Propane vs Wood Pellet Patio Heaters
Heat, heating radius and cost per hour for four kinds of patio heater: wood pellets, propane, electric and natural gas.
The thermal image
A thermal camera tells the story. A propane heater only makes heat up top. A wood pellet heater radiates heat from the ground up.
| Fuel | Avg. heat output | Operating cost |
|---|---|---|
| Propane | 40,000 BTU | $2.00/hr. About 10 hours per 20 lb tank |
| Natural gas | 40,000 BTU | $0.50/hr |
| Electric | 1,500 watts = 5,000 BTU | $1.40/hr |
| Wood pellets | 72,000 to 90,000 BTU | $0.63/hr |
Operating cost based on 40,000 BTU of heat output.
Propane
The most common patio heater. Most hook up to a 20 lb tank and run 8 to 10 hours before it's empty. Fairly portable, but the most expensive to run.
Natural gas
A good option if you have a gas line on your patio. Lowest operating cost and you never run out of fuel, but it usually needs a pro to install and it can't move.
Electric
All it needs is an outlet. Easy, but you're limited by cord length and where the power is. They come in all shapes, from wall mounts to small tabletop units, and they don't produce emissions.
Wood pellets
Pellets burn extremely efficiently. A Timber heater costs about half as much to run as propane and puts out about twice the BTUs. You get radiant heat and a real wood fire to watch. Gravity fed and with a removable stove pipe, it needs no electricity and goes where you go.
The biggest problem with propane? Your head stays warm and the rest of you freezes. A Timber keeps you and your guests warm head to toe.
What is a wood pellet?
Sawdust compressed in a pellet mill into a 1/4 by 1/2 inch pellet. The density is what lets a waste product put out so much heat. Pellets come in 40 lb bags, keep about a year if stored dry, and nearly every hardware store stocks them year round.