With the patio heating season just starting, freestanding "post-style" or "dome-type" portable propane patio heaters will again be flooding retailers all across the nation. The most common question we get from consumers is "why are some patio heaters so much cheaper than others"?

The answer to that question is in the question itself - "cheaper" being the key word. Yes, the heaters sold in the big box home centers and retailers are cheaper (less expensive to buy) because they are cheaper (cheaply made).

It matters little whether they’re made in North America or overseas. Patio heater prices are determined largely by the quality and features offered. It’s true that, as market demand has increased, patio heater prices have dropped over time. What was once a specialty item sold through specialty fireplace and patio furniture shops, has become readily available through retail outlets everywhere, including online stores. A heater that once sold for $650 or more is now as low as $199. But over the course of time, what has happened to product integrity? What about the quality of materials, technology, reliability and performance and warranty?

We’ve observed that post-style patio heaters are now lower in quality than in years past. And that’s not a good trend.

I recently attended the HPB Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah (held March 3-5, 2011). This national show is primarily where manufacturers of hearth, barbeque and other outdoor products from around the world gather to introduce new appliances and shore up distribution channels with distributors and dealers. While the show was smaller this year compared to previous ones, I saw at least a dozen booths with freestanding outdoor post-style patio heaters. Most of the heaters I reviewed had prices ranging from $179.00 up to $299.00.

A few of the heaters were of very low quality (ie. 4 piece top reflectors, flimsy posts, and low grade, low gauge steel). But what struck me most was that the technology (or lack thereof) was basically the same as years gone by - "drum style" burner heads and a very cheap piezo ignitor. Nothing new and innovative. The only real variations were color and the size of the mushroom reflector above the heater head.

Of all the brands we compared, only one patio heater manufacturer offered something unique and different – the EvenGlo GA201 patio heater by IR Energy, Inc. To view their heater from 80 yards away was to look at just another post-style patio heater. But getting a closer look, there were some obvious differences. Big differences. Huge improvements to both heater head design and construction quality.

In 2007, IR Energy, Inc. engineers decided to improve upon the "old technology" patio heater by coming up with something much better. By doing so, they knew that this heater would be like no other. It would also cost more because it would offer a lot more in terms of construction quality, technology, longevity, warranty, etc. The EvenGlo model GA201 is the result. Let’s compare:

Burner Head. Cheaper brands use a "drum style" burner, which distributes heat outward to the people zone, all while wasting up to 50% of heat energy to the open air without reaching the target area. By stark contrast, EvenGlo uses a multi-faceted burner head that maximizes useable heat output by shooting a torch style infrared flame into a collector, which then bounces heat energy both downward to a "bottom feeder" and upward to a large mushroom dispenser. In fact, the patented EvenGlo reflector reflects up to 58% more useable heat energy to the people zone! This burner head is unmatched by any competitive product.

Controls. Cheap brands use inexpensive push button piezo ignitors. Simply put, they are unreliable and frustrating to use. EvenGlo GA201 uses a heavy duty control knob. The spark ignitor generates its power from self-generating circuitry, similar to igniting a residential gas stove. It ignites easily on every try. As all too many patio heater owners know, igniting their heater can be the biggest hassle of all.

Heater Weight. The cheapest patio heaters weigh as little as 40 lbs. The EvenGlo GA201 weighs 120 lbs!. That’s without the LP tank. Which one do you think is made better? If you said the 40 lb. heater, you’d be dead wrong. The GA201 weighs more because it is built with heavier gauge steel. Standard is 304 Stainless, the highest grade available. Cheaper units use 430 stainless, which is lighter weight and will corrode over time.

Top reflector. Cheap patio heaters have small reflectors made of aluminum or 430 stainless steel. The EvenGlo GA201 uses a much larger top reflector made of polished 390 stainless steel – the highest grade stainless availalble! It’s size, orientation, rigidity and material quality guarantees maximum performance. The GA201 reflector is also supported by three rigid supports that maintain the shape and integrity of the reflector, even with a foot of snow resting on top.

The Proof …..

In May of 2007 The Food Service Technology Center conducted extensive testing of the GA201 (FSTC Report # 5011.07.05). They concluded that the EvenGlo GA201 heated an area far bigger in square feet (137.9 s. ft.) compared to the top competitor (96.6 sq. ft.). What’s even more astounding is that the EvenGlo GA201 generated mean radiant temperatures in a 12’ perimeter that were much more uniform towards the edge of the circle than the competition. Why is this so important? It means that patrons can feel more comfortable at a further distance from the heater without crowding near the post.

The report concludes: "The EvenGlo series GA heater represents a revolutionary step in the performance of dome-type heaters, in both size of area heated and the evenness of the heat delivered. The effective heated area, the defining characteristic of a patio heater, is 152 sq. ft. at high input, more than 50% greater than similar heaters previously tested by the FSTC. With a very large effective heated area coupled with an even heat distribution, the EvenGlo series GA has demonstrated tremendous performance improvements over traditional designs, and warrants serious consideration by anyone in the market for a dome-type patio heater".

For discriminating consumers, the Evenglo model GA201 sets the standard for innovative technology and performance. It is a patio heater like no other.