Stop Letting the Cold Kill Your Patio Profits
Let’s be honest: the second the temperature dips below 15°C, your outdoor seating becomes a ghost town. It’s a waste of space and a waste of money. Most people try to fix this with those standard heaters that warm up the air. The problem? The wind just blows that warm air away. You’re basically trying to heat the entire neighborhood. That’s why we use shortwave infrared. Instead of fighting the breeze, these heaters send heat straight to your customers and their chairs. It feels like standing in the sun on a crisp autumn day. Why it actually works We go for high-wattage units because people want to feel the warmth the moment they sit down. Shortwave radiation cuts through the wind and sinks deeper into the skin. When you set these up in a grid, you’re basically creating “warm pockets” on your patio. When guests are cozy, they don’t rush off. They order that extra round of drinks or a dessert they weren’t planning on. It’s a simple way to bump up your average check. The “Gotchas” of Installation We use quartz elements because they can take a beating. Outdoor gear has to be tough. But placement is everything. We usually mount them between 2.5 and 3 meters high. If you hang them too low, your guests will have sweaty heads and freezing toes. Too high, and the heat just vanishes before it ever reaches the table. There’s a sweet spot, and getting it right makes all the difference. The Electrical Reality Check Here is the catch: these things are power-hungry. You can’t just plug a bunch of 2kW heaters into a random outdoor socket and hope for the best. If you do, you’ll likely trip a breaker right in the middle of the Friday night rush. You’ll need to check your electrical panel and balance the load properly. It sounds like a chore, but it’s the only way to make sure the lights stay on and the guests stay warm.