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.

When outfitting your outdoor living space, you’ll likely be confronted with the debate over what kind of heaters you want to install. You have many choices in that regard, but two of the more common options are electric heaters and gas heaters. Which heater would best suit your outdoor living space depends on a number of factors, but there are some distinct benefits to electric heaters, from flexibility of features to cost of operation to ease of installation. 

5 Trending Deck, Porch, and Outdoor Living Trends for 2020

Now is a great time to start thinking about how you want to increase the appeal of your outdoor living space. With that in mind, the following are some trends to watch in 2020 for your deck, porch, or other outdoor living area.

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.