Terrace Heating for Summer – When Does It Make Sense? – A New Angle

The essence of the new angle is that with summer terrace heating it is not the calendar that decides but the place and the controls: in a garden by the water, shaded, higher-altitude or draughty, the evening is cool more often, and if the heating switches zone by zone with a thermostat, it gives warmth only where and for as long as you sit outside. When it is generally worth it is detailed in our article Terrace Heating for Summer – When Does It Make Sense?.

Microclimate: why is one terrace cooler than another?

The evening feeling of warmth can differ even between two neighbouring gardens. Because of proximity to water, the shade of trees, a hillside or a windy corner plot, the air can be a few degrees cooler than in the sunlit part, and after a front or a shower the change is also felt here first. Those who have coffee on the terrace early in the morning, or chat into the night under the stars, more often want a little extra warmth in these places even in summer.

Control: only there and only then

• Zones: dividing a larger terrace into parts, you heat only the part where people are sitting – for example the table, but not the lounge corner.
• Thermostat and timer: the thermostat holds the set feeling of warmth, and the timer switches off if you forget; this way consumption matches actual use.
• Smart home: it can also be switched by remote control or from a phone, so the terrace gets heat when someone goes out.

This needs heating that reacts quickly. Dark radiant heaters and infrared panels working on the principle of infrared heating warm those sitting there and the surfaces, so the wind also spoils their effect less than that of convection devices. A terrace heater with electric heating needs no gas cylinder, and clean-lined wall and ceiling models blend discreetly into the look of the terrace; some types also provide lighting.

When choosing, match the output to the size of the terrace and the protection rating to rain and humidity, and follow the manufacturer's instructions during installation. You can read about the right type on our terrace heating page.