Electric outdoor heaters typically cost more to operate than gas heaters, but the best choice depends on your setup and usage patterns. Whether you're adding warmth to a screened porch in Montgomery County, MD or a deck in Fairfax County, VA, understanding the operational differences between electric and gas heating systems helps you make an informed decision for your outdoor living space.

How effective are infrared heaters, and how should they be used?

The most obvious questions to ask when researching outdoor heaters revolve around their energy output. This is a natural starting point, as the amount of heat an infrared repeater produces will determine the effectiveness of individual units when heating an outdoor living space. However, Infratech heaters are complex pieces of technology that go beyond simple, straightforward numbers and thus require additional thought when choosing a unit for your screened porch in Maryland or deck in Virginia.

Infratech outdoor heaters are ideal for outdoor living spaces in the Washington, D.C. metro area

Decks, screened porches, and patios have limited use in Maryland and Virginia because of the way the DMV experiences four distinct seasons so distinctly. While superb for breezy summer days and spring barbecues, it's admittedly difficult to subject oneself to near-freezing temperatures and strong winds on a covered patio during the transitional months and still be comfortable for more than a few moments.

Outdoor infrared heating systems, like those offered by Infratech heaters, offer a solution to homeowners seeking to maximize the versatility and usability of their outdoor space. It's understandbly frustrating to spend the time, money, and effort to construct a screened-in porch or veranda only to be limited by the weather and temperature; outdoor heating systems, through the use of electric outdoor heaters, extend the habitable period of outdoor spaces by months.

When people are interested in investing in an outdoor living space, one of the primary concerns is how to maximize the usability of that space for as many months of the year as possible. Depending on the particular climate and weather patterns of the region where that outdoor space is being designed, this can mean combating both hot summers and cold winters. In terms of winter months, infrared heaters and other outdoor patio heaters are one common means of battling lower temperatures.

Most Popular Design Features for Decks and Screened Porches for 2019

With the continuing popularity of enhanced outdoor living areas, many homeowners are looking into ways to make their exterior spaces more beautiful, functional, and polished. Whether you’re aiming to add an entirely new outdoor living space in 2019 or you’re simply renovating an existing area, here are a few popular decking options that are primed to dominate the design and build industry throughout the year.