Supplemental patio heating extends the functional season of a Broken Arrow outdoor kitchen and covered patio into Oklahoma’s fall and winter months — a covered patio without a heat source becomes impractical for outdoor entertaining below approximately 45°F, but with adequate radiant or convective heat, the same covered patio can host comfortable outdoor dining at temperatures as low as 25°F. Broken Arrow’s climate creates a strong case for patio heaters: October through March typically include 30 to 40 evenings per year that are cold enough to benefit from supplemental heating, and the outdoor kitchen represents a substantial investment that should be usable as many months as possible. VistaScapes & Design discusses patio heating options at every covered patio outdoor kitchen consultation and designs the electrical and gas rough-ins for the heater type the homeowner selects.
Overhead Infrared Heaters
Overhead infrared electric heaters for Broken Arrow covered patio outdoor kitchens: electric infrared ceiling heaters (Bromic Heating, Infratech, Heatscope) mounted to the covered patio’s ceiling or roof structure beam provide radiant heat that warms objects and people directly without heating the surrounding air — this makes infrared heaters significantly more effective than convective heaters in covered patios with open sides, where convective heat dissipates rapidly into the outdoor air. Bromic Heating’s Platinum Smart-Heat Electric series (1,600W to 6,000W) is the most frequently specified overhead infrared heater for Broken Arrow covered patio outdoor kitchen projects: the Platinum electric heater mounts flush to the covered patio ceiling, covers a 6-foot to 15-foot heating zone depending on the wattage, and operates silently with no flame or combustion byproduct; the Bromic Platinum requires a dedicated 240V, 20-amp circuit for each heater; a 16-foot by 24-foot covered patio in Broken Arrow typically requires two to three Bromic Platinum 3,400W heaters for adequate coverage in Oklahoma’s coldest weather. Infratech wall-mounted infrared heaters: a less expensive alternative to Bromic, Infratech produces 240V infrared heaters in flush-mount and surface-mount configurations in 1,500W to 6,000W; Infratech heaters are manufactured in the USA and available in a range of finishes including stainless, black, and bronze. Infrared gas heaters: gas-fired overhead infrared heaters (Roberts Gordon, Solaronics) use natural gas or propane to heat a ceramic or stainless steel radiating surface to incandescence, producing radiant heat output equivalent to a comparable electric heater but at lower operating cost per BTU; gas infrared heaters require a dedicated gas supply stub and shutoff valve at the heater location and must be vented per the manufacturer’s specifications; outdoor overhead gas heaters must be listed for outdoor use and installed per the National Fuel Gas Code.
Freestanding and Wall-Mount Gas Heaters
Freestanding and wall-mount gas patio heaters for Broken Arrow covered patio outdoor kitchens: tall freestanding mushroom heaters — the familiar 92-inch tall stainless steel propane mushroom heater (available at big-box retailers for $150 to $400) produces 40,000 to 48,000 BTU/hr of radiant and convective heat; these heaters are effective in still-air conditions but lose significant efficiency in the open-sided covered patio environment where air movement dissipates convective heat rapidly; freestanding mushroom heaters are not typically appropriate for the cooking zone of a Broken Arrow outdoor kitchen where the open flame creates a hazard adjacent to the grill and combustible materials. Wall-mount natural gas patio heaters: a wall-mounted natural gas patio heater (Calcana Patio Heaters, Sunglo, Superior, AEI Corporation) mounts to the covered patio’s structural post or beam at approximately 7 to 8 feet above the slab and produces 40,000 to 100,000 BTU/hr of directed heat; wall-mount gas heaters are connected to the home’s natural gas supply and do not require propane tank management; they can be operated continuously during cold-weather entertaining without the fuel interruption risk of propane tank depletion; the wall-mount location keeps the heater away from the outdoor kitchen’s cooking zone while directing heat into the seating area; the heater must be mounted at a safe clearance distance from the covered patio’s combustible ceiling and structural elements — typically 24 to 36 inches from combustible materials per the heater’s listed installation instructions. Electrical connections for heaters: all electric infrared heaters require dedicated 240V circuits sized for the heater’s amperage draw; circuits must be GFCI-protected for outdoor locations; the circuit wiring and outlet must be installed in weatherproof conduit as part of the covered patio’s electrical rough-in — planning the heater circuit locations at the framing stage allows the wiring to be concealed in the ceiling structure rather than surface-mounted after construction. VistaScapes & Design designs the patio heater electrical and gas rough-in for every Broken Arrow outdoor kitchen and covered patio project where supplemental heating is included in the scope.
Call VistaScapes & Design at (918) 779-1317 for a free outdoor kitchen consultation in Tulsa. We’ll design the patio heating system for your covered patio and include all electrical and gas rough-ins in the project proposal.
