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What is the Proper Clearance to Combustibles for Heaters?
Ensuring the safe operation of an outdoor heater involves maintaining an appropriate distance from combustible materials.
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Ensuring the safe operation of an outdoor heater involves maintaining an appropriate distance from combustible materials.
It’s no secret that here at Patio Heat and Shade we love spending time outdoors enjoying our backyard oasis, and a key component to keeping our families warm and extending our outdoor time is properly functioning, properly installed patio heaters. Easily the best, most effective upgrade you can make to your outdoor living space, families across the country rely on gas and electric patio heaters to keep the party going long after the sun has jumped off the western horizon.
Once again, we have tapped the amazing brainpower of our patio experts, asking them for tips on how to make your patio heating systems as effective (and safe) as possible. Let’s take a look at their suggestions…
Our patio experts field a bajillion question relating to patio heaters… these come directly from our customers:
When thinking about placing your new patio heater in your outdoor space, keep in mind that you’ll need space around the heater for cool air to circulate and prevent the heater from overheating. If your patio heater is fueled by gas (either propane or natural gas) you’ll need extra space and have at least 25% open space to allow venting of carbon monoxide while in operation.
In all cases, clearances will be specified by the manufacturer and should be adhered to rigidly – Check what they say to do, and make sure you do it. Generally speaking:
Again, it is incredibly important that the installation clearances and instructions for your specific heater be followed for optimal safety and functionality.
The answer to this question is a resounding yes-ish. For either gas or electric heaters, the key is to make sure that you have adequate ceiling height (a ceiling of at least 10’ high is recommended), and that the installation guidelines for your specific heater are being followed to the letter. Remember that unlike electric heaters, gas heaters (either natural gas or liquid propane) need more airflow and can NOT be installed in a fully enclosed room.
Make sure you have at least one wall open to the natural beauty that surrounds you, and you’re good-to-go. Another note, make sure you have at least 3’ separating your new heater from any combustibles (like wooden beams and posts).
Again, we find our customers to be quite an inquisitive bunch. Recent questions from our patio customers include:
Again, we highly recommend that you consult the installation manual for your new patio heater and follow their site recommendations exactly. Generally speaking, an electric patio heater can be mounted 6” from the ceiling while a gas patio heater (since they are generally more powerful and combustible) should be mounted 3’ from the ceiling. Also note that you’ll need at least 6’ from the floor for proper operation. Make sure that you don’t have anything combustible within 3’ of your new heater, including drapes, wooden beams or wooden poles.
You may have noticed that we’ve mentioned checking the installation instructions for your specific heater multiple times throughout this article. That’s because there are variances based on the manufacturing materials, angles of heat deflection and even coating that will change the recommended installation clearances from one manufacturer to another – indeed, even the same manufacturer may have different installation clearances from one product series to another.
This is a step that is critical to the safety and functionality of your new patio heater… be sure to check the installation manual before you purchase your new heater (most of them are available right here on our site) and follow their instructions exactly.
Family and friends love to gather with you outdoors, and as the evenings begin cooling off it’s important that your outdoor patio heater is installed safely and operates at its highest efficiency. Before selecting your outdoor heaters, check out the manufacturer’s installation instructions to make sure that you have the space required to safely run your new system.
Follow these instructions to the letter – your family’s safety depends on it. Finally, have larger electrical and all gas heaters professionally installed to ensure that your infrastructure and system is safely working at its peak efficiency.
Selecting your new heating system is exciting – and making sure you have the right system for your space is the critical step #1 that your family’s safety and warmth depends on. If you’re not sure which system is exactly right for your space, rely on our outdoor patio experts to be there for you. Decades of experience with ensure you get the right system, at the right size, at the right price – all here at Patio Heat and Shade.