Stop Letting Your Patio Go to Waste Every Winter
It’s the same story every November. The air gets a chill, and suddenly those beautiful outdoor tables—the ones you paid a premium for—just sit there. Empty. It’s basically like paying rent on square footage you aren’t allowed to use. But here is the trick: you don’t need to heat the entire outdoors. That’s a losing battle. Instead, you just need to heat the people.
The “Sun” Effect
We use shortwave infrared heaters for this. Think of it like a heat lamp for your guests. Instead of blowing hot air around (which just gets carried away by the first breeze), these units send heat straight to the person sitting under them. It feels like stepping into a patch of sunlight on a cold day. It’s instant. And when people feel warm, they don’t rush to leave. They linger. They order that extra round of cocktails or a dessert they weren’t planning on. When your guests are comfortable, your average check size naturally goes up. It’s that simple.
More Seats, No New Lease
Think of these heaters as a way to grow your restaurant without actually moving walls or signing a new lease. You’re just making your existing space work harder for you. We’ve seen owners get 20% to 30% more out of their winter tables just by fixing the temperature. It turns a “seasonal” area into a year-round money maker.
A Few Things to Watch Out For
You can bolt these to the ceiling or mount them on poles. Just don’t put them too far apart. Space them every 2 to 3 meters, or you’ll end up with “cold spots” where guests are shivering while the person next to them is roasting. One big warning: check your electrics. These units pull a lot of power. If your wiring is old or your panel is already maxed out, you’re going to trip a breaker the second the patio fills up. Not a great look when you have twenty cold customers staring at you. Get a pro to look at your load capacity first. Also, keep them clean. Rain and wind won’t kill these units, but grease and dust will. If the reflectors get dirty, the heat doesn’t “throw” as far. Give them a quick wipe every season and they’ll keep humming along.