| To use your patio at night two basic components | | | | The only disadvantage of the solar powered patio |
| that you will need are outdoor patio heaters and | | | | umbrella is that it is slightly expensive than the |
| patio lighting. As nights are usually chilly and dark | | | | regular patio umbrella. Also, the energy stored |
| addition of both these components will ensure | | | | may not be sufficient for longer durations of time. |
| that your party goes well and all your guests are | | | | Apart from the lighting of the patio, you will also |
| comfortable. Outdoor heaters are of many types | | | | have to check out the heating options. The |
| and you can select the one that suits your needs. | | | | heating can be either natural that is by using |
| For lighting up your patio you can use string lights | | | | firewood or artificial that is using the outdoor |
| that are easy to install and energy efficient. If | | | | propane heaters. Both the natural and the artificial |
| your patio has a patio umbrella then you may as | | | | ways have their advantages and disadvantages. |
| well think of decorating it with lights. | | | | It is very difficult to manage firewood when the |
| For the lighting purposes, you will have to plan out | | | | days are windy. Wind can blow away specks of |
| the position of the lights and the current source. | | | | fire and spread around which could be quite |
| Lights can either be installed on the walls or on | | | | dangerous at times. In fact lots of precautions |
| the patio umbrella. The light on the patio umbrella | | | | have to be taken before you light firewood. |
| is very popular these days. For the various types | | | | Moreover they give localized heat and it can be |
| of lighting options, you can visit some good | | | | rather a hassle to light up the fire and to keep it |
| electric store or an electronic store. The string | | | | burning. |
| lights:o Are very commono Take up very little | | | | In comparison to the fire wood, the outdoor |
| energyo Easy to install | | | | propane heaters are always preferred. The major |
| The patio-umbrellas support the lighting systems | | | | advantages of the outdoor propane heaters are |
| quite well and you can weave them around the | | | | that they do not pollute the environment and |
| canopy or around the pole. Take the correct | | | | they give uniform warmth throughout the patio. |
| measurements of the umbrella before you decide | | | | Depending on the type of outdoor propane |
| to buy the lights so that they sufficient to cover | | | | heaters, you will get warmth at a smaller area or |
| the entire area. You can also use patio lighting in | | | | in a larger area. When you are buying the outdoor |
| some imaginative way and use an array of lights | | | | propane heaters, make sure to see the heating |
| to bring out a mix and match effect. In fact | | | | capacity of the outdoor propane heaters. If the |
| multiple lighting makes the place look more vibrant | | | | heating capacity is less, the area that it heats will |
| and bright. | | | | be less. |
| These days, the patio lights are wireless which | | | | If the heating capacity of the outdoor propane |
| means that they run on batteries such as the AA | | | | heaters is high, a greater area will be heated. |
| batteries or the Triple A batteries. Some | | | | There is only one drawback of the outdoor |
| advanced patio umbrella lights just use | | | | propane heaters, which is the refill of the propane |
| rechargeable batteries so you don't have to | | | | cylinders. If you are out of the propane cylinders, |
| spend more money on the new batteries all the | | | | you will not be able to get the desired warmth. |
| time. If you are want some eco-friendly option | | | | Most people always have a back up plan. They |
| for the lighting, you can use the solar powered | | | | also have small fire places along with the outdoor |
| patio heaters. The solar panel on the | | | | propane heaters. So, if the outdoor propane |
| patio-umbrellas store the energy from the sunlight | | | | heaters run out of the fuel, the fire wood can |
| and then this energy can be used in the night | | | | give the desired warmth. |
| time. | | | | |