting to stay warm is one of the most common issues when it comes to parasol use. A typical parasol patio heater, especially one powered by gas, is either heavy to move or reasonably fixed in place. Tabletop heaters are inconvenient and take up space if you’re dining. Wall-mounted outdoor heaters can’t be moved and are fixed in place. Parasol heaters were created as a result, also eliminating the need for a garden umbrella with lights.
Weather Protection and Ability to Heat Large Groups
The greatest parasol heaters may offer a variety of settings, in addition, to merely on and off. This will indicate how many bulbs are on and how much electricity they are using at any one moment. The better models will have separate ON/OFF buttons so that your visitors can adjust their heaters according to their moods. It can be frustrating to have guests around for an outside lunch in the summer and have to switch off who sits at each end of the table to stay warm. Parasol heaters prevent this.
Buying Guide
Water Resistance
The parasol heaters are all made to be used outside. This indicates that a little rain won’t hurt them. However, you should go for an IP24 and higher grade to be certain. This is more than enough for an undercover electrical unit, but you must keep in mind that this rating only applies to the unit itself and in no way implies that the electrical plug and socket can be exposed to moisture. If it isn’t stated in the review, presume no water can touch the plug because these have a different rating.
Installation
As with anything that requires installation, you should always choose parasol heaters that are easy to install. Here are some thumb rules to follow: there are multiple parasol heaters that can be installed by just one nut and bolt. Considering that they will be quite sturdy due to the presence of steel, these are the types of heaters that you should aim to purchase. They are also not hugely expensive, which makes it an easy decision.
Size
The size and weight of the parasol heater that you choose to buy will be very crucial since you need to be sure that your parasol will be compatible with the heater. The size of the parasol heater should be considered; some come with circle bulbs that remain in the centre, while others come with longer “strip” lights that extend farther out on the parasol. Due to the strip bulbs’ tendency to spread out over the parasol, they often cover a bigger area, although this does necessitate a larger, more robust parasol. Some are about 50cm in diameter, while others are up to 130cm.
Power
It is crucial to check the power of your parasol heater because this will affect the amount of heat it will emit and how warm it can keep you and your visitors. A minimum of 500W bulbs are advised because they will provide a respectable quantity of heat. You will need to bear this in mind as well because all of the parasol heaters we have encountered are powered by the mains. Ensure that you consider the length of the wire and whether it will reach a plug outlet that you can use. Some wires are about 2 metres long, which is plenty for many gardens.
Source of Heating and Price
There are parasol heaters with two main types of heating sources: electric and gas. Each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The gas ones do not require mains but they can only be used outdoors since they will produce flames. Electric ones need to be connected to a nearby power source with cords, which makes wires compulsory. This can be a bit cumbersome. However, they can also be used indoors. Gas parasol heaters are also higher in price and have higher maintenance cost in comparison to electric parasol heaters.
Safety
Safety is a prime concern when it comes to anything involving electricity and heat. The same goes for parasol heaters and parasol patio heaters. As a rule of thumb, a gazebo with electric heaters are safer than gas gazebo heaters since the former does not emit any gases or flames. However, with the wiring required for parasols with electric heaters, it is easy for kids or even adults to trip on those wires. If you have a bamboo parasol like the Bambrella Levante, getting gas heaters is dangerous.
Heat Modes
Heat modes are something that is essential to look out for if you are investing in a parasol heater. Heat modes allow you to change the heat output from the gazebo heaters as and when required. If the temperature outside goes lower, you can bring up the heating mode. Since this is an essential feature, always look for parasols with different heating modes and if they do have them, enquire about how many modes there are and what temperatures they operate to.
Conclusion
Hope that the above points and description have answered all your questions about parasol heaters. This information will surely be useful in gaining some knowledge to choose the best patio heaters. Parasol heaters made available on Shade Specialists will take care of the above points and aim to provide the best value for your money.
FAQs
The area requirement for parasol heaters is very minimal in comparison to patio heaters. Most of our parasol heaters can be attached to the main pole of the parasol, which means no view or movement is obstructed when inside the shade of the parasol.
Manufacturers do not advise you to use a gas powered parasol heater indoors. Also, the source of heating should be 2 metres above the ground and leave a space of 50 centimetres above and 60 centimetres around it.
If you are using a parasol made from wood or cloth material, it is advised not to use a gas parasol heater as it is always a danger with flames emitting from it. Such caution should be taken while choosing the parasol based on common sense.
If you have any questions, please contact us today.
