Stop Losing Money to a Cold Patio
It’s a frustrating sight: a beautiful outdoor dining area with half the tables empty because it’s just a bit too chilly for people to settle in. Most restaurants try to fix this with standard space heaters. The problem? Those things just try to heat the air. And since air moves, your expensive heat just floats away into the night sky. We do things differently. We use short-wave infrared technology. Instead of fighting the wind, it heats the people and the furniture directly. It’s the difference between trying to warm up a whole room and stepping into a patch of sunlight on a winter day. Built for the elements Outdoor gear takes a beating. Between the rain, the humidity, and the general chaos of a busy patio, your equipment needs to be tough. That’s why we use an IP55 rating. In plain English: dust stays out and water doesn’t get in. You can tuck these under tables or mount them on overhead beams without stressing over a rainstorm shorting out your electronics. It just works. Keep them staying (and ordering) There is no “warming up” period here. The second a customer sits down, they feel the heat. That’s huge. When people aren’t shivering, they don’t rush through their meal to get back inside. They stay for that second glass of wine or the dessert menu. By focusing the heat exactly where the guests are sitting—rather than trying to heat the entire zip code—you save a lot on your power bill. You get a cozy pocket of warmth at the table, which means more time spent dining and a higher check at the end of the night. A few tips on the setup You’ll want a solid commercial circuit to handle the power. Since these will be running during your busiest winter shifts, make sure your electrical load is balanced so you aren’t tripping breakers right in the middle of a dinner rush. Also, placement is everything. Infrared heat travels in a straight line. If you mount them too high, the heat disappears before it hits the guest. Too low? You’ll bake the tabletop. We can help you find that “sweet spot” based on the wattage you’re using. Get the spacing right, and you’ll eliminate those annoying cold spots, making every single seat in the house a place someone actually wants to sit.