Getting Your Outdoor Heaters Right (Without Burning the Place Down)
If you’re putting infrared heaters in your outdoor dining area, you’re probably thinking about one thing: keeping people in those seats. Because if your guests are shivering, they aren’t ordering another round of drinks or staying for dessert. They’re leaving. But here’s the thing—just slapping some heaters on the ceiling isn’t a strategy. If you get the placement wrong, you’re basically just paying to heat the sky. Watch the gap at the top First off, don’t mount your heaters flush against the ceiling or your pergola. These things put out an intense amount of energy. If they’re too close to the wood or paint, you’re looking at scorched ceilings or, worse, a trip to the fire station. Leave a bit of breathing room—usually about 15 to 30cm. It keeps the air moving and stops the internal electronics from cooking themselves. Trust me, replacing a burnt-out unit in the middle of January is a nightmare you don’t want. The “Sweet Spot” for height The distance between the heater and your guest’s head is where the magic happens. Infrared heat moves in a straight line. If you hang them too high, the warmth just vanishes before it ever reaches the table. But if you hang them too low? You get those annoying “hot spots.” Your guests will be sweating on their necks while their feet are freezing, and they’ll start shifting around in their seats. It’s distracting and it ruins the vibe. For most standard 2000W-3000W units, aim for about 2.2 to 3 meters. That’s usually the sweet spot. It spreads the heat wide enough to cover a few tables, but stays strong enough to fight off a freezing night. A heads-up on your power And a quick warning about your electrical panel. Adding a bunch of these heaters is a huge draw on your power. You can’t just plug these into a regular wall outlet and hope for the best. You’ll need wiring that can handle a heavy, continuous load. If your breakers aren’t up to the task, they’ll trip. And there is nothing more awkward than the lights and heat going out right when your restaurant is packed on a Friday night. Get your wiring sorted before you mount the hardware.