Gas patio heaters can be manufactured to operate on propane, butane or natural gas. Before connecting your patio heater for the first time check the manufacturers instructions taking note on the type of fuel applicable. Some patio heaters are designed for single fuel use, other patio heater models are duel fuel designed. If a regulator has been supplied with the patio heater refer to the instructions for the regulator and select the right type of LPG cylinder to match the patio heater regulator supplied. Regulators are manufactured to fit specific types of LPG cylinders and must marry with the correct cylinder. For more information on regulators please see Propane Clip-on LPG regulator, Propane Screw-on LPG regulator, Butane Clip-on LPG regulator and Butane Screw-on LPG regulator.

The differences between the fuel types are:

Propane patio heaters

Patio heaters manufactured to run on propane will be calibrated to accept propane gas pressure of 37mbar. For all year round use patio heaters running on propane are recommended.

Butane patio heaters

Patio heaters manufactured to run on butane will be calibrated to accept butane gas pressure of 28mbar. Patio heaters running on butane will operate OK in summer/autumn, for winter or on very cold days propane patio heaters are the only option.

Both Propane and Butane are LPG - Liquid Petroleum Gas. Gas is drawn off from the cylinder and liquid converts back into gas. With butane the liquid cools down causing the rate of change from liquid to gas to slow down. This effect is particularly marked for patio heaters running on butane which will not convert from liquid to a gas below 0° C.  On a cold day or if the patio heater is turned on high, the liquid will become cold and deliver low amounts of gas. In most cases it will eventually freeze the butane regulator causing the patio heater to stop working. Butane works best on low pressure domestic appliances indoors or on outdoor patio heaters in the summer and autumn months only. Propane will continue to turn from liquid to gas at much lower temperatures than butane and will yield full pressure of gas to patio heaters on very cold days and nights.

Natural Gas patio heaters

Depending on the country of use natural gas patio heaters will be calibrated to run on the applicable mbar rating of the country. Never connect patio heaters designed to run on either propane or butane to natural gas. Before connecting natural gas patio heaters in the UK consult with a Corgi registered fitter.

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