Stop Letting Your Patio Go to Waste in the Winter
It’s a frustrating sight: a beautiful outdoor dining area sitting completely empty just because it’s November. Most people try to fight the cold with standard convection heaters, but those things are useless once a breeze kicks in. You’re basically paying to heat the wind. That’s where shortwave infrared (IR) comes in. Instead of trying to warm up the air around your guests, IR goes straight for the target. It transfers energy directly to the people and the furniture. It doesn’t matter if it’s windy outside; the heat just hits you. It’s a different kind of warmth. The secret to keeping tables full If you want people to actually sit outside when it’s freezing, they need to feel that warmth the second they sit down. We use high-wattage shortwave lamps because they penetrate deeper through coats and sweaters. It creates these “warm pockets” across your patio. When guests feel cozy, they don’t rush their meal. They stay for another drink. They order dessert. Suddenly, your “seasonal” patio is making money all year round. Getting the setup right We usually hang these in overhead arrays to cover as much ground as possible. But you have to be careful with the height. If they’re too low, your guests will feel like they’re sitting under a heat lamp at a buffet. Too high, and the warmth just fades away before it reaches the table. It takes a bit of tweaking to find that sweet spot. One heads-up: these units pull a lot of power. You can’t just plug them into a random outlet. You’ll need a dedicated circuit and probably some upgraded breakers. The last thing you want is the lights going out during a Friday night rush because the heaters tripped the panel. Dealing with the glow There is one trade-off. Some of these lamps give off a pretty bright light. If you’re running a dim, romantic spot, a bright orange glow over every table might ruin the mood. To fix that, we use gold-coated or filtered emitters. You still get all the heat, but the glare is toned down. It keeps the vibe right without leaving your customers shivering.