With the patio heating season just starting, freestanding "post-style" upright portable propane heaters will again be flooding retailers all across the nation. The most common question we get from consumers is "why are some patio heaters so much cheaper than others"?
The answer to that question is in the question itself - "cheaper" being the key word. Yes, the heaters sold in the big box home centers and retailers are cheaper (less expensive to buy) because they are cheaper (cheaply made).
It matters little whether they’re made in North America or overseas. Patio heater prices are determined largely by the quality and features offered. It’s true that, as market demand has increased, patio heater prices have dropped over time. What was once a specialty item sold through specialty fireplace and patio furniture shops, has become readily available through retail outlets everywhere, including online stores. A heater that once sold for $650 or more is now as low as $199. But over the course of time, what has happened to product integrity? What about the quality of materials, technology, reliability and performance and warranty?
We’ve observed that post-style patio heaters are now lower in quality than in years past. And that’s not a good trend.
I recently attended the HPB Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah (held March 3-5, 2011). This national show is primarily where manufacturers of hearth, barbeque and other outdoor products from around the world gather to introduce new appliances and shore up distribution channels with distributors and dealers. While the show was smaller this year compared to previous ones, I saw at least a dozen booths with freestanding outdoor post-style patio heaters. Most of the heaters I reviewed had prices ranging from $179.00 up to $299.00.
A few of the heaters were of very low quality (ie. 4 piece top reflectors, flimsy posts, and low grade, low gauge steel). But what struck me most was that the technology (or lack thereof) was basically the same as years gone by - "drum style" burner heads and a very cheap piezo ignitor. Nothing new and innovative. The only real variations were color and the size of the mushroom reflector above the heater head.
Of all the brands we compared, only one patio heater manufacturer offered something unique and different – the EvenGlo patio heater by IR Energy, Inc. To view their heater from 80 yards away was to look at just another post-style patio heater. But getting a closer look, there were some obvious differences. Big differences. Huge improvements to both heater head design and construction quality.
In 2007, IR Energy, Inc. engineers decided to improve upon the "old technology" patio heater by coming up with something much better. By doing so, they knew that this heater would be like no other. It would also cost more because it would offer a lot more in terms of construction quality, technology, longevity, warranty, etc. The EvenGlo model GA201 is the result. Let’s compare:
Burner Head. Cheaper brands use a "drum style" burner, which distributes heat outward to the people zone, all while wasting up to 50% of heat energy to the open air without reaching the target area. By stark contrast, EvenGlo uses a multi-faceted burner head that maximizes useable heat output by shooting a torch style infrared flame into a collector, which then bounces heat energy both downward to a "bottom feeder" and upward to a large mushroom dispenser. In fact, the patented EvenGlo reflector reflects up to 58% more useable heat energy to the people zone! This burner head is unmatched by any competitive product.
Controls. Cheap brands use inexpensive push button piezo ignitors. Simply put, they are unreliable and frustrating to use. EvenGlo GA201 uses a heavy duty chrome control knob (below). The spark ignitor generates its power from a self generating battery spark, similar to ignitors found on high end residential gas BBQ's and stoves. It ignites easily on every try. As all too many patio heater owners know, igniting their heater can be the biggest hassle of all.
Heater Weight. The cheapest patio heaters weigh as little as 40 lbs. The EvenGlo GA201 weighs 120 lbs!. That’s without the LP tank. Which one do you think is made better? If you said the 40 lb. heater, you’d be dead wrong. The GA201 weighs more because it is built with heavier gauge steel. Standard is 304 Stainless, the highest grade available. Cheaper units use 430 stainless, which is lighter weight and will corrode over time.
Top reflector. Cheap patio heaters have small reflectors made of aluminum or 430 stainless steel. The EvenGlo GA201 uses a much larger top reflector made of polished 390 stainless steel – the highest grade stainless availalble! It’s size, orientation, rigidity and material quality guarantees maximum performance. The GA201 reflector is also supported by three rigid supports that maintain the shape and integrity of the reflector, even with a foot of snow resting on top.
