Patio / Garden Heating

[Polotoo]

Hi all

Now the longer lighter evening are finally here, my thoughts are now turning to the garden. Have been toying with the idea of getting a patio heater, but I don't know which one to choose-there is so many out there!!

Do I go for a gas heater - then is it better to go for a big one or a tabletop one or perhaps both? Or a halogen one? Or a traditional chiminea? Or a cast iron fire pit?

We do a lot of entertaining so want something that will warm 8-10 people round a table, so was thinking a table top one and a free standing one..... or a couple of fire pits/chimineas, as have loads of wood we can burn.....

Any thoughts from other ab-ers?

As ever, thanks for any comments!!

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Polotoo, personaly I would go for the traditional chiminea, either cast iron or terra cotta, if you have a good supply of wood, then all the better!

I think they are much more environmentaly friendly than the gas ones and more estheticaly pleasing too and of course you can use them for cooking, roll on summer!!

[stevie-p]

beware of the clay chimneas..they get ruined if they get wet.

If you go for the heaters like the ones you see outside some bars..go for stainless steel,more pricey but they wont rust.

[ianess]

Isn't it marvellous.....the planet's running low on natural resources, we're all being advised to conserve energy and yet we still have people wanting to know how to heat up the open air. And the garden centres are making vast profits by taking money off these strange characters.
There's something not quite right somewhere.