AEI Corporation

Flush-mounted Electric Patio Heaters Bring Warmth and Style to Your Outdoor Dining Space

Posted: February 22, 2024 at 09:12 PM

9 minute read | Heaters

Restaurateurs, club owners and other business people who operate patios understand the value of commercial heaters. For many, heaters are the difference between shutting down outdoor dining when the weather chills and continuing to provide food and drinks for customers in a comfortable environment. Many restaurant owners, however, insist on unobtrusive heaters that add to rather than detract from the ambiance of the dining space.

Not All Heaters Are Right for All Patios

Freestanding mushroom heaters are fine for many casual dining setups. They are, however, large and conspicuous. Some outdoor dining spaces call for something more subtle. Box heaters along walls and ceiling are less noticeable, but even they can stick out and disrupt the atmosphere.

Also, gas heaters of any kind aren’t always the best choice. They must be either hooked up to the building’s gas lines and supplied by propane tanks. If your room is a covered porch or some other space with a ceiling, there’s a solution. Flush-mount electric heaters are clean, safe, inconspicuous and inexpensive to operate.

A Stylish Alternative: A Flush Mounted Electric Patio Heater

Infratech is an electric heater manufacturer that offers a special flush mount frame for their electric horizontal patio heaters which allows them to be installed “flush” with the ceiling. Only the front face of the overhead heaters are visible. Most of the hard-working heater is tucked away where no one can see it.

Benefits of Electric Patio Heaters

An electric patio heater dials up the ambiance without the hassle of gas. There are no gas connections to install and no propane systems to supply and maintain. There will not be emissions or odors. Operation is silent and cost-effective. Electric heaters are rated for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re perfectly suited for an open porch with walls on one or more sides.

Like all the best patio heaters, Infratech electric heaters use infrared heat. This is natural heat that works the same way the sun does. It doesn’t expend energy warming up the air in a room but instead bestows warmth directly onto objects such as tables, chairs and people. You don’t have to wait for the surrounding air to warm up; people feel the warmth the moment you flip the switch on infrared horizontal heaters.

The Beautifying Touch of Flush-Mount Heaters

Electric horizontal heaters may not be as conspicuous as standing mushroom heaters, but they can still protrude from ceilings and walls. Depending on the atmosphere your establishment is trying to achieve, that may or may not be okay. If a place is modern, upscale or sophisticated, guests may expect to see clean lines that are not disrupted by obtruding patio heaters.

Many outdoor spaces have an overhead structure such as a ceiling, and these can be the ideal spots to install a flush-mounted electric heater. The customers will know that they’re warm and comfortable, but, unless they cast a critical eye on the space, it won’t be obvious where that warmth and comfort is coming from.

It’s no wonder that flush mounting has long been a top choice for architects, interior designers, and even engineers. Flush mounts blend effortlessly into the setting’s decor, and they also can be chosen to add their own touch of elegance and sophistication.

Infratech Flush Mount Frames

Infratech makes stainless steel flush mount frames that are designed to be installed with their horizontal electric patio heaters. These frames can also be powder coated in black, white, bronze, beige, biscuit, and almond. Infratech haters and complementing flush mount kits can blend with outdoor spaces with all kinds of design themes and color schemes.

Matching Infratech Electric Heaters

The flush mount frames are attractive and stylish, and their companion heaters are hard-working, no-nonsense heat producers. These heaters are over 90 percent energy efficient, can be used both indoors and outdoors, and are easy and cost-effective to operate. There are single-element heaters and dual-element heaters which provide an even more concentrated heat. Output ratings run from 1,500 to 6,000 watts.

Infratech emphasizes creating a pleasing look. The Infratech heaters are low-clearance devices, and the flush-mount option takes this aesthetic a step further.

Double the Fashion Factor with the Heaters in the Infratech Motif Collection

Safety considerations require that the elements of the heaters be protected with a metal grid, or fascia. As long as the front fascia has to be there, why shouldn’t it be decorative? That’s exactly what the Motif series of Infrared heaters accomplishes. Like their other heaters, they come in both single-element and dual-element models, but they feature specially designed faceplates that you can select to coordinate with the design sensibility of the room. There are four faceplate design options:

• The contemporary fascia features clean lines and recognizable forms of minimalist, mid-century, and modern design. It provides an appropriate accent for any modern structure.
• The craftsman fascia emphasizes the geometric forms reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. If your space calls for artsy, crafty, or deco elements, the craftsman may be just what you’re looking for.
• The Mediterranean fascia has a circular design inspired by the Moorish era. It works well in Spanish, Tuscan, or Southwest ambiance.
• The traditional fascia is the all-American choice that meshes with colonial, Victorian, farmhouse, and transitional interior design.

Any of these fascias can be combined with one of the available colors for the stainless steel flush-mount frame on several different sizes of patio heaters in the Motif collection. Together they create a multitude of options for making your heaters an elegant accent as well as a utilitarian heat source.

Where Can a Flush-Mount Frame Be Installed?

A flush-mounted heater is a useful and attractive solution anywhere it can be installed, but, unfortunately, it won’t work everywhere. You need a ceiling that’s thick enough to house the heater. You’ll have to create a heater-sized cavity and line it with 5/8 inch drywall with a one-hour fire rating. The flush-mount frame, which is a metal flange with tabs that hold the heater in place, gets installed at the edge of the cavity. Then the heater rests on the tabs of the frame.

This is not a DIY job for hobbyists. You need a licensed electrician or contractor to do the installation of the heater and the flush-mount frame.

The Result: A Warm and Attractive Outdoor Space

There are quite a few ways to bring added heat to an outdoor dining space to accommodate later nights and longer seasons. You can supplement your electric heaters with propane or natural gas heaters which have their pros and cons. You can deploy standing heaters or wall-mounted heaters.

However, if you’re maintaining a chic area with elegant furniture and decor, Infratech flush-mounted electric heaters may be the right solution for you. You can discretely mount the heaters so that guests will barely notice them. They’ll only recognize that the patio is a comfortable place for food, drinks, and relaxation. Not only will they enjoy their time at your business, but they will also be likely to recommend it to their friends. If you want to make your heating system into a decorative accent, you can choose from the Infratech array of flush-mount frame colors and pair them with the stylish fascia of the Motif series.