AEI Corporation

Winter can create some real challenges for commercial properties, especially those that depend on outdoor spaces to keep customers, guests, and residents happy. A restaurant patio that stays busy throughout the summer might start losing customers as temperatures drop. Apartment communities may notice fewer residents using their outdoor grilling areas, while hotels and resorts can see their poolside lounges and other outdoor amenities sitting empty.

These spaces represent a considerable investment, and property owners don't want to see them go unused for several months simply because it's cold outside.

Fortunately, installing reliable patio heaters can help commercial properties continue using their outdoor spaces throughout much of the winter. Restaurants can keep serving customers outside, apartment communities can provide comfortable gathering areas for residents, and hotels can make more of their outdoor amenities available to guests.

Of course, keeping a commercial patio comfortable during winter takes more than purchasing a few heaters and finding somewhere to install them. The type of heaters you choose, where they're positioned, and even the layout of your patio can make a difference in how well your outdoor heating system performs.

That's why it's worth preparing your property before the colder weather arrives.

Why Commercial Properties Should Prepare Their Patios for Winter

Commercial properties invest a lot of money into creating outdoor spaces that people want to use. Restaurants purchase tables, chairs, and landscaping to make their patios more appealing. Apartment communities build outdoor kitchens, grilling stations, and lounges to attract prospective residents. Hotels and resorts spend heavily on poolside seating areas, courtyards, and other outdoor amenities to improve their guests' experience.

The problem is that these areas can become much less appealing during winter, particularly when temperatures fall after sunset.

Even in places like Southern California, where winters are relatively mild, outdoor temperatures can drop enough to make sitting outside uncomfortable. Restaurants may find customers requesting indoor tables instead of patio seating, while residents of apartment communities might avoid outdoor gathering areas that they regularly enjoyed during warmer months.

For restaurant owners, this can have a direct financial impact.

Consider a restaurant with 20 indoor tables and another 10 on its patio. Throughout the spring and summer, those outdoor tables help the restaurant accommodate more customers during busy lunch and dinner services. Once winter arrives, however, the restaurant could lose a third of its available seating if customers are unwilling to dine outside.

Installing commercial patio heaters can help keep those outdoor tables usable during cooler weather, allowing the restaurant to accommodate additional customers without expanding its building.

The benefits are different for multifamily properties and hotels, but they're still important. A comfortable outdoor environment improves the experience of living at or visiting a property, while also helping owners get more use from the amenities they've already invested in.

Whether you're managing an apartment community, operating a restaurant, or running a resort, keeping outdoor spaces comfortable during winter is a practical way to protect the value of those areas.

Which Commercial Properties Benefit from Winter Patio Heating?

Restaurants are probably the first businesses that come to mind when people think about commercial patio heaters. However, plenty of other properties have outdoor spaces that benefit from heating during the colder months.

The most common include multifamily residential communities, hotels and resorts, and hospitality businesses with outdoor seating or gathering areas.

Multifamily Properties: Keeping Outdoor Amenities Available to Residents

Apartments, condominiums, student housing, senior living communities, and mixed-use developments frequently have outdoor amenities designed for residents to enjoy.

These spaces might include swimming pool lounges, outdoor grilling stations, rooftop terraces, or communal seating areas near a clubhouse. They're often important selling points for properties competing to attract new residents, and their appeal doesn't disappear just because winter arrives.

Imagine an apartment community with a covered outdoor grilling area. During warmer months, residents regularly use the commercial patio grills to prepare meals and spend time with friends. But when evening temperatures start dropping, the area becomes less inviting, particularly for people who want to relax and socialize while their food cooks.

Installing infrared patio heaters around the gathering area can make the space more comfortable, encouraging residents to continue using an amenity that the property has already paid to build and maintain.

The same applies to condominium communities, student housing, and senior living properties with outdoor lounges or shared recreation areas.

We're primarily talking about communal outdoor spaces here, rather than the private balconies attached to individual apartments. Shared patios generally offer more suitable locations for commercial heating equipment and allow property managers to oversee the installation and operation of the heaters.

For multifamily property owners, the goal isn't necessarily to generate immediate revenue from patio heating. The goal is to provide amenities that residents appreciate and that help the property remain competitive.

Hotels and Resorts: Improving the Guest Experience During Winter

Hotels and resorts have similar reasons to invest in outdoor heating, although their guests often use these spaces differently.

A hotel might have a courtyard where guests gather after dinner, a covered patio attached to its restaurant, or an outdoor lounge near the swimming pool. Resorts can have even larger outdoor areas, including pool decks, bars, restaurants, and gathering spaces intended for events.

Guests who pay to stay at these properties expect the amenities to be comfortable and available whenever practical.

Picture a resort with an outdoor lounge overlooking the property. It's a popular place for guests to enjoy drinks in the evening, but as temperatures drop during winter, fewer people are willing to stay outside for long.

With properly positioned patio heaters, the resort can provide a more comfortable environment without making major changes to the space.

Commercial patio heaters can also be useful near covered entrances and valet waiting areas, where guests may spend several minutes outside waiting for transportation.

Restaurants, Bars, Wineries, and Country Clubs: Protecting Outdoor Seating Revenue

For restaurants, bars, wineries, and other hospitality businesses, outdoor heating is often directly connected to how many customers they can serve.

Restaurant owners know that having enough tables available during busy hours is important. If customers are waiting for indoor seating while the patio sits empty because of cold weather, the business is missing an opportunity to accommodate more diners.

A well-designed patio heating system can help address that problem.

The same situation occurs at wineries and breweries where outdoor seating is part of the experience. Customers might enjoy spending an afternoon tasting wine or having drinks with friends, but they're less likely to stay when the temperature becomes uncomfortable.

Country clubs also have outdoor dining areas, clubhouse patios, and other gathering spaces that members use throughout the year. Installing reliable patio heaters helps make those areas more inviting during cooler weather.

For these businesses, the value of outdoor heating goes beyond keeping people warm. Comfortable customers are more likely to use outdoor seating, which gives the business additional opportunities to serve them.

As we discussed in our previous article, Stay Warm, Eat Outdoors: Patio Heaters for Restaurants, outdoor heating can help restaurants make better use of their existing seating capacity during colder weather.

How Infrared Patio Heaters Keep People Warm During Winter

Before deciding which patio heaters to install, it helps to understand how they work.

The commercial patio heaters AEI supplies use infrared heating technology. Unlike conventional heating systems that primarily warm the surrounding air, infrared heaters produce radiant energy that warms people and objects within their heating area.

It's similar to the warmth you feel from the sun on a chilly afternoon. The air might be cold, but standing in direct sunlight can still feel comfortable. Move into the shade, and you'll notice the difference.

Infrared patio heaters work on a similar principle, providing warmth directly to people rather than relying on heating large amounts of outdoor air.

This is particularly useful during winter because outdoor spaces aren't enclosed like the rooms inside a building. Warm air can escape quickly, especially when there's a breeze, making traditional air heating impractical for many patios.

Infrared heating is better suited to these conditions because the radiant energy travels directly toward people and nearby surfaces. Wind can still affect how warm someone feels, so proper placement and adequate heating output remain important.

It's also worth clearing up a common misconception. Infrared radiation is different from ultraviolet radiation, which can damage skin with excessive exposure. Infrared patio heaters are designed to provide radiant warmth rather than ultraviolet light. As with any heating appliance, users must still avoid contact with hot surfaces and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

For commercial properties, AEI offers two main styles of infrared patio heaters: mushroom heaters and horizontal heaters.

Both can provide reliable heating during winter, but their designs make them better suited for different outdoor environments.

Mushroom Patio Heaters: A Practical Choice for Open Outdoor Spaces

Mushroom heaters are easy to recognize because of their large, circular hoods mounted above the heating element.

These heaters distribute infrared warmth in a 360-degree pattern, making them useful for patios where people sit or stand around a central area. Depending on the heater model and outdoor conditions, a mushroom heater can provide an effective heating radius of approximately six feet.

One advantage of mushroom heaters is that they don't necessarily require a covered patio or overhead structure for installation.

That makes them especially useful for open-air restaurant patios, poolside lounges, courtyards, and other outdoor spaces where mounting horizontal heaters may not be practical.

AEI offers mushroom heaters powered by either natural gas or propane, with different installation options depending on the property's needs.

Natural Gas and Propane Mushroom Heaters

Natural gas mushroom heaters connect directly to a property's gas supply and are secured in place. They're a good option for restaurants, hotels, and multifamily properties with established seating arrangements that rarely change.

Because they're connected to a natural gas line, employees don't need to replace propane tanks. This can be particularly convenient during winter when the heaters may operate for several hours every evening.

Propane mushroom heaters offer something different: flexibility.

Portable models carry a propane tank inside their base, allowing staff to move the heaters to different parts of the patio when needed. For businesses that regularly change their seating arrangements, this can be a considerable advantage.

Take a winery that uses its outdoor patio for both daily wine tastings and weekend events. On a normal afternoon, the business might only need a few tables heated near the building. During an evening event, staff may want to rearrange the seating and position portable heaters around a larger gathering area.

Propane mushroom heaters make those adjustments possible without changing the property's permanent heating infrastructure. Portable units should always be turned off and allowed to cool before they're moved.

The tradeoff is that propane tanks need to be monitored and replaced or refilled as necessary. During busy winter evenings, running out of fuel can leave customers without heat, so businesses should plan accordingly.

AEI also offers hanging mushroom heaters that can be mounted overhead. These provide circular heating coverage without occupying floor space, which can be useful for commercial patios with suitable overhead structures.

For more information about where these heaters work best, see our article, Why Mushroom Heaters Remain a Staple for Apartments and Restaurants.

Horizontal Patio Heaters: Overhead Heating That Saves Valuable Floor Space

Horizontal heaters have a rectangular design and direct infrared warmth outward in a broad heating pattern. Depending on the model, output, and installation height, some can provide useful heating coverage extending approximately 12 feet from the heater.

Unlike freestanding mushroom heaters, horizontal heaters are typically mounted to walls, ceilings, rafters, or other permanent structures approved for installation.

For restaurants with covered patios, this can be a major advantage.

Floor space is valuable, especially when a business wants to fit as many comfortable dining tables as possible without making the area feel crowded. Installing several freestanding heaters can take up room that would otherwise be available for tables, chairs, or walkways.

Overhead heaters avoid that problem by keeping the heating equipment above the seating area.

They're also a popular choice for apartment grilling stations, hotel patios, covered rooftop lounges, and outdoor bars.

Choosing Between Natural Gas, Propane, and Electric Horizontal Heaters

Horizontal patio heaters are available in natural gas, propane, and electric models. Each fuel source has advantages, although the right choice will depend on your property's infrastructure and how the heaters will be used.

Natural gas horizontal heaters are connected to a permanent gas supply. They can be a convenient option for commercial properties that already have natural gas connections available near their outdoor spaces.

Restaurants planning to operate their patio heaters regularly throughout winter may appreciate having a continuous fuel supply without worrying about changing tanks.

Propane horizontal heaters are another option, particularly for properties where natural gas isn't available or practical. These heaters are permanently installed and connected to an appropriate propane supply system.

Electric horizontal heaters don't require gas piping, making them useful for patios where suitable electrical infrastructure is available. Many models also offer convenient controls, including adjustable heating levels and the ability to operate separate heating zones.

Imagine a restaurant with a large covered patio divided into three sections. On a busy Friday evening, all three sections might be occupied and require heating. During a slower weekday, however, the restaurant may only need one section.

With an appropriately designed electric heating system, the restaurant can operate heaters in the occupied area without heating the entire patio unnecessarily.

Our heaters are often available in different sizes, like single-element and dual-element heaters, or two-stage heaters, which allow property owners to choose different heating outputs based on their needs.

AEI carries several trusted commercial patio heating brands, including Infratech, Sunpak, SunStar, and Sunglo.

Each offers different features and installation options, so it's worth comparing the available models before deciding which heaters are appropriate for your property.

How to Position Commercial Patio Heaters for Better Winter Heating Coverage

Even high-quality patio heaters won't provide the desired results if they're installed in the wrong locations.

A restaurant might purchase several powerful heaters and still have a few tables that customers avoid because they're too cold. Apartment communities can experience similar problems when heating equipment doesn't adequately cover the places where residents sit or gather.

These issues become more noticeable during winter, when temperatures are lower and customers depend more heavily on the heaters for comfort.

Proper placement helps reduce cold spots and makes better use of the heating equipment you're purchasing.

Mushroom Heater Spacing

Mushroom heaters distribute warmth around the unit in a circular pattern. For models with an effective heating radius of approximately six feet, positioning heaters about twelve feet apart can provide a reasonable starting point when planning coverage.

However, that distance shouldn't be treated as a universal installation rule.

Outdoor temperatures, wind exposure, heater output, and seating arrangements can all affect how comfortable people feel. A restaurant patio that is exposed to strong evening winds may need a different arrangement than a sheltered courtyard with similar dimensions.

Portable propane mushroom heaters are useful in these situations because they can be repositioned when seating arrangements change.

Propane mushroom heaters can also provide additional heating in areas where permanent overhead heaters aren't practical.

Horizontal Heater Placement

Horizontal heaters require a little more planning because the installation height and direction of the heater affect where the warmth reaches.

A heater mounted too high may provide less warmth at seating level than expected. A unit pointed in the wrong direction can leave part of the patio uncomfortable, even though the heater itself is operating correctly.

Several common installation arrangements can help address these problems.

Uniform spacing places heaters at regular intervals above a patio, generally directing warmth downward toward the seating area. This can work well for covered restaurant patios and other spaces with straightforward layouts.

Opposing arrangements use heaters mounted on opposite sides of a patio, directing heat inward. This approach can help cover wider seating areas where warmth is needed from more than one direction.

Cluster arrangements position multiple heaters around a central point, with each unit directed toward a different section of the patio.

Some horizontal heater models can also be angled up to 30 degrees to help direct heat toward specific areas, although the permitted mounting angle depends on the manufacturer's specifications.

Ceiling height matters as well.

A heater mounted beneath a relatively low patio cover may provide excellent warmth at seating level, while the same unit installed much higher could leave customers feeling cold.

For patios with high ceilings, the solution might involve higher-output heaters, dual-element models, additional units, or approved suspension hardware that allows the heaters to hang closer to the seating area.

One important consideration is that adding more heaters doesn't automatically guarantee better coverage. Sometimes adjusting the placement or angle of existing heaters can make a meaningful difference.

This is one reason why planning your heating layout before purchasing equipment is so important.

Don't Forget Patio Heater Safety When Preparing for Winter

Commercial patio heaters produce a considerable amount of heat, which makes proper installation and regular maintenance essential.

One of the biggest safety considerations is maintaining the required clearance between heaters and combustible materials.

Wooden beams, canvas awnings, fabric decorations, plants, and other flammable materials can create hazards when positioned too close to an operating heater.

Every commercial patio heater has specific requirements for minimum clearance from combustible materials, and these distances can vary depending on the model, heating output, and installation arrangement.

There isn't one universal clearance measurement that applies to every heater.

Before installation, property owners and contractors should review the manufacturer's owner manual to determine the required distances from nearby surfaces and combustible materials. Local building and fire codes must also be followed, and permanent gas or electrical connections should be installed by qualified professionals.

For properties that already have patio heaters, winter preparation should include a thorough inspection of the existing equipment.

Heaters that haven't been used regularly during the summer may need cleaning, adjustments, or replacement parts before they're ready for extended operation.

It's worth checking the condition of heating elements or burner components, controls, mounting hardware, and other parts specified by the manufacturer. Damaged or worn components should be addressed before the heaters are placed back into regular service.

When replacement parts are needed, using appropriate OEM replacement parts can help maintain the equipment's intended performance and safety.

The last thing a restaurant owner wants is to discover that several patio heaters aren't working properly during a busy winter evening.

A little preparation beforehand can help avoid that situation.

Preparing Your Commercial Patio Before Winter Arrives

If your property already has outdoor heating equipment, preparing for winter may be as simple as having the heaters inspected, addressing any maintenance issues, and determining whether your current layout provides enough coverage.

Properties without existing heaters will need to spend more time evaluating their options.

Start by looking at how people use the patio. Where do customers or residents usually sit? Are there areas exposed to wind? Does the patio have a permanent overhead structure that could support horizontal heaters?

You should also consider how frequently different sections of the space are used.

A restaurant may need its entire outdoor dining area heated on weekends but only a smaller section during slower weekday evenings. Meanwhile, an apartment community might see regular activity at its grilling stations while the larger outdoor lounge is primarily used for weekend gatherings.

These details matter because they help determine the type and number of heaters needed, along with where they should be installed.

Before winter, commercial property owners should review several important items:

• Existing patio heaters: Have operating units inspected and identify any equipment that needs maintenance or replacement.
• Patio layout: Review seating arrangements, overhead structures, walkways, and potential heater mounting locations.
• Fuel availability: Determine whether natural gas, propane, or electricity is the most practical option.
• Heating coverage: Identify areas where people spend time and any locations that may need additional warmth.
• Weather exposure: Consider typical winter temperatures, wind conditions, and whether the patio is covered or open.
• Installation requirements: Confirm that proposed heater locations meet manufacturer clearance requirements and applicable safety codes.

It's better to address these questions before temperatures drop rather than trying to solve heating problems when customers are already avoiding the patio.

For larger commercial properties, particularly those with several outdoor areas, getting professional advice during the planning process can also help prevent unnecessary equipment purchases or installation changes.

AEI's Complimentary Patio Design Services Take the Guesswork Out of Winter Preparation

Figuring out how many patio heaters you need isn't always straightforward.

The size of your outdoor space is important, but so are its layout, ceiling height, available fuel sources, and the locations where people usually gather. Even two patios with the same square footage can require different heating systems.

A restaurant with a covered dining area may benefit from overhead horizontal heaters, while another restaurant with an open-air patio might be better served by mushroom heaters. Some properties may need a combination of both.

That's why AEI offers complimentary patio design services for commercial property owners, developers, architects, and managers.

Our team can help you work through these decisions before purchasing equipment. We take the time to understand your property's layout, how the space is used, and what you're trying to accomplish with outdoor heating.

Whether you're planning a new installation or improving an existing patio, we can help you compare heater options, determine appropriate heating coverage, and identify suitable installation locations.

We also provide product documentation and other resources that can help you and your contractors plan with greater confidence.

Visualize Your Heating Coverage with AEI's Complimentary Heatmaps

One of the most useful services AEI provides is our complimentary patio heatmap.

A heatmap is a visual diagram showing how infrared warmth is expected to spread across your outdoor space based on the heaters and installation locations being considered.

Depending on the project, these diagrams can show the patio from an overhead perspective or an eye-level view. They're particularly helpful for identifying areas that might not receive enough warmth.

Consider a restaurant owner who wants to install horizontal patio heaters above a large covered dining area. The owner might assume that placing several heaters at equal distances across the ceiling will provide adequate heating coverage.

However, after reviewing the layout, it may become apparent that the tables along the outer edges of the patio need additional warmth.

A customized heatmap helps identify those potential cold spots before installation begins.

It can also help answer questions about whether a different heater model, mounting location, or installation arrangement would provide better coverage.

For commercial property owners, this can make the planning process much easier. Instead of guessing where to install heaters, they can review a visual representation of the proposed heating system and make more informed decisions.

AEI's heatmaps are planning tools that show expected coverage rather than guaranteed temperatures, since actual comfort can vary with weather conditions.

Our article, Mount Your Infrared Patio Heaters to Maximize Comfort & Return on Investment, explains more about how proper placement can improve heating performance.

Estimate the Potential Revenue from Heated Restaurant Patios

For restaurant owners, AEI offers another useful resource: our complimentary patio seating revenue boost calculator.

This tool helps businesses estimate how much additional revenue they could potentially generate by making their outdoor seating available during colder weather.

For example, imagine a restaurant that has 10 patio tables that regularly go unused during winter evenings.

If installing infrared patio heaters makes those tables comfortable enough for customers to use, the restaurant has an opportunity to serve additional diners without adding indoor seating.

The revenue potential depends on several factors, including average customer spending, table occupancy, operating hours, and how frequently outdoor seating can be used.

A calculator can't predict exactly how much additional business a restaurant will generate, but it provides a useful starting point for evaluating the financial benefits of outdoor heating.

For restaurant owners considering whether to invest in new patio heaters, having an estimate of the possible return can make the purchasing decision easier.

More importantly, it helps put the cost of heating equipment into perspective. Rather than looking at patio heaters only as an expense, owners can consider how the equipment may help them make better use of their existing seating capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Patio Heaters

Can commercial patio heaters keep outdoor spaces comfortable throughout winter?

Yes, properly installed commercial patio heaters can help keep outdoor spaces comfortable during much of the winter. Infrared heaters warm people and objects directly, making them well suited for outdoor environments. However, their effectiveness depends on temperatures, wind exposure, heating output, and placement. In particularly cold or windy conditions, additional heaters or wind protection may be necessary.

What type of patio heater is best for restaurants?

Restaurants with covered outdoor dining areas often benefit from horizontal infrared heaters because they can be mounted overhead without taking up valuable floor space. Restaurants with uncovered patios may prefer mushroom heaters, especially portable propane models that allow staff to adjust heating coverage when seating arrangements change. Some restaurants use both types.

How many patio heaters does a commercial property need?

The number of heaters depends on the patio's dimensions, layout, ceiling height, weather exposure, and the heating output of the selected equipment. Mushroom heaters with an approximate six-foot heating radius may be positioned around 12 feet apart as an initial planning guideline, while horizontal heater spacing depends on mounting height and model specifications. AEI's complimentary heatmaps can help determine an appropriate layout.

Are electric or natural gas patio heaters better for commercial properties?

Both can provide reliable outdoor heating. Natural gas heaters are often convenient for properties with existing gas infrastructure and frequent heating needs. Electric heaters can be a practical choice where suitable electrical service is available, especially when property owners want adjustable heating levels or separate heating zones. Propane heaters offer another option, with portable mushroom models providing additional flexibility.

Can patio heaters be installed under a covered patio?

Many commercial horizontal patio heaters are designed for installation beneath suitable overhead structures. However, the heater must be approved for the intended location, and installation must meet the manufacturer's minimum clearance requirements, ventilation instructions, and applicable local codes.

Does AEI help commercial properties plan their patio heating systems?

Yes. AEI provides complimentary patio design services, including recommendations for heater selection, placement, and expected heating coverage. Our team can also create customized heatmaps to help commercial property owners visualize their proposed heating systems before installation.

Get Your Commercial Patio Ready for Winter with AEI

Cold weather doesn't have to mean closing your restaurant's outdoor dining area or leaving your property's outdoor amenities unused for several months.

With reliable patio heaters and a properly planned heating layout, commercial property owners can make their outdoor spaces more comfortable during winter. Restaurants can continue accommodating customers on their patios, while apartment communities, hotels, and resorts can offer gathering areas that residents and guests can enjoy during the colder months.

Whether you're replacing older heaters, expanding an existing system, or installing outdoor heating for the first time, choosing the right equipment and placement can make a considerable difference.

At AEI Corporation, we understand that every commercial property has different heating needs. A restaurant patio, apartment grilling area, and hotel lounge may all benefit from infrared heating, but the best solution for each space won't necessarily be the same.

Contact AEI Corporation today to take advantage of our complimentary patio design services. Our team can help you compare commercial patio heaters, review your property's layout, and create a customized heatmap showing the expected heating coverage.

With the right planning and equipment, your outdoor spaces can remain valuable, comfortable places for customers, residents, and guests to enjoy long after the summer ends.

Have a Question?

Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.