Outdoor events are becoming more and more popular, especially during the summer months. This is partially due to the Covid-19 restrictions imposed on the UK. These have meant most events over the past year or so have taken place outside! But aside from this, more people are discovering the joys of an outdoor event, in a marquee, tipi, tent, or simply in the garden.
What better way to spend a warm spring or summer evening than enjoying a BBQ, drinks, or meal in the great outdoors?
From wedding receptions to family parties, outdoor events won’t be going anywhere any time soon. However, the evenings can get chilly, so some form of outdoor heating is a must! But what are the best options out there?
At Grizzly Bear Events, we are professional suppliers of outdoor heater hire in West Sussex, Surrey, and beyond. We are here to help you choose the right heating option for your needs, whatever they may be.
Do you need patio heater hire?
When they need outdoor heating for an event, many people immediately think about patio heaters. Of course, they are a good option for many events. They’re fairly compact and space-saving, and help to keep everyone warm. Having said that, patio heater hire is not always the best solution. In fact, many people don’t actually realise that there are different forms of outdoor heater hire are out there,. And, they may suit your needs far better than a patio heater. Not to mention, they are often cheaper as well!
To help you decide, in today’s blog post we’ll be taking a look at the various features of patio heaters and indirect diesel heaters, another popular option for heating outdoor events. There are benefits and drawbacks to both heating types. But, where there are limitations for patio heaters, indirect diesel heaters often reign supreme.
Patio Heater Hire
A popular option for outdoor parties, weddings, corporate events, and more permanent heating needs, this is the most common option that people are drawn to when they don’t know too much about outdoor heater hire. They’re also known as gas garden heaters, space heaters, pyramid heaters, propane or butane heaters, and gazebo heaters in their various forms. But what are they good for, and where are they lacking? Let’s take a closer look:
Uses and considerations
They are great for heating completely open spaces. As a result, they are often used in the following scenarios:
- They’re popular for home use, such as keeping everyone around the table warm during a family BBQ
- Patio heaters work well in smoking areas at bars, pubs, and clubs, as well as in the beer gardens we all know and love!
- Many venues use them to heat the outdoor areas at drinks receptions for weddings, parties, anniversaries, and more, to help keep everyone warm of an evening
Patio Heater
Pro's & Con's
- Great for unsheltered areas
- Easily moved
- Heat level relatively low
- Easily moved
- They use up floor space
- Exposed hot surface
- Costly to run
Output
Each patio heater has around 13Kw of heat output. This is a lot lower compared to indirect diesel heaters, which we discuss below, so it’s certainly something to bear in mind! It’s likely you will need more of them to heat the same space
Cost
When searching for patio heater hire, many people aren’t aware of how expensive it can be! There’s the initial hiring cost, but fuel can soon add up too. For example, a gas bottle costs around £40 and will only last around 6 to 8 hours. This cost can soon add up, especially if you need multiple heaters for an extended period of time.
Space
Patio heaters also take up a fairly large surface area. So, if you only have a small outside area to begin with, you may struggle for space, especially if you need more than one.
Safety
Possibly the biggest consideration with patio heaters is safety. As they warm the outside area, their surface also gets very hot. This can be a big safety issue. So, if you are hosting an outdoor event with children, a patio heater may not be the best solution for you. It’s vital to ensure that everybody attending knows about the heaters and how hot they get to minimize the chances of burning and other safety concerns.
Indirect Diesel Space Heater Hire
Patio heaters don’t work for every outdoor occasion. But, there are other options out there so you don’t have to worry about being cold! At Grizzly Bear Events, we supply outdoor heater hire in the form of indirect diesel heaters for all sorts of occasions. They can also be known as space heaters, flame heaters, and marquee blower heaters, with popular models including Arcotherm EC55 and Master BV170. But why do we think they’re a better solution? Here are just a few of their features and benefits:
Versatility
Whereas patio heaters can only safely be used in completely outdoor spaces, indirect diesel heaters can be used in more enclosed outdoor spaces, such as marquees. This makes them a far more versatile solution for events, as occasions such as marquee weddings and parties become more and more popular. They are also a discrete way to heat these spaces, as the bulk of the heater is stored outside of the shelter and a compact vent inlet is used to heat the space. However, please note that these heaters can’t be used in completely open-air spaces in the same way patio heaters can.
Indirect Heater
Pro's & Con's
- Safe to use indoors
- Cheaper to rent
- No naked flames
- Directional heating
- Discrete venting
- Thermostatic control
- Over 10 hours run time on one tank
- No internal floor space required
- Need an enclosed space to retain the heat
This heating solution is also a safer option compared to patio heaters, as there are no hot surfaces that could cause potential hazards and injuries. So, they’re a reliable heating solution for events that even the whole family attends.
Temperature controls
Another drawback of patio heaters that indirect diesel heaters provide a solution for is temperature. With patio heaters, it’s a lot harder to control the temperature and ensure that it’s not too hot or too cold.
But, an indirect diesel heater’s temperature can be controlled by a thermostat, much like the one you probably have at home. So, it’s really quick and easy to turn the temperature up or down and ensure that all of your guests are comfortable.
Running costs
Finally, this type of outdoor heater hire is also far cheaper to run than patio heaters, but they also have an output of between 55-85Kw of heat from just one heater, so they are far more efficient too.
Cost implications of outdoor heater hire
Of course, when looking for outdoor heaters for any event, cost implications must be a consideration. So, which option for outdoor heater hire is more cost-effective? These calculations are based on a 20×10 metre area. This is equivalent to a stretch tent, tipi, marquee, or similar shelters that are commonly used for outdoor events
Patio heaters:
To fully heat this sort of space, you will require at least four separate heaters, but likely five to feel the full effects.
As an example, patio heaters normally cost around £80 each to hire. On top of this, they also require £40 fuel.
This gives a total cost of around £600 + VAT, giving a total price of around £720.
Indirect diesel heaters:
On the other hand, just two of our indirect diesel heaters will be enough to keep you toasty!
These cost £225 each to hire, including 8 hours of fuel, ducting, vents, installation, and delivery plus collection when the event is over.
This brings us to a total price of £450 with no VAT!
So, as well as the other benefits, indirect heaters come out on top when it comes to price. If you’re planning an event on a budget, or are simply looking to save money on the essentials, they will probably be a good choice for you.
What sort of outdoor heater hire is right for me?
Overall, both patio heaters and indirect diesel heaters are good solutions to keep guests warm at an outdoor event. If your event is fully outdoors (i.e. you are not using a shelter such as a marquee), patio heaters may be best for you. However, from our years of professional experience supplying heaters to outdoor events, we believe that the superior choice when hosting an event in a marquee or other shelter is indirect diesel heaters. They are cheaper to hire, more versatile, safer, and easier to use. So, if you’re hosting an outdoor event and need heating, we can help!
Our heater hire
We can supply the outdoor heater hire you need in West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey, London, and beyond. And, we even offer free delivery and collection within 50 miles of Horsham, West Sussex when hiring more than one heater.
Once delivered we will install your heaters and show you how to use them to get the most out of them for your event. We also pride ourselves in maintaining our equipment above and beyond the manufacturer standard, so that you can have the peace of mind that you’re using a heater that is 100% safe, clean, and fully tested before each rental.
Please click here to find out more about our outdoor heater hire services. Or, click here to get a FREE quotation for your event!
Did you know that we also provide generators, chillers, lighting, and fires for hire? If you’re looking for the full package for your event, we’re here to help. Click here to visit our website and find out more about what we offer
