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Electric Infrared vs Gas Heating for Hospitality: Preparing for Autumn & Winter
As evenings draw in and temperatures fall, outdoor heating moves back up the priority list for pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafés.
A terrace or pub garden that works perfectly throughout summer can quickly become less inviting in autumn. With the right heating, however, outdoor areas can remain comfortable and usable well into the colder months.
For hospitality venues reviewing their heating ahead of autumn and winter, one of the key questions is: electric infrared or traditional gas patio heating?
Electric infrared vs gas: what’s the difference?
The main difference is how the heat is delivered.
Gas patio heaters primarily heat the surrounding air. Outdoors, particularly in breezy conditions, that warm air can quickly rise or move away.
Infrared heating works differently. Infrared energy is absorbed by people and surfaces and converted into heat.
For hospitality venues, this allows warmth to be directed towards tables, terraces and seating areas — where customers actually need it.
VICTORY
| Electric Infrared | Gas Patio Heating |
|---|---|
| Direct, targeted warmth | Primarily heats surrounding air |
| Instant heat | Requires ignition |
| Suitable for zoned heating | Typically controlled heater-by-heater |
| Wall, ceiling and parasol mounting options | Cylinders require storage and replacement |
|
No on-site combustion |
Commonly freestanding |
| No gas cylinders | Uses gas combustion |
Why consider infrared heating this autumn and winter?
Keep outdoor spaces usable for longer
When temperatures fall, outdoor tables can quickly become unused tables.
Targeted infrared heating can help make terraces, patios and pub gardens more comfortable, allowing hospitality businesses to make more of their outdoor space throughout autumn and into winter.
This can be particularly valuable where outdoor seating provides important additional capacity.
Instant heat when temperatures drop
Autumn weather can change quickly. A comfortable afternoon can become a chilly evening within hours.
Victory’s HLW infrared heaters use short-wave infrared to provide immediate, targeted warmth to people and surfaces.
Heating can therefore be switched on when and where it’s needed, rather than running throughout the day in anticipation of colder conditions.
Heat occupied areas, not empty ones
Outdoor occupancy can vary considerably throughout the week.
Infrared lends itself to zoned heating, allowing venues to concentrate warmth around the tables and areas customers are actually using.
Victory also offers a range of infrared heating controls and accessories to provide greater control over heat output and operating times.
No gas cylinders to manage
Gas patio heaters also bring the practical consideration of storing, monitoring and replacing cylinders.
Electric infrared removes the need for gas cylinders, helping simplify outdoor heating for hospitality teams during busy autumn and winter services.
Infrared heating in hospitality: Nonna’s Supper Club
The benefits of infrared heating can also be seen in real hospitality environments.
Nonna’s Supper Club turned to Victory when looking for a heating solution for its outdoor hospitality space, providing a useful example of how infrared heating can be applied in a real venue.
Read the Nonna’s Supper Club case study →
For pubs, restaurants and cafés considering their own outdoor heating ahead of winter, real-world applications like this can help demonstrate how infrared can be incorporated into hospitality spaces.
Are infrared heaters suitable for outdoor hospitality spaces?
Short-wave infrared is particularly suited to outdoor and semi-outdoor applications because it heats people and surfaces rather than relying on warming a large volume of surrounding air.
Typical applications include:
- Pub gardens
- Restaurant terraces
- Hotel patios
- Covered outdoor dining areas
- Pergolas and gazebos
- Café seating areas
Victory’s HLW infrared heaters are available in a range of outputs, with options for wall, ceiling and parasol mounting.
Are electric infrared heaters cheaper to run than gas?
There isn’t a single answer.
Running costs depend on energy prices, heater output, operating hours, the size and exposure of the area and how effectively the heating is controlled.
One important consideration is how much of your outdoor space actually needs heating at any one time.
Electric infrared allows heat to be concentrated around occupied areas rather than attempting to maintain the temperature of an entire outdoor space. When comparing systems, consider where, when and for how long your heaters will operate, rather than fuel prices alone.
Already have a HLW heater? You may only need a replacement lamp
Preparing for winter doesn’t necessarily mean replacing your existing heater.
If your HLW heater is still in good working condition but its lamp needs replacing, a replacement infrared lamp may be all that’s required.
Victory supplies a wide range of replacement infrared lamps, including replacement options for the HLW heater range.
We’ve also created a step-by-step video showing how to replace the lamp safely and correctly.
Watch: How to replace the lamp in your HLW infrared heater →
It’s a useful job to add to your autumn maintenance checklist before temperatures really begin to fall.
Choosing an outdoor heater before winter
Before choosing a system, consider:
How exposed is the space?
A sheltered terrace will have different requirements from an exposed pub garden.
Which areas are used most?
Prioritising popular tables and seating zones can help you use heating more effectively.
Where can heaters be mounted?
Wall and ceiling-mounted options can provide targeted coverage without taking up valuable floor space.
Will the heater be exposed to the weather?
Check that the heater has an appropriate IP rating for its installation environment.
Do you need separate heating zones?
Independent controls can provide greater flexibility as occupancy changes.
Get your outdoor space ready for colder months
Autumn doesn’t have to mean the end of outdoor dining.
Whether you’re considering a move away from gas, installing outdoor heating for the first time or simply replacing the lamp in an existing heater, now is a good time to prepare.
Electric infrared provides instant, targeted and controllable warmth, helping hospitality businesses make more of their outdoor spaces as temperatures fall.
Victory can help with infrared heaters, replacement infrared lamps and controls and accessories, as well as advice on selecting the right solution for your space.
Planning your outdoor heating for autumn and winter? Talk to our team about your space, installation and heating requirements.
Email: sales@victorylighting.co.uk
Explore our infrared heater range →
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