Getting Your Infrared Heaters Right: A No-Nonsense Guide to Spacing
If you’re putting infrared heaters on an open-air patio, forget about just “heating the area.” It’s more about where that warmth actually lands. You want your guests to feel it on their shoulders and head—that’s the sweet spot. But you don’t want to bake the tabletop or, heaven forbid, set off the fire sprinklers.
Don’t Forget the Ceiling
Most people get the floor height right—usually around 2.1 to 2.5 meters—but they totally ignore the gap at the top. Here’s the thing: if you shove a shortwave unit too close to a low ceiling, you create a pocket of trapped heat. It’s a waste of power, it can warp your ceiling panels, and it makes the whole place feel stuffy. Give the unit some room to breathe. Aim for about 300mm to 500mm of headspace so the ceiling doesn’t start acting like a giant, unwanted radiator.
Keeping People in Their Seats
It’s simple. If a guest is shivering, they’re looking for the check. The trick is to overlap your heat zones. When you get rid of those annoying “cold spots” between tables, people settle in. They feel that immediate warmth the second they sit down, which means they stay longer and order another round of drinks. We’ve seen it happen time and again during the winter rush—consistent heat equals more people in seats.
The Trade-offs You’ll Face
High-wattage units are great for those windy nights where the breeze just strips the heat away, but they’re hungry for power. Before you buy, double-check your circuits. You might find you need to run new lines so you don’t trip a breaker in the middle of a dinner service. And a quick warning on high-density emitters: they save space, but the “hot spot” directly underneath can be brutal. Nobody likes a scorched neck. To fix this, just angle the heaters slightly or throw on some diffusers. Finally, don’t skimp on the wiring. Use heavy-duty conduits. These things live outdoors and take a beating from the rain and cold; you want a system that won’t short out just because the weather turned sour.