Difference between commercial patio heaters and domestic patio heaters.

Q.How can you tell the difference between domestic or residential patio heaters and commercial patio heaters?

A. The patio heater market has become cloudy as a few traders attempt to incorrectly label domestic or residential grade patio heaters as commercial grade. With a trained eye it is easy to spot domestic patio heaters but for those choosing a patio heater for the first time there are a few tips. A simple quick way is to check the patio heater's country of manufacture, if it's China with a low retail price ticket the clues are all there!!

Q. What makes a commercial grade?

A. It's the quality of the patio heater's components, right down to the raw nuts and bolts. Most domestic patio heaters ship with steel nuts/bolts and fittings which corrode and weaken the patio heater over time. Every piece of the patio heater from the grade of stainless steel used on the housing to the thermocouple is much higher grade on commercial patio heaters. The difference in the components is not just slightly better on a commercial model but well over double the specification of domestic patio heaters. Commercial patio heaters are fitted with heavy duty (much wider than domestic) centre pole for added stability, a high grade stainless steel burner that is fully serviceable, heavy duty wheel assembly and triple safety features. Many of the cheaper domestic patio heaters can be seen leaning to the left or right, this is due to the low grade steel and pole used in manufacture that lacks the support needed and therefore can lean slightly.

A good way to view the difference is to buy a domestic cooker from a catalogue and place it in busy restaurant, give it 6 months and it will be wrecked but placed in a home environment the cooker would be fine.

Q. Both patio heaters look the similar?

A. Check out our domestic patio heaters and our commercial patio heaters and you'll be hard pressed to see a visible difference in the images alone. From a distance they do appear similar but get up close and the differences will become clear. The finish on commercial patio heaters will be higher grade, typically stainless steel domestic patio heaters have a shinny finish, commercial patio heaters will have brushed stainless steel finish - much easier to keep clean. Power coated commercial patio heaters will have a harden tough finish to resist scratching and stay looking good for longer. Although the commercial patio heaters are more substantial it's also the workings beneath the skin that highlight the many reasons for different grades of patio heaters. For light use in the garden, domestic patio heaters will not disappoint, for heavy duty use within a commercial environment a commercial patio heater is the only option. Typically a commercial patio heater will endure far more abuse, use and hard knocks than a cherished patio heater in a back garden, for this reason it is critical that patio heaters are correctly labelled according to the build and components.

Q. What about the stainless steel?

A. Always check the burner on the patio heater is stainless steel and not steel plated or chrome finish. Cheaper patio heaters mostly fit tin plated burner or chrome finish which eventually suffer from rust. These tin plated burners bend easily, small knocks or dings take their toll on the patio heater. High quality patio heaters are fitted with high quality stainless steel parts including the nuts and bolts to stay looking good and have a long life.

Compare this patio heater burner fitted to a budget unbranded stainless steel patio heater against our own domestic branded patio heaters, both patio heaters have been in use 18 months in the UK:

Budget Burner	BFX755 Burner

For more info read: Why are stainless steel patio heaters anti corrosive