The downsides are that you'll need to assemble this patio heater yourself, and it's a bit of a faff to do. Plus, once assembled it's large, heavy, and – despite its built in castor wheels – it's bulky to move and to store (although an outdoor cover is included). Burning through gas also raises environmental concerns and means higher running costs compared to electric, so this fuel type won't be for everyone.

The usual downside of a fire pit is the smoke that they produce, with wood-fired flames tending to mean that guests can end up with a face full of smelly smoke whenever the wind changes direction. However, Solo Stove aims to eliminate this problem thanks to its innovative 'smokeless' fire pit range. Yes, infrared heaters are very energy-efficient, generally costing less to run than conventional fan heaters, most ceramic fan heaters, and even oil-filled radiators. In fact, very few infrared heaters draw more than 1.3kW, while some models such as the portable Princess model featured below are as low as 350 watts. Many professionally installed wall and ceiling-mounted models consume even less electricity – as low as 160 watts.

It offered good heat distribution in our tests, and its generous size and tall design made it a great option for keeping standing guests warm at an outdoor gathering. Plus, it looks good, with its high borosilicate glass tube and visible gas flame creating a real focal point as dusk draws in, and needing less active maintenance than a wood-burning fire pit.

Twin tube carbon heaters can be easily retrofitted into existing infrared systems. They replace the existing heaters, improve the system and decrease the running costs. carbon-twin In the medium wave range, Heraeus offers tailor-made twin tube heaters or carbon round tube heaters of especially high efficiency. The synergistic combination of these proven technologies allows great advantages for your process. We wanted to create a 'sensory-balanced' workspace that was both socially sustainable and adaptable' Heraeus Carbon IR heaters have a unique filament design that combines the versatile medium-wave spectral emission with very short reaction times of just seconds. They are made with high-quality quartz tubes and gold reflectors for high efficiency. The unique Heraeus "Figure 8" Twin Tube design gives Heraeus carbon lamps higher power densities and good mechanical stability. Round tube designs are also available. Carbon infrared heater got its name because the elements are made of carbon fibre, just like Edison's first light bulb. The name is actually quite misleading, because a carbon fibre lamp also contains halogen gas and is a type of halogen lamp. The characteristics of the lamp give longer service life and lower element temperatures. This gives softer radiant heat and can be experienced as warmer. Tests have shown that a carbon infrared heater heats the skin more efficiently and is therefore experienced as warmer despite a lower output. Halogen infrared heater If you opt for a freestanding or wall hung patio heater then a remote control can also come in useful so you don't have to get up and down from your seat to adjust the heat.Quartz and carbon infrared heaters produce a bit of soft red-glowing light. This is an indication that they produce some short-wave infrared radiation. Although they are safe to use, I recommend not staring into the light for too long. Additionally, make sure you read the safety instructions carefully. Some instructions mention a required distance from other (flammable) objects) A quartz heater is an electric heater that produces infrared (IR) radiation to provide warmth. Quartz heaters are available as indoor space heaters, outdoor patio heaters, or a heater designed for industrial purposes. If you're looking for a cheap patio heater, then the Devola Core 2kW Freestanding Patio Heater is a budget option that does the job. Like its panel counterparts, the Kiasa works just as well for radiating heat to where it’s needed most, and for relatively little outlay.