What are the differences between the heating elements?

Written by Julie

Edited on

24 October 2023

·

06:51

What are the differences between the heating elements?

Want to enjoy your garden for longer in the evenings without getting cold? Do that with an electric patio heater. Turn the switch and the room is heated in no time. Electric patio heaters use various heating elements. In this article, you can read all about the different types of heating elements for electric heaters.

In short

Type of heating elementGolden tubeHalogenCarbonQuartzHeat panelHeatstripLow glareGolden ShadowRose Gold
Heats only people and objects, not the environment.YesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYes
Heats people, objects, and the environment.NoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNo
Heats only the environment.NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
Suitable for open spaces with wind.YesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYes
Only suitable for sheltered areas with little wind.NoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNo
Emits a relatively large amount of light.YesYesYesYesNoNoNoNoYes

Infrared radiation

Short wave radiation

  • Heats the person and not the environment.
  • Wind has little influence on the heat-intensity of the patio heater.
  • Suitable for windy patios.

Medium ware radiation

  • Heats both the person and the environment.
  • Wind has influence on the heat-intensity of the patio heater.
  • Suitable for sheltered patios.

Long wave radiation

  • Heats the environment.
  • Wind has relatively much influence on the heat-intensity of the patio heater.
  • Suitable for sheltered patios.

Heating elements

Heatpanel - no infrared radiation

Heatpanel - no infrared radiation

  • A Heatpanel doesn't emit light while it heats.
  • This heating element is wind-sensitive, the heat is quickly lost in the wind.
  • Suitable for heating sheltered patios.
Quartz - medium wave radiation

Quartz - medium wave radiation

  • A quartz heater emits a relatively large amount of light while it heats.
  • This heating element is wind-sensitive, so the heat is quickly lost in the wind.
  • Quartz patio heaters are inexpensive to purchase.
  • Suitable for heating sheltered patios.
Carbon - short wave radiation

Carbon - short wave radiation

  • Carbon patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Carbon heaters emit a relatively large amount of light during heating.
  • A carbon heater has a lower heat intensity than a halogen heater.
  • Suitable for both windy and sheltered patios.
Halogen - short wave radiation

Halogen - short wave radiation

  • Halogen patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Halogen heaters emit a brighter light than quartz heaters.
  • A halogen heater has a higher heat intensity than a carbon heater.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.
Low-glare - short wave radiation

Low-glare - short wave radiation

  • Low-glare patio heaters have a halogen heating element with a thick coating that ensures a strong reduction of light emission while it heats.
  • Thanks to the thick coating, the heat-intensity is lower than with a regular halogen heating element.
  • Low-glare patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.
Heatstrip - short wave radiation

Heatstrip - short wave radiation

  • A Heatstrip doesn't emit light while it heats.
  • Unlike a Heatpanel, this heating element has little heat loss due to the influence of the wind and the heat doesn't blow away quickly.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.
Golden Tube - short wave radiation

Golden Tube - short wave radiation

  • Golden Tube heaters are halogen heaters with a layer of gold leaf on the heating element so the heat-intensity is higher.
  • A Golden Tube heater emits quite a lot of light while it heats.
  • Golden Tube patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.
Rose Gold - short wave radiation

Rose Gold - short wave radiation

  • Rose Gold patio heaters are Halogen heaters with a layer of rosé gold leaf on the heating element.
  • A Rose Gold heater gives a soft, pink glow during heating.
  • Rose Gold patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.
Golden Shadow - short wave radiation

Golden Shadow - short wave radiation

  • Golden Shadow patio heaters are Golden Tube patio heaters, but give off less light during heating.
  • Golden Shadow patio heaters have little heat loss due to the influence of wind.
  • Suitable for heating both windy and sheltered patios.

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Article by Julie

Patio Heating Expert.

Julie