AEI Corporation

Enhancing Apartment Living with Patio Heaters and Grills

Posted: December 17, 2024 at 08:49 PM

12 minute read | Grills

Apartments are a cornerstone of multifamily housing, offering diverse living options ranging from single-story buildings with a few units to sprawling complexes with multiple buildings. Even with such variety, outdoor spaces play a vital role in creating community and enhancing residents’ quality of life. Patio heaters and patio grills are essential additions that provide comfort, convenience, and functionality to communal areas like poolside patios, grilling stations, and clubhouse terraces. This guide explores how contractors, developers, and apartment owners can integrate patio heaters and grills into their properties to maximize usability and resident satisfaction.

Understanding Apartments and Their Outdoor Spaces

Apartments come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing is common: they serve as homes for multiple families within a single property. These apartments often have shared outdoor spaces designed to foster social interaction and relaxation. The amount of outdoor space varies widely, influencing the placement and type of patio appliances that will best serve residents.

Popular Outdoor Spaces for Patio Heaters and/or Patio Grills

• Poolside Patios: Perfect for hosting barbecues and pool parties with one or more patio grill and infrared heaters providing warmth to the cooks during cooler months.
• Lounge Areas: Residents can unwind by the pool year-round with patio heaters to keep the chill away.
• Dedicated Grilling Areas: Outdoor kitchens or shared barbecue spots for residents to cook for their families can benefit from heaters to ensure year-round usability and comfortability.
• Clubhouse Patios: Often used for social gatherings, these communal areas thrive with the addition of grills and heaters; so residents can cook and stay warm while using the clubhouse.
• Valet Waiting Areas: An outdoor front entryway or valet waiting area can be an ideal place for infrared heaters, especially in some urban environments where residents are more likely to commute via taxis or other ride-sharing services.

Infrared Patio Heaters: A Must-Have for Year-Round Comfort

Patio heaters transform outdoor spaces into warm, welcoming environments, regardless of the weather. By emitting harmless infrared heat waves, these outdoor patio heaters directly warm people and objects, ensuring comfort even on windy days.

We offer two types of heaters (mushroom and horizontal), three fuel sources (natural gas, propane, and electricity), and a range of options (for mounting, color, design, power output, and heater control) patio heaters tailored to meet the unique needs of any apartment properties.

Fuel Sources For Patio Heaters

All three fuel source available for patio heaters have their pros and cons, here are some quick details for each:

• Natural Gas Heaters: Perfect for permanent installations, offering reliable, cost-effective heating. Available for mushroom and horizontal heaters. Needs professionally installed gas hook-ups to connect to.
• Liquid Propane Heaters: The only fuel source that allows for patio heaters to be portable, giving the flexibility to reposition the heaters, or store them out of the way when not in use. Also ideal for spaces where gas hookups or electric lines aren’t feasible. Available for mushroom and horizontal heaters.
• Electric Heaters: Clean, efficient, and increasingly popular due to urban energy standards. Only available for horizontal heaters. Needs to be installed by a licensed electrician to ensure it is wired correctly.

Styles and Mounting Options For Patio Heaters

Horizontal and mushroom heaters both make excellent patio heaters, and have a variety of mounting available for an apartment patio.

• Mushroom Heaters: Known for their iconic design, they can be portable (Liquid Propane) or fixed-in place(Natural Gas). These heaters emit infrared heat in a 360 degree circle around them.
  • Mounting Options:
    • Portable: Liquid Propane heaters offer versatile placement. The heater is mounted on a sturdy pole with a base compartment that houses a propane tank. Because the fuel tank is housed in the base of the heater, the heater can be portable, and moved around as needed.
    • Suspended Overhead: Great for covered patios. The heater hangs from an overhead outdoor structure without the pole often used with mushroom heaters.
    • Pole-Mounted: Permanent installations for high-traffic areas. The heater is mounted on a sturdy pole that is secured in the ground.
• Horizontal Heaters: Are sleek, mounted heaters that can blend seamlessly into any patio layout. These heaters emit infrared heat in a wide arc or fan in the direction they are facing.
  • Mounting Options:
    • Suspended Overhead: Great for covered patios. The heater hangs from an overhead outdoor structure, and points down or at an angle.
    • Wall Mounted: Some buildings can have the heaters attached to the outside wall, or on the eaves of the roof and angled down. Useful to heat a patio that shares a wall with a building.
    • Pole-Mounted: The least commonly seen mounting option for horizontal heaters. Horizontal heaters could be attached to a pole that is secured in the ground.

Brands We Carry

1. Patio Comfort and Sunglo: Reliable mushroom heaters powered by Natural Gas or Liquid Propane.
2. Infratech: Electric horizontal heaters are known for sleek design and energy efficiency.
3. Sunpak and SunStar: Versatile horizontal heaters available in both Natural Gas or Liquid Propane options.

Additional Features and Benefits

• Wide variety of colors and designs to match apartment aesthetics.
• Control devices for tailored heating experiences.
• Durable construction ensures longevity, even in high-use communal settings.

Patio Grills: Essential for Communal Living

Cooking outdoors is a timeless tradition, and grills bring residents together over delicious meals. For apartments, choosing the right grill is about balancing durability, safety, and usability.

Fuel Options For Patio Grills

Natural Gas Grills are an excellent choice for permanent installations, offering a continuous and reliable fuel supply. These grills are ideal for properties with pre-existing gas lines, providing a hassle-free cooking experience without the need for refueling. Their consistent performance and low operating costs make them a practical and cost-effective solution for high-use communal areas.

Portable Liquid Propane Grills are highly portable and convenient, making them perfect for flexible grilling locations. Portable grills are ideal for apartment properties where fixed gas lines may not be available, patio space might be limited, or residents require the grill to be mobile. Liquid propane grills provide excellent heat output and versatility, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of communal outdoor spaces.

Electric Grills are rapidly gaining popularity, particularly in urban areas, due to the rise of clean energy mandates and environmental regulations. These grills are easy to use, energy-efficient, and eliminate the need for fossil fuels. Their low energy requirements make them a preferred choice for properties or cities with stricter emissions standards, offering a sustainable grilling option that aligns with modern urban living.

Patio Grill Mounting Options

Portable grills are an excellent choice for flexible use in shared spaces, allowing residents to move the grill to their desired location for gatherings or for the grills to be stored out of the way when they are not needed. Grills must run on liquid propane to be portable. Their mobility makes them particularly useful in properties with limited fixed outdoor kitchen areas or diverse resident needs.

Pedestal or Pole-Mounted Grills offer a space-saving solution, ideal for smaller patios or compact communal areas. These grills are securely mounted, providing a stable, permanent cooking station that doesn’t encroach on surrounding space, making them perfect for high-traffic areas, or for multiple grills to be installed in a single grilling area.

Prefabricated Grill Islands bring a touch of luxury to larger properties without the expense of custom built-in outdoor kitchen countertops. The pieces of our grill islands are made with durable materials and are assembled by you, on-site, with hand tools, in less than a day. Since prefabricated grill islands also weigh considerably less than custom built countertops, our grill islands can be installed on some rooftop patios, where weight is a concern.

Built-In Grills are tailored for properties seeking custom, integrated outdoor cooking solutions. Installed directly into custom built outdoor kitchen countertops, these grills offer a seamless and sophisticated look while maximizing functionality for communal cooking spaces. Custom built outdoor kitchens are often equipped with additional amenities like side burners, storage compartments, and prep areas, creating a complete outdoor kitchen experience that enhances the appeal of high-end apartment communities.

Grill Carts provide versatility with their mobility and added storage features. They are an excellent option for properties looking to offer residents a fully equipped grilling station that can be relocated as needed while maintaining a clean, organized appearance. Must run on propane to be portable.

Features Designed for Grills in a Multifamily Setting

• 60-Minute Automatic Shut-Off Timers: Prevent fuel waste and enhance safety, by making it impossible to accidentally leave a grill running.
• Laser-Etched Control Panels: Ensure durability and legibility for years.
• Anti-Theft Control Knobs: Protect against tampering or misuse.

Optional Add-Ons for a Premium Grilling Experience

• Lift-assist handles for accessibility. Anyone can open and shut a grill without having to reach over the hot grill, even from a sitting position.
• Stainless steel side shelves for extra prep space.
• Warming racks to keep food hot.
• Amenities like double side burners, beverage centers, and built-in sinks for a full outdoor kitchen experience.

Benefits of High-Quality Grills for Apartment Owners and Developers

Increased Property Value and Appeal

Patio heaters and grills are not just functional additions; they are investments in creating appealing, livable spaces. These amenities attract prospective tenants and set properties apart in competitive markets.

Enhanced Resident Satisfaction

Well-equipped outdoor spaces foster community, encourage socialization, and improve tenant retention rates. Providing year-round comfort and convenience demonstrates a commitment to residents’ well-being.

Compliance with Clean Energy Standards

Electric patio grills and heaters align with growing municipal regulations for reducing carbon footprints. By integrating energy-efficient appliances, properties stay ahead of regulatory changes.

Durability and Low Maintenance

Our grills and heaters are built to withstand the demands of communal living. Features like anti-theft knobs and automatic shut-off timers reduce wear and tear while minimizing maintenance efforts.

Choosing the Right Patio Appliances for Your Property

Considerations for Patio Heaters

• Space Size: Large open areas benefit from multiple heaters, while compact spaces require targeted heating.
• Power Source: Evaluate the availability of Natural Gas lines or electrical infrastructure.
• Design and Aesthetics: Choose colors and styles that complement your property’s theme.

Considerations for Patio Grills

• Usage Volume: High-traffic areas may need multiple grills or larger units.
• Safety Features: Prioritize grills with automatic timers and tamper-proof controls.
• Customization Options: Enhance communal spaces with built-in amenities like beverage centers and prep areas.

The Outcome: A Better Living Experience

By incorporating high-quality patio heaters and grills, apartment owners can create inviting outdoor spaces that meet the needs of diverse residents. Whether it’s a family barbecue by the pool or a cozy evening by the heater, these appliances enhance the overall living experience, making apartments more than just a place to live—they become a community.

Investing in durable, reliable patio heaters and grills transforms outdoor spaces into versatile, year-round amenities. Contractors, developers, and property owners can take advantage of our wide selection of products tailored for apartment living. Explore our range of heaters and grills to find the perfect fit for your property and elevate your residents’ outdoor experiences.