How Long Does Patio Heater Gas Last?

A comfortable patio can become an additional living space if you have the right design. A patio heater can provide the necessary warmth on chilly evenings to keep your outdoor plans on track. But it’s important to know how long patio heater gas lasts so you don’t end up out in the cold.

Patio heater gas using a propane tank lasts between 7 and 15 hours. But depending on the tank size, heat setting, and BTUs, it could last longer. A typical 20-pound tank with 40,000 BTUs lasts roughly 10 hours on the hottest setting. If you use natural gas, your patio heater can deliver continuous heat since it connects directly to your gas line.

Having a relaxing backyard space that you can use all year adds a lot of benefits to your home. Preparing for cold weather by ensuring you have the proper supplies means you won’t have to forego enjoying your patio.

When choosing a gas patio heater, you can opt for a propane tank or use one that runs on natural gas. How much gas your patio heater uses depends on the size, BTUs, and how long you run it.

For example, if your patio heater burns natural gas, a standard 13kW heater burns at approximately 1230 g/hour. However, this is if you use the heater on its maximum setting.

A 20-pound propane tank operating at 40,000 BTUs(British Thermal Units) might use all of its contents within 10 hours. But, if you operate it at a lower setting, you would use less gas in that same time. Put simply, BTUs are a measure of how much energy an appliance can generate.

If you have a larger space to heat, you would need a heater operating with more BTUs. BTUs also measure the amount of fuel appliances use each hour.

One of the most common sizes for a patio heater has a 20-pound tank. You could get roughly 10 hours of heat from this tank size to heat up about 1,000 square feet. But it’s important to remember this number is an average.

The actual amount of time your patio heater gas will last depends on several factors. Most importantly, how large is the space you want to heat, and how hot do you want it.

When determining the space you plan to heat, you need to consider more than square footage. You also need to account for the height in the space. Therefore, you need to know the cubic feet of space.

You also need to consider where you live. If you’re in a very cold climate, you would need more BTUs to achieve the desired temperature. But if you live in a warmer climate, you’d likely not need to use as much energy to heat your space.

We’ll look a little closer at how you can determine the appropriate number of BTUs for your patio in a moment.

If you’re heating a smaller space, you might opt for a five-pound tank. A five pound propane tank will cost you less and weigh less, making it easier to deal with. You could expect to pay about $20 to $40 instead of around $100 to $120 for a 20-pound tank.

If you have a 5-pound propane tank, your patio heater gas could still last for about 10 hours. How is this possible? Keep in mind that if you’re using this smaller tank, you’re likely heating a smaller space.

But if you’re trying to heat a larger space with a 5-pound tank, it might only last about three hours. In a larger area, you would still end up operating at the same number of BTUs. And this is the biggest determiner of how long the gas will last.

If you have a propane patio heater, you might find the idea of switching to a natural gas model appealing. You won’t have to worry about buying more propane, and natural gas tends to be a less expensive option.

But can you convert your existing propane patio heater to one that uses natural gas? Or do you need to buy a brand new heater?

It depends. You can convert some propane gas appliances to natural gas with the proper conversion kit. It’s important to only use the correct conversion kit and follow the manufacturer’s directions explicitly.

Some patio heaters do not allow for conversion. If you have one of these models, you’ll need to buy a new patio heater if you wish to start using natural gas. Don’t try to rig something up; this can be very dangerous.

If you’re sticking with propane, getting what you need to deliver the desired results is essential. Get something too large, and it could be overkill. You might end up paying more than you need or having too much heat in your space.

However, go with a tank that’s too small, and you won’t get the cozy patio you really want. Or, you’ll end up needing to replace the propane all the time (which is a pain). Therefore, choosing the right size propane tank for your patio heater is essential.

To determine the right size, you need to know how many BTUs you need for your space. Here’s a handy formula to keep things simple:

Cubic Feet of Space X Desired Heat Increase X .133 = BTUs

For example, your patio is 30 feet by 30 feet and roughly 10 feet high. Therefore, the approximate cubic feet of your space is 9,000.

The current temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but you want your patio to be 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This means you want a temperature increase of 30 degrees.

So, your final equation would look like this:

9000 x 30 x .133 = 35,910 BTUs

In this case (based on the above formula results), you would want a 40,000 BTU heater. This size heater is the average for a patio heater.

A 20-pound tank with a 40,000 BTU heater would last about 10 hours. This number comes from the fact that a 20-pound propane tank can hold about 430,270 BTU.

Based on this amount, a 5-pound propane tank would hold roughly 107,567 BTUs. To heat the same size space, you’d only get about 2 to 3 hours from a 5-pound tank. So, in this example, you can see how a 20-pound tank makes more sense.

Of course, you do have another option when it comes to patio heaters. If you don’t want to deal with propane or natural gas, you can get an electric patio heater.

Electric patio heaters can also provide a cozy environment. Plus, you can only use certain patio heaters in specific places. For example, under a roof or an enclosed space, you ca n’t typically use a gas patio heater. You also should never use any kind of patio heater indoors.

So this is something to consider when shopping for your heat source. Keep in mind that you’ll need the proper electrical outlet installed to use your electric patio heater outdoors.

Determining how long your patio heater gas lasts depends on the size of your heater and propane tank. It also depends on the space you’re trying to heat and how hot you want it. A 20-pound propane tank with a 40,000 BTU heater is the most common patio heater.

This size heater will last you about 10 hours before needing to refuel. However, if you have a smaller area to heat, a five-pound propane tank could also last a while. Overall, consider the cubic feet of space and how much hotter you want it.

Multiply the cubic feet by the temperature increase by .133 to get the necessary BTUs. Once you have this number, you’ll know what size patio heater to get in terms of BTUs. A 20-pound tank holds about 430,270 BTUs, so at 40,000 BTUs, it would last you 10 hours.