Outdoor Patio Heating — Infrared vs Gas for BC Conditions

The key difference: heating people vs heating air

This is the frame that simplifies the whole decision — see the two options below.

For Vancouver's climate — frequent light breeze, occasional rain, mostly cool rather than cold temperatures — infrared is almost always the right choice for outdoor and semi-outdoor applications. Gas is typically better for fully enclosed patios where you want to heat the space broadly and don't mind the combustion products.

• Infrared electric heaters (ceiling-mounted short-wave or medium-wave) heat people and surfaces directly via radiant energy. Air movement does not dissipate their effect — they work on open or semi-open patios.
• Gas heaters (propane or natural gas) primarily heat the air around them via combustion. Wind carries the heat away — they work best in enclosed or semi-enclosed patios.

Infrared types

Infrared heaters split into two classes:

• Short-wave (orange/red glow) — very high output, effective heat at distance, visible glow. Good for cold outdoor use.
• Medium-wave (dull or no glow) — slower warm-up, subtler look, often ceiling-mounted in louvered roofs. Preferred aesthetic choice for premium installations.

Gas heater types

Gas heaters come in several form factors:

• Standing / pyramid heaters — portable, common in restaurants, good for local warming but not efficient
• Wall-mounted gas — permanent, higher efficiency, needs gas line
• Overhead gas — permanent ceiling-mount for enclosed patios; high output, good for broad heating
• All gas options require proper ventilation per code; fully enclosed spaces may not allow unvented combustion heaters

Operating cost comparison

Running cost depends on your specific rates but the general pattern in BC:

• Infrared electric — BC Hydro rates are relatively low for North America. Typical patio infrared running cost: $1–$3 per hour per heater depending on wattage
• Propane — typically the most expensive per hour due to propane tank pricing. Typical pyramid heater: $2–$5 per hour
• Natural gas (if available) — cheapest per hour but requires gas line installation
• Usage pattern matters: infrared heats rooms faster and can be toggled on demand; gas warms slowly and typically runs longer

What we typically spec

For most BC residential and restaurant patios, we specify:

• Ceiling-mounted medium-wave infrared heaters integrated into a louvered roof or pergola — clean aesthetic, instant heat, no combustion
• Output sized at roughly 1,500–2,500 W per 100 sq ft of covered area depending on how sheltered the space is
• Smart-home or app control integrated with the shade system so heat can be scheduled or triggered by scene
• Dimming or stepped control per heater — full-blast all the time is wasteful