Don’t Let Your Patio Go Cold This Winter
It’s a waste, really. You’ve got this great outdoor space, but as soon as the temperature drops, those tables just sit there. Empty. It feels like you’re paying rent on square footage that isn’t doing any work for you. The problem is that most heaters try to warm up the air. But if you’re outside, the wind just carries that warmth away. You’re basically paying to heat the sky. That’s why we use shortwave infrared. How it actually works Think of it like the sun. When you step into sunlight on a chilly day, you feel that warmth hit your skin instantly, even if the air around you is freezing. Infrared lamps do the same thing. They send out waves that ignore the air entirely. They only turn into heat when they hit something solid—like a guest’s jacket or a wooden table. You flip a switch, and people feel warm immediately. No waiting around for the “room” to heat up. Getting the setup right We usually mount these on the walls. It keeps the floors clear so your staff isn’t tripping over equipment during a rush. If you get the wattage right and angle them at about 45 degrees, one unit can easily cover a table of four. But here is a heads-up: watch your power. If you plug ten high-powered heaters into one circuit, you’re going to blow a breaker right in the middle of the dinner rush. Not a great look. We always suggest dedicated circuits for the heavy-hitters. The bottom line It’s pretty simple: warm people stay longer. When a guest isn’t shivering, they’re more likely to linger over another glass of wine or order that dessert they were on the fence about. It just makes the whole experience better, and it bumps up your average check. One last thing—be smart about where you put them. Infrared is directional. If you leave a gap in your layout, you’ll end up with “cold spots.” You don’t want your guests huddling together under one heater while the other tables stay empty because they’re too chilly. Map it out so the heat overlaps, and your patio will feel cozy from one end to the other.