Fire Sense: Patio Heater Review

Straightforward Assembly

Upon receiving this propane patio heater in the mail, the product was well packaged and undamaged. Assembly required less than 1 hour to have it up and running.

Instructions were very easy to follow, and quite honestly, the highlight of my day. Some reviewers on Amazon complained about the instructions being blurry, hard to read, or too small. The instructions I received were fine, but if yours aren’t, you can go download the instructions online with big, clear print.All the parts were present, and not only were they all there, the smaller pieces were packed in a blister pack and individually labelled! There was no guesswork about which bolts or nuts to use at any time, all the holes lined up well, and the bolts all fit nicely where they were supposed to.

Ignition

We had the heater on within less than 5 minutes of assembly. On initial startup the directions say to hold in the gas control knob for 2 minutes prior to pushing the igniter button. However, I only held the button in for a few seconds, and when I pressed the igniter button there was a flash and the unit was immediately fully lit. Personally, I would not recommend waiting very long before pressing the igniter. All in all, the heat lamp is easy to light, and you get a great amount of heat right away.

Easy Propane Refill

Replacing an empty propane tank is actually really easy.  The design is far superior than other full-size patio heaters that we’ve used in the past in that it has a 3 prongs with ample space around the propane tank.  Once you lift up the tank housing which requires no screws, you can rest it on one of the prongs giving you full hand-free access to the empty propane tank.  After you swap the new tank for the empty, you can lower the tank housing back into position, and you’re all set!

Easy Ignition & Strong Heat Output

I purchased the stainless steel model, which costs a little more, but includes an electronic ignition that requires a AAA battery. I strongly recommend going with a Fire Sense Patio Heater model that has the electronic ignition. So far it has started up every time, and hasn’t failed me yet.

At 46,000 BTU’s, this patio heater pumps out a great amount of heat. The heat and flames are also fully adjustable by turning the dial, and their burners are made of durable stainless steel, plus they also have a double mantle heating grid. The unit pumps out a ton of heat; so much so, I had to dial them back so as not to roast any nearby guests. It is quiet, and the entire burner lights up evenly with a nice blue flame.

Multiple Areas of Use

I liked this heater so much that I bought another one, the Fire Sense 46,000 BTU XL-Series Matte-Mocha Patio Heater w/Drink Table & Wheels, which comes with a drink table and wheels! Our friends love this! They huddle around it and we have a few drinks or smoke cigars outside, even during the winter. It’s the perfect height for us to sit under and even has a table for all of our drinks!

I have one of the heat lamps fairly close to our seating area.  We placed the second one by our outdoor kitchen area. I also use it when I cook on my outdoor griddle, it keeps me warm.  Sometimes we roll it closer to the seating areas if needed, as we have a few areas where our guests sit and converse.

During the colder months, we move our heat lamp into our screened-in patio with our grill to barbecue, and it’s been great! It’s safe to use in a gazebo or patio with screened windows. The manual states to keep the unit 50 inches away from combustible materials. We keep it that distance from the screens and siding (just in case), but do only have about 30 inches to the wood ceiling. It served us well on on a 50 degree day and a full tank ran about 8 hours.

Commercial Quality

Our friends own a busy cafe, and they absolutely love this Fire Sense patio heat lamp, and swear by it. For over a year, they have been using 2 of these, which have held up well and are still going strong. The heat lamps get rolled out to the patio every morning, and then get rolled back inside before closing every night, and the wheels are still holding up well. Each unit has burned at least 50 tanks of propane, and the burners still light up immediately and crank out heat like the first day they were assembled.  Fire Sense also advertises this as a “commercial patio heater”.

Features, Safety & Warranty

The heat lamp is 7.6 ft tall, which is tall enough to be safe from hair lighting, yet not so tall that the heat is too far from where it is needed. The unit weighs about 42 pounds, the base measures 18 inches wide, and the width of the top ‘umbrella’ part is 33 inches. Most importantly, the heater also has great safety features. For safety, there is an auto shutoff tilt valve, which will immediately shut off the unit if, for any reason, it gets tipped over.

Quality Construction

Unlike the less expensive patio heaters with painted bodies, this one comes with a weighted base and does not need the addition of sand or windshield washer fluid (to prevent freezing) to weigh it down, which makes assembling it just that much easier.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

If you purchase a Fire Sense product don’t forget to go to the Fire Sense website and post a review. It will double the length of your warranty. Also, before you throw away the box, look for the serial number and record it for future reference. I called the company to find out how to register my unit; to my surprise, they answered the phone within a couple rings, and I was told that as long as I had my receipt it was unnecessary. Also, another great reason we buy everything from Amazon, because you have an email confirmation of the receipt, and you can always find it when you log into your Amazon account.

Our Verdict: First Sense Patio Heater

I am still very satisfied and happy with these Fire Sense patio heaters. They work great and are just as good, if not better, than comparable patio heat lamps that are even more expensive. They are good quality, and an awesome value for what you pay. It easily lights up every time, and the heat is fully adjustable by turning the dials.  The unpainted stainless steel finish is sure to match any outdoor setting, and prevents rust in the winter time.  If you’re wanting to protect your investment further, you can easily purchase an optional Fire Sense cover for under $25.

The Fire Sense heat lamp with the table and wheels is super practical and easy to move or roll around. They are built well with good safety features and an auto shutoff tilt valve that shuts off the heater if it falls over. I’ve found that the best and fastest way to order is through Amazon, you get free 2 day shipping with an Amazon Prime account.

The Fire Sense full-size patio heater is great for larger areas, and we found that guests huddled around it as it got cooler.  If you’re looking for something more compact and for outdoor dining, you may be interested in our full buyer’s guide to tabletop patio heaters which are a great option to consider as well!

Enjoy your patio!