Stop Letting Your Patio Go to Waste in the Winter
It’s a frustrating sight: a beautiful outdoor dining area sitting completely empty just because the temperature dropped. Most people try to fix this with those big forced-air heaters, but here’s the problem—they’re trying to heat the air. In an open-air space, the wind just carries that warmth away before it ever reaches your guests. That’s why we use shortwave infrared heaters. Instead of fighting the wind, these units send out waves that warm up people and objects directly. It’s the same feeling as stepping into a patch of sunlight on a chilly day.
Getting the Setup Right
We usually mount these on the ceiling to get that top-down warmth. When the heat hits your guests’ heads and shoulders, they feel cozy. And when people feel cozy, they stay. They order another round of drinks, they linger over dessert, and your tables stay full. By grouping high-wattage units together, you basically create a “warm bubble” that the wind can’t touch. But you have to be careful with the height. If you hang them too high, the heat fades away before it hits the table. Too low? Your guests will feel like they’re sitting under a heat lamp at a buffet. It’s all about finding that sweet spot—enough power to keep them warm without creating “hot spots” that make people want to move.
A Quick Warning on Power
Before you go all-in, check your electrical panel. These infrared arrays pull a lot of juice. If you’re running several 1500W or 2000W units at once, you need to make sure your wiring can handle it. There is nothing worse than having your breakers trip right in the middle of a busy Friday night dinner rush.
The Bottom Line
Think about it this way: if you can push your outdoor season from six months to ten, the math changes completely. You aren’t just buying some hardware. You’re basically adding more square footage to your restaurant without having to sign a new lease or build a new wall. It’s a simple way to keep your guests from heading indoors—or worse, heading to the place across the street.