'Compact' patio heater that warms outdoor areas 'in seconds' falls to £40

It’s finally spring. The sun has seemingly remembered it’s allowed to make an appearance in the UK and the garden lovers among us are keen to spend as much time outside as possible before it gets all dark and dreary again.

While enjoying the daylight with a cuppa or a glass of wine is largely a pleasant experience at this time of year, as the hours tick by there’s a common complaint that tends to arise: “It’s getting a bit chilly, shall we head inside?”

But there are products out there that help keep people warm while the temperature dips. While patio heaters can typically be a bit pricey, shoppers have been singing the praises of that doesn’t cost the world.

Read more:

Read more:

is currently on offer, taking the price down from £149.99 to £39.99. It’s averaged a very solid rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 from almost 500 reviews left to date.

According to the brand, the device is capable of heating up to six metres “in seconds”, meaning it should provide sufficient warmth for most standard patio seating areas. The heater runs with infrared technology that’s said to give you the sensation of warmth as if felt from the sun, while it gives off a glow to add to the atmosphere as the sun sets.

It’s designed to be wall-mounted or on a solid structure, while the product is also compact and doesn’t need any bulky gas bottles like some traditional patio heaters. If you’re worried about the electricity cost, Gtech promises it’s “low”, explaining: “They use a lower wattage than traditional patio heaters, and are much more efficient as less heat is lost. Silently and discreetly, they convert almost 100% of the electricity they use into usable heat.”

If you’re looking for a product that packs a punch, Dunelm stocks the . Priced at £399 it isn’t cheap but can cover 25m². In the same price range as the Gtech product, Amazon stocks that has the advantage of having a stand. Priced at £39.99, it’s the retail giant’s best seller in the patio heaters category.

, one buyer said: “Instant heat, stylish, lightweight and compact. Bought to heat my patio area on cooler nights, and it did not disappoint. Also got it at a discounted price, so I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever.”

Another continued: “Thought I would try it before fitting it to it designated place. Wow it didn’t disappoint and it looks good and gives off a really good heat.”

A third continued: “Really happy with this garden heater. So easy to use and install. Wasn't expecting it to produce the amount of heat for the size of the product. The heat is instant and you can feel it from quite a few feet away. The price was reduced to £39. 99 with free p+p so got myself a bargain.”

However, despite all the positive feedback, there were a couple of drawbacks flagged. One shopper pointed out: “Patio heater gives off a decent amount of heat, the only problem, which is quite a big problem, is the length of the power cord, giving limited mounting options.”

Another mentioned they had some trouble with the fixing bracket.