If you run a restaurant with outdoor seating, patio heat isn't decoration — it's the difference between filling those tables in November and watching them sit empty. Infrared heating has become the standard for serious outdoor dining, and the reason is simple: it's the only technology that actually works outside.
Why Infrared, and Not the Mushroom Heaters
The propane mushroom heater is what most operators start with, and it's the wrong tool. It heats air. Outdoors, air moves — so the heat leaves before it reaches anyone. You end up with a warm column directly above the unit and cold guests three feet away.
Infrared works differently. It heats objects and people directly, the way sunlight does, rather than heating the air in between. Wind matters far less. That's why it became the standard for commercial outdoor dining and why the mushroom heater is disappearing from serious patios.
The Propane Problem Nobody Planned For
Propane is a fuel cost you buy by the cylinder, at whatever the price is that week. For an operator running six to ten gas heaters through a full season, that's a line item that moves — and it's unpredictable, which is worse. You can't price a menu against a fuel cost you don't control.
This is why we're seeing operators move to electric. No tank swaps mid-service, no fuel purchases, no staff hauling cylinders. You pay for electricity, which is already metered and already in your budget.
Mounting: The Decision That Comes First
Before you compare models, work out where the heat is going. This determines everything else.
Ceiling or overhead mount
The most common commercial setup. Units mount above the seating area and radiate down. Nothing takes up floor space, nothing gets knocked over, and coverage is even across a table. Requires a covered patio, pergola, or awning with adequate clearance — Bromic's mounted gas heaters need 8 ft from the floor to the underside of the unit and 3 ft above to combustibles (14" with the heat shield).
Wall mount
Good for perimeter seating, narrow patios, and along building walls. Angled to project heat across the seating zone. Less flexible than overhead but easier to install and often the answer for a sidewalk patio.
Freestanding
Portable, no installation, and you reposition it as the layout changes. Freestanding units suit operators who rearrange seasonally or who lease the space and can't modify the structure.
The tradeoff is floor space and the fact that anything freestanding can be knocked into. Commercial-grade freestanding units are heavy for that reason — the Bromic Eclipse Freestanding carries a 320 lb weighted base.
What We Carry
We're an authorized Bromic dealer. Bromic is an Australian brand that's become the specification standard for hospitality — hotels, restaurant groups, and high-end residential patios — and it covers all three mounting formats.
Tungsten Smart-Heat
The workhorse. Gas models in 300 and 500 series (26,000 and 43,000 BTU/hr), plus a freestanding portable version. Straightforward, effective, and the most common commercial spec.
Platinum Smart-Heat
Slimmer profile, available in gas and electric. The electric models come in 2300W, 3400W and 4500W in black or white — that's where most of our restaurant conversations are landing right now, for the fuel-cost reasons above.
Eclipse Smart-Heat
The design piece. A pendant version for ceiling mounting and a freestanding version on a weighted base. Specified where the heater is part of the look, not just equipment.
How Many Do You Need?
That depends on your patio dimensions, ceiling height, how exposed the space is, and how your tables are arranged. There's no honest rule of thumb — a covered courtyard and an open sidewalk patio of the same square footage need completely different setups. Bromic's published coverage figures (65–215 sq ft per unit depending on model) are the starting point; our Bromic sizing guide walks through how to apply them →
Send us your patio dimensions and a photo and we'll tell you what the coverage actually requires. We'd rather quote it right than sell you two units that don't do the job.
Buying for a Commercial Space
A few things worth knowing before you order:
- Electrical capacity. Every mounted Bromic electric heater is hardwired on its own dedicated 208–240 V circuit; the 4500W draws up to 21.6 A. Check with your electrician before you commit to a layout.
- Gas line access. Fixed gas units need a line run plus a 110 V outlet for ignition. Freestanding propane units don't, but you're back to tank management.
- Lead time. Order before the season, not during it. Everyone orders in October.
- Multiple units. Most patios need three or more. Call us — we'll quote the whole thing rather than making you price them one at a time, and we offer trade pricing to designers and contractors.
Free Shipping, Scheduled Delivery
Free insured freight to the lower 48 with liftgate delivery, scheduled with you in advance. No surprise freight bill, and if something arrives damaged we handle it completely.
Talk to Us Before You Order
Patio heating is one of those purchases where getting the layout wrong costs more than the equipment. Tell us the space, the seating plan, and whether you have gas, and we'll spec it properly.
Tell us what you're building → | Call or text (814) 440-4817 — American Hearth Supply, Authorized Bromic Dealer
