How to Choose the Right Bromic Heating System and Why Elite Patio Heating Is Different
Choosing the right Bromic heating system involves more than finding a patio heater you like and deciding how many will fit in the space.
A well-designed outdoor heating system should consider where the heaters will be mounted, how high they will be installed, which areas actually need heat, available electrical or gas infrastructure, control options, the architecture of the space—and, most importantly, how the people using the space expect to feel.
At Elite Patio Heating, we've been helping customers with outdoor heating since 2000.
Don't design an outdoor heating system around square footage alone. Design it around the
space - and the people who will actually use it.
That's particularly important when choosing among Bromic's electric, gas, portable, Tungsten, Platinum, and Eclipse options. Here's how we recommend approaching the decision.
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Bromic Heating System?
1. What Does Your Outdoor Space Look Like?
Length and width matter, but they're only the beginning. We want to understand:
• Overall dimensions
• Mounting height
• Open versus covered areas
• Ceiling and wall construction
• Seating and dining locations
• Available mounting positions
• Electrical capacity
• Natural gas or propane availability
• Weather exposure
• Architectural and aesthetic preferences
Of these variables, mounting height is particularly important. A heater mounted at one height will not necessarily provide the same useful coverage as that heater installed at another height. Bromic publishes model-specific mounting and clearance requirements, so heater selection and mounting position need to be considered together.
That's why we generally don't begin a design by saying: “Your patio is 300 square feet, so you need X heaters.” We think that's too simplistic.
Instead, once we understand the space, mounting height, appropriate heater model, and expected coverage, we can begin fitting the heaters into the areas requiring heat—almost like putting together a puzzle.
2. Are You Heating the Entire Patio—or the People Using It?
A 500-square-foot patio doesn't necessarily require 500 square feet of heated coverage.
Perhaps everyone gathers around a dining table. Maybe there's a conversation area on one side and an outdoor kitchen on the other. Or perhaps the customer wants comprehensive coverage throughout the entire patio. Those are three different objectives.
Design around where people actually sit, dine, gather, and spend time—not simply the outside
dimensions of the patio.
This can produce a better heating design while potentially avoiding the unnecessary expense and energy use of heating areas people rarely occupy.
3. What Are Your Expectations?
This is one of the questions we believe outdoor-heating professionals should ask more often. What are you actually hoping the heaters will accomplish?
Are you trying to extend outdoor living into spring and fall and simply take the chill off a cool evening? Or are you expecting to use the patio during the coldest part of winter? Will you have retractable shades or other protection? How exposed is the space?
And here's a question that's easily overlooked: How much heat do the people using the space actually like?
One person can feel cold while someone sitting beside them feels perfectly comfortable—or even too warm. That's one reason adjustable heat output and thoughtful zoning can be valuable parts of a Bromic heating system.
Bromic's Affinity Dimmer Series provides compatible Platinum and Tungsten electric heaters with heat-output adjustment in 1% increments, while the Affinity control platform also supports heater grouping and zones.
Which Type of Bromic Heater Is Right for Your Space?
Electric Bromic Heaters
Electric infrared heaters can be an excellent solution when the architecture, mounting conditions, and available electrical capacity support them.
They can be particularly attractive when customers want:
•Integrated overhead heating
• Precise heat adjustment with compatible controls
• Multiple heating zones
• A clean architectural installation
• Smart-control or home-automation capabilities
Bromic's electric heater options include multiple series and configurations, and compatible Affinity controls can provide dimming, zones, timers, schedules, and smart-system integration.
But before choosing electric, there's an important question: Does the property have enough available electrical capacity to support the heating system the space actually requires?
Sometimes a customer has limited electrical capacity and asks, “Can we just use lower-wattage heaters?” Possibly. But that's not the first question we think should be answered.
The first question is: Will those lower-output heaters provide the comfort you expect? A system can work perfectly from an electrical standpoint and still disappoint the customer because it doesn't produce enough heat.
Design for the desired comfort first. Then solve for the infrastructure required to achieve it.
If available electrical capacity can't support the ideal design, then evaluate the alternatives rather than automatically reducing heater output.
Gas Bromic Heaters
Gas deserves consideration where the space, mounting conditions, fuel availability, and desired heating coverage make it appropriate.
The decision should include more than simply comparing gas output with electric wattage. Clearance requirements, mounting height, installation conditions, available natural gas or propane, controls, architecture, and the intended use of the space all need to be considered.
For larger or very open spaces, gas can also be worth evaluating as part of the design because of the output and coverage available from Bromic's gas models.
The important point is that gas versus electric shouldn't be decided in isolation. We prefer to determine what the space needs first and then decide which technology best satisfies those requirements. Bromic gas patio heaters can be evaluated as part of that process.
Portable Bromic Heaters
Not every outdoor space has a suitable permanent mounting location. That's where portable solutions can be particularly useful.
They may make sense when:
• Permanent overhead mounting isn't practical
• The heating location needs to change
• The space has no suitable ceiling or wall mounting point
• The customer wants flexibility rather than a fixed installation
Bromic's Eclipse Smart-Heat Freestanding is an electric option, so portable Bromic heating isn't limited to gas. Bromic describes the Eclipse Freestanding as an electric infrared heater with an included dimmer control.
How Do Mounting Height and Architecture Affect Heater Selection?
This deserves its own discussion because mounting height can influence so many other decisions.
Most customers we've worked with don't want outdoor heaters hanging down into their space unnecessarily. We understand that.
If a heater can provide the desired result from a clean architectural mounting position that complies with the
manufacturer's requirements, we'd generally prefer that over introducing drop poles or extended brackets simply because they're available.
Respect the architecture whenever possible.
Start with the customer's preferred mounting position. Then consider: manufacturer requirements → mounting height→ desired coverage → required output → appropriate heater. If an extension or alternative mounting method becomes necessary, it can then be evaluated as part of the overall design.
Tungsten vs. Platinum: Which Bromic Series Should You Consider?
Bromic offers both Tungsten and Platinum heater collections, with options intended for different design and installation requirements. This isn't a matter of declaring one series universally “better.” The appropriate choice depends on the project.
Factors to compare include:
• Electric or gas configuration
• Available outputs
• Physical appearance
• Finish options
• Mounting requirements
• Clearance requirements
• Architectural integration
• Controls
• Installation environment
A homeowner primarily concerned with how the heater visually integrates into a carefully designed outdoor living area may weigh these factors differently than a restaurant, hotel, or other commercial property.
The key is to compare the specific models appropriate for the space rather than choosing a series based on its name alone. Bromic Tungsten heaters and Bromic Platinum heaters can be compared based on the requirements of the project.
How Do Controls and Zoning Affect Outdoor Heating?
Controls are sometimes treated as something to figure out after the heaters have been selected. We think they should be considered much earlier.
Imagine your patio requires four heaters. One morning, you get up before everyone else, make a cup of coffee, grab your Kindle, book, or newspaper, and sit outside beneath one heater. Do you really want to turn on all four heaters? Probably not.
A thoughtfully zoned system can allow you to heat the portion of the patio you're actually using without unnecessarily heating the rest.
Zoning controls WHERE you heat. Heat-intensity control determines HOW MUCH heat you receive.
Bromic's current Affinity system supports heater grouping and zones, while compatible electric heaters using Affinity Dimmer controls can have their heat output adjusted in 1% increments.
That can also help solve the very human problem of different people wanting different amounts of heat. Good
outdoor-heating design shouldn't merely produce heat. It should give people practical control over their comfort.
Why Does Professional Guidance Matter When Choosing a Heater?
There is more information about outdoor heating available online today than ever before. That's a good thing.
Product pages, specification sheets, installation manuals, videos, articles, comparison guides, and other online resources can all help customers become better-informed buyers. But research is a starting point.
The harder part is applying all that information to your particular space.
• How you use your patio
• Where your family sits
• How warm you like to be
• Whether you're planning spring/fall or winter use
• Which areas are priorities
• Your architectural preferences
• Your available electrical capacity
• Your budget
• Your construction schedule
• The tradeoffs you're willing - or unwilling - to make
Research gives you information. Experience helps you apply it to your particular situation.
Before investing in a complete outdoor-heating system, we believe it makes sense to speak with people who work with these questions every day.
Why Is Elite Patio Heating Different?
Outdoor Heating Experience Since 2000
We've been helping customers with outdoor heating since January 2000. That experience has taught us to think beyond the product itself and consider the complete system: heater selection, placement, mounting, controls, infrastructure, customer expectations, installation considerations, and long-term support.
Complimentary Expert Design Consultation
Customers don't need to figure everything out before contacting us. That's the point of the consultation. Our team can review the outdoor space, heating objectives, dimensions, mounting conditions, available utilities, plans and photographs where available, and the way the customer expects to use the space.
Request a Complimentary Expert Design Consultation
Human Consultation and Support
Outdoor-heating projects can involve homeowners, electricians, contractors, architects, designers, and other
professionals. Questions don't always occur conveniently before the sale. We believe customers should have
knowledgeable people available to help them understand product options and work through questions before and after purchasing.
Help With the Complete Decision
Our objective isn't simply to answer: “Which heater do you want?” We want to help answer: “What heating system makes sense for this space and the people who will use it?” Those are very different questions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bromic Heating Systems
How Do I Choose the Right Bromic Heating System?
Start with the space rather than the heater. Gather the key dimensions, including mounting height, and identify where people will actually sit and gather. Determine your desired comfort level and seasons of use, available electrical or gas infrastructure, mounting options, architectural preferences, and control requirements. Then compare the Bromic models that satisfy those conditions.
Which Bromic Heater Is Right for My Outdoor Space?
There isn't one Bromic model that's right for every outdoor space. Covered versus open construction, mounting height, available utilities, desired coverage, heater placement, controls, architecture, and expected use can all affect the decision. For anything beyond a simple replacement, consider having the space reviewed before ordering.
What Is the Difference Between Bromic Tungsten and Platinum?
Tungsten and Platinum are distinct Bromic product collections with differences in design, configuration, available models, finishes, and installation considerations. Rather than assuming one is inherently better, compare the specific Tungsten and Platinum models appropriate for your project's mounting, output, architectural, and utility requirements.
Are Bromic Heaters Available in Electric and Gas Models?
Yes. Bromic offers electric and gas heating options across portions of its outdoor-heating range. Control capabilities depend on the heater and fuel type; for example, current Affinity Dimmer controls are designed for compatible electric heaters, while Affinity On/Off controls can support compatible gas or electric models.
Can Bromic Heaters Be Used in Different Outdoor Settings?
Yes, but heater selection and installation need to match the particular environment. Residential patios, restaurants, hospitality properties, open spaces, covered spaces, and architecturally integrated outdoor rooms can have very different heating and installation requirements. Always review the applicable Bromic product specifications and installation requirements for the specific model.
Do I Need Help Choosing or Installing a Bromic Heater?
A straightforward replacement may require relatively little design assistance. For a new system, multiple heaters, unusual mounting conditions, controls, electrical or gas infrastructure questions, or a larger residential or commercial space, professional design guidance can be valuable before purchasing. Installation requirements vary by product, and applicable work should be performed by appropriately qualified professionals in accordance with Bromic's instructions and local requirements.
Before You Choose Your Bromic Heating System
Choosing a Bromic patio heater shouldn't begin with: “How many square feet is the patio?” It should begin with better questions.
Where will the heaters be mounted? How high? Which areas actually need heat? How will people use the space? When during the year do they want to use it? How warm do they like to be? What utilities are available? How much control do they want? And what installation will complement the architecture rather than fight against it?
Once those questions are answered, selecting the equipment becomes much more meaningful.
After helping customers with outdoor heating since 2000, our philosophy remains straightforward:
Design for the desired comfort first. Then determine the heating system and infrastructure required
And you don't have to work through those decisions alone.
Not Sure Which Bromic Heating System Is Right for Your Space?
Send us your plans, photographs, dimensions, mounting heights, and heating goals. We'll help you evaluate the options before you purchase.
Request Your Complimentary Expert Design Consultation