Outdoor Heating

Johnnykelly

Hi Guys .Due to the recent lockdown of my Bar here in Ireland I am allowed have 15 customers outdoors only .My smoking area is currently heated by a small solid fuel 7kw stove .Just comfortable enough for a few people to have a cigarette' and come back in .What would you recommend I use to make the whole area comfortable enough to sit in for a few hours .Its a 14 x 20 ft area .I am going to block off one side to stop the breeze .If anybody can recommend anything I would be really grateful .If its electric please give me an idea of running cost .As you can imagine my budget is not huge .Thanks a million in advance .

Jamie Hall

I'd suggest one or two free standing gas "patio" heaters. I'm not at all sure what brands or styles are available in Ireland, but the general idea is something like this:
https://www.frontgate.com/hammer-tone-commercial-patio-heater/802138?SourceCode=ZZ794176&cm_mmc=Comparison+Shopping-_-Bing-_-NA-_-NA&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla&CAWELAID=120245420000518619&catargetid=120245420002920972&cadevice=c&utm_campaign=PLA - Fire Pits & Tables&utm_id=bing_283899440_1243548137147777_77721866362583_pla-4581321363364836_c&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&msclkid=81618fbc83a51c753c7ad0c2a93b6294
I've seen similar units in pubs in Scotland -- or rather, outside them! -- so I know something of the sort is available -- and they really do work well, particularly if you are shielded from the breeze, as you suggest.

Johnnykelly

Thank you .I had a gas heater and I used a full drum of gas in one Sunday though .Thats 35 euro each drum sad to say

mattmia2

You're trying to heat outside, it is not going to be efficient. Your best bet is to look at the relative fuel cost per btu or KW of the fuels you have available and choose from there. Fossil fuels will be about 80% efficient, electricity will be close to 100% efficient but you may need an enormous electrical service to handle the power that you would need.

Jamie Hall

Isn't Covid fun? At least you can open... after a fashion. There's no cheap way to heat an outside terrace, though.

nicholas bonham-carter

I don’t know what sort of heater you were using, but the key here is using radiant heat, as opposed to a conventional indoor heater which warms the air.
This is the sort which Jaimie refers to.—NBC

Erin Holohan Haskell

This conversation may help: https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/180592/how-would-you-heat-an-outdoor-dining-space-in-chicago