Stop Letting the Cold Kill Your Patio Profits
It’s a frustrating cycle. The weather dips, and suddenly your outdoor seating—the prime real estate of your restaurant—becomes a ghost town. Most people try to fix this with those standard convection heaters. But here’s the problem: those things just heat the air. And as soon as a breeze kicks up, all that expensive warmth just drifts away. You’re basically paying to heat the sidewalk. That’s why we use shortwave infrared. Instead of fighting the wind, these heaters go straight for the target. They warm up the people and the furniture directly. It’s more like sitting in the sun on a crisp October day. The “Instant Warmth” Factor One of the best parts? There’s no waiting around. You don’t have to turn the heaters on two hours before service to “prep” the patio. The second a guest sits down, they feel it. When people are actually comfortable, they don’t rush through their meal just to get back inside. They linger. They order that extra round of drinks or a dessert they weren’t planning on. It’s a simple shift, but it makes a huge difference in your nightly take. Getting the Setup Right You can’t just slap these on a ceiling and hope for the best. We look at your specific layout—how high your ceilings are and where the wind usually hits—to figure out the right spot. If you don’t put enough power into a specific area, the wind will still win. You’ll end up with “cold spots” where guests are shivering while the table next to them is roasting. Also, a quick heads-up on the electrical side: these units pull a lot of power. You’ll need a dedicated circuit. There is nothing worse than having your breakers trip right in the middle of a Friday night rush. A Few Things to Watch Out For Now, it’s not all magic. If you mount the heaters too low, you get the “burnt head, frozen toes” effect. It’s uncomfortable and annoying. The trick is all in the height and the angle. We balance the heat so it covers the whole seating area evenly. Plus, we use dimmable controllers. That way, as the night gets colder, you can just dial up the heat without having to move furniture around. At the end of the day, it’s about the guest experience. When they feel cozy, they stay. And when they stay, your business grows.