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Good, better, best: Heat lamps to keep your patio warm this fall

Will Blesch
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Many people enjoy spending evenings out on their front porches or back patios. However, as summer transitions into fall, temperatures begin to drop in many different areas. When that happens, it can be difficult to extend those warm, lazy summer evenings into the cooler parts of the year. A fantastic solution to this issue is to purchase heat lamps.

Buying patio lamps is an excellent idea for keeping family and guests warm when you want to sit outside in the late evenings. There’s no reason to stop socializing when the best patio heat lamps on the market can keep you warm and cozy. Plus, some types will also give off a bit of light, enhancing the space with a soft, warm glow.

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If you’re curious about which heat lamp might be the best for your space, never fear. We’ve taken the liberty of choosing three patio heat lamps we think you’ll love.

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Good: Heatlab 2kW Outdoor Freestanding Electric Quartz Bulb Garden Patio Heaters

With the Heatlab 2kW electric heat lamp, you can enjoy a party on your patio well up until snow falls. You’ll find that it combines a fantastic design with durability. This lamp provides you with plenty of choices since you can adjust its height to suit almost any space. Additionally, it has three different heat levels, which include 650W, 1350W, and 2000W. As mentioned previously, some patio heat lamps give off a nice, warm glow. The Heatlab 2kW outdoor heater is precisely that kind of lamp.

Better: Herschel Havana Portable Electric Patio Heater

A little more potent than the Heatlab lamp, the Herschel Havana Portable Electric Patio Heater is a great pick. It powers up super fast, going from cool to sizzling in as little as five seconds. Moreover, this heat lamp has an incredible lifespan. Its bulbs can keep you warm and toasty on your patio or porch for over 10,000 hours (the equivalent of running your lamp non-stop for over a year), which means you won’t have to replace your bulbs for a while.

The Herschel Havana doesn’t get quite as hot as the Heatlab lamp, however. Its upper limit is 800W. However, the built-in durability and safety features make up for the fact that it doesn’t put off quite as much heat. For instance, if you’re running it at full power and someone happens to knock it over, it will immediately turn itself off, which of course helps prevent fires and other accidents. Even at full power, this heat lamp has a low-temperature finish which helps prevent burns if someone accidentally touches it while it’s on.

Best: Swan Al Fresco SH16310N Column Patio Heater

Our favorite on this list is the Swan Al Fresco SH16310N Column Patio Heater, and here’s why. It’s stylish, for one thing. Made by a British kitchen appliance and accessories company, it’s also free-standing with a 1.8-meter power supply cord. With that length of cable, you can place it anywhere on your patio, porch, or garden. Like the Herschel Havana, the Swan Al Fresco has a tip-over safety switch, which helps prevent fires and accidents if the lamp is knocked over.

The Swan Al Fresco has two different heat settings, 1000W and 2000W. Designed to be long-lasting and durable, you only need to choose the temperature that’s the best fit for you and your guests.

Keeping your patio warm

While you can always opt for a fashionable jacket or a blanket when the temperatures start to drop, there’s no reason you should have to sit in a chilly atmosphere. Any one of the heat lamps we mentioned above can go a long way toward making your patio, porch, or garden a warm, cozy place to enjoy the evening.

Each of the patio lamps discussed has its pros and cons, but we like the Swan Al Fresco SH16310N Column Patio Heater the most. No matter what you choose, with these electric heat lamps, you’ll be able to keep your outdoor space nice and toasty well into the winter months.

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Will Blesch
Will Blesch
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Blesch is a copywriter, content writer, and someone passionate about anything that lets him discover more about this…
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