Entertain al fresco all year round with Good Homes magazine’s pick of the best garden and patio heaters for the home.

First up, what kind of patio heater should you go for, gas or electric? We’ve all huddled around a large gas heater in a pub garden, and while they do give off a good kick of heat, gas is expensive right now, and most of the heat disappears right into the night air. So electric might be your best bet.

Then you need to choose between infrared and halogen heaters. What’s the difference? Halogen, used in the most intense bulbs emitting shortwave infrared, will warm you even in a breeze, whereas mediumwave and longwave infrared bulbs are only effective in sheltered spaces.

Finally, as we all know, electricity and water are not a good mix, so check the IP rating. Required by law, the IP rating tells you how safe the patio heater is. If the last digit in the IP number is a 4, eg IP64, then it’s a showerproof patio heater. If it’s 5, eg IP65, it’s a waterproof patio heater.

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1. Eco patio heater

Available at Homebase, the La Hacienda Copper Electric Hanging Mushroom Heater (£129) is an eco-friendly alternative to a patio gas heater as it uses halogen elements to heat the body and not the surrounding air for efficiency. It comes with an LED light and remote control for ease of use and a chain for easy hanging on any outdoor structure. IP44 rated for outdoor use.

2. Electric parasol heater

This patio heater attaches to any garden parasol so that you can dine al fresco on a cold, rainy day, if you so please! It has three heating elements that can be set according to your heating needs: chose to have all three on, providing 2kW of heat, just one on for 650W of heat, or two on and one off for 1300W of heat. Made by Belfry Heating and available from Wayfair, priced £125.99, this heater fits parasol poles from 25mm-60mm.

3. Pair of patio heaters

These Heatlab 2kW freestanding electric quartz bulb garden patio heaters come as a pair, complete with a remote control and three power settings. Made from steel, they are stylish, durable and long lasting, equipped with over-heat protection and are rated IPX4. Priced £114.99 and available from Amazon.

4. Wall-mounted electric heater

This electric wall-mounted heater from Argos (£55) has three heat settings (650W, 1300W and 2000W), has been safety tested and approved, and has a rating of IP34. It’s ideal for the patio or a balcony, since you can mount it right outside the door.

5. table top heater

The Zanussi ZTTPTH5 2.1Kw table-top patio heater, available from Robert Dyas priced £129.99, has a halogen heating element for rapid, efficient output. Choose between low (900W), medium (1200W), or high (2100W) power. It has a weighted base for stability, as well as tip-over protection for added peace of mind. It’s also stylish ebnough that it won’t ruin your tablescaping efforts.

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