How to Heat a Pop Up Gazebo in Winter (& Stay Warm)

Andrew

Once the colder months come around, you may be wondering how to heat a gazebo – besides, there’s plenty of use for pop up gazebos, even when the sun isn’t shining! The Gazebo is a mainstay of many British gardens, keeping the sun and rain off your head all year round, as well as giving people a place to gather and enjoy celebrations. Even when it’s colder outside many people still like to have friends and family sitting in their gardens, enjoying their gazebo no matter the temperature. However, If the weather has started to get a bit chilly, you might need to think about ways of heating a gazebo.
In this guide, we will be talking about how you can keep your gazebos warm throughout the whole year, going through all the different methods of gazebo heating to make sure your garden gazebo is ready and waiting for any occasion! 

Can you use a pop up gazebo in cold weather?

In short, yes, you can! But it’s not a good idea to leave a pop up gazebo out for long periods of time during colder and harsher weather as it can lead to damage. Many pop-up gazebos aren’t designed for excessive use in cold temperatures or strong winds, so it is always recommended that you investigate the weather, and in particular, wind levels prior to putting up a gazebo
Are you looking for an all-weather gazebo, ideal for use all year round? 

Trader 32 Series

Our range of Trade Gazebos have a carbon steel frame that is robust enough to handle regular summer and light winter use. They offer great value for money without compromising on quality. 
This kind of gazebo is ideal for commercial and leisure use, including outdoor spaces at pubs and restaurants, garden parties, fetes, and fundraisers, to commercial traders and street food caterers.
All of our trade gazebos can be fitted with or without walls, giving you the ability to increase privacy, protection, shelter and security.

Extreme 50 HEX Series

For a winter-friendly option, our Extreme 50 HEX range is ideal for commercial use and is one of the strongest gazebos of its kind in Europe. Although this range is popular with commercial marquee companies and market operators, these gazebos also work just as well for providing shelter from the cold for you and your family in the comfort of your garden. 
Due to its overall heavy frame weight and stability, this commercial-grade gazebo performs exceptionally well all year round. 
Note; even the strongest gazebo of its kind needs looking after; our gazebos are not permanent structures and so you should not leave your gazebo unattended for prolonged periods of time.

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Can you put a patio heater under a gazebo?

Yes, you can. Though you should ensure that patio heaters such as propane patio heaters are not near ceilings, walls or other objects in order to prevent safety risks.
An infrared patio heater or a mains adjustable heater is often the safest choice for warming up your gazebo. Before you install a patio heater however, there are a few considerations to be made:

 

  • Always make sure you understand the proper way to install a patio heater under a gazebo, following all the safety instructions.
  • You should consider where is the best and safest place in your garden for your gazebo to be set up, keeping in mind people will be gathering and moving around this area, as well as where you will place the heater inside the gazebo so that it’s unlikely to cause obstructions.

Benefits of Infrared Patio Heaters 

Infrared heaters are a good choice for heating up gazebos, by sending heat out in waves your gazebo can be kept warm at a consistent temperature of your choosing. Another benefit of infrared heaters is that the heating effect is instant, unlike other heaters where you have to wait for the heater to warm up or reach a certain temperature. 
Additional benefits include:

 

  • Once fitted there is no further maintenance required, simply plug it in and turn it on
  • No fuel such as gas needed, only electricity
  • Generally lower electric cost than typical electrical convection heaters
  • Come in both freestanding and wall mounted models to suit your garden’s layout
  • The infrared radiation from the heater is similar to that from the sun, helping your blood circulation (which helps you beat the cold even after you leave the gazebo)

Infared Halogen Gazebo Heater
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It is not a good idea to have fire pits or open fireplaces under/or within close proximity to a gazebo for fire safety reasons. Always check the instructions of your patio heater before using it. 

Other options to heat a pop up gazebo

 

 

  • Table Top Heater – Generally small and portable these heaters can be carried in and out of the house or moved with the gazebo as need be, making them a convenient and flexible heating option.
  • Freestanding Heater – These taller models can stand in the corner of your gazebo and warm a larger area. However they also have a greater risk of being knocked over, which could pose a safety hazard.
  • Wall Mounted Patio Heater – Smaller and more affordable than the other options a wall mounted heater is also the most out of the way and least likely to be bumped into. However it does restrict the area in which you can place your gazebo depending on your garden layout.

 

Which Gazebo Heater Suits You?

As you can see, gazebo heaters are an affordable, safe way to keep your patio and gazebo warm during colder weather.  Explore our range of gazebo heating options. 

Other tips on how to keep a gazebo warm in colder weather 

 

1. Flooring

Flooring acts as insulation and can make your gazebo feel warmer by providing a layer between your feet and the cold ground. Flooring is also simple and easy to clean, especially useful if your gazebo is placed on the grass (as well as the general cleaning needed after a social event). There are several types of flooring you can choose from, depending on what you want and how your garden is arranged:

 

  • Waterproof Sheet: A very basic type of flooring similar to the bottom of a tent. The main purpose is to keep your feet dry and give a layer of protection from dirt. Although affordable, the insulation is not as good as other options.
  • Rubber: Non-slip, heavy, rubber flooring works well and can be purchased at a low cost. The texture means the flooring is far more comfortable and thicker than thinner materials. This kind of material is also best for health and safety reasons as it’s less likely to cause any trips or slips.
  • Wooden: Available to both purchase and rent, this type of flooring is far sturdier than rubber or a waterproof sheet. Very useful if you have heavy furniture or many people at once inside your gazebo. However it is much more expensive than other options and depending on your type of heater, could pose a safety risk.
  • Carpeting: Depending on the location of your gazebo carpeting can be a good option. The extra friction means furniture doesn’t move around as much and can provide an extra bit of comfort to walk on. However the carpet itself is not waterproof and needs a wooden flooring underneath, meaning it cannot be purchased alone. 

2. Adding walls

As the weather gets colder, it’s a good idea to add sidewalls to your gazebo to trap the heat inside, making sure to leave a small opening for access. If you put a heater under a gazebo then this also insulates the heat, meaning you don’t waste any energy or money by letting heat escape. 
These affordable, detachable additions to your gazebo not only keep the cold out but they also allow you to customise the way your gazebo looks. 

3. Serve hot food and drinks

To make your guests feel a little warmer when they’re outside during the winter months, why not try serving some hot food? Ideas for winter warming food and drink to serve are:

 

  • Hot dogs
  • Pies
  • Chilli Con Carne
  • Mulled Wine
  • Burgers
  • Tea and Coffee
  • Jacket Potatoes

If you’d like you could even arrange a gathering or event specifically around having some hot food and drink inside your new gazebo. Coming into the warmth and enjoying a hot meal when it’s cold outside is its own type of fun.

4. Fire pit

A fire pit can help to provide heat and an ambience for entertaining friends and family. This is a great option for milder winters, where it can also be used for roasting food such as marshmallows! Guests can nip in between the gazebo and the fire pit as they please and this should keep them feeling warmer.
Be careful with where you place a fire pit in relation to your gazebo, as high winds can be a health and safety issue. 

Ensure that the fire pit is located far enough away from the gazebo to prevent the gazebo from catching fire. Do not use naked flames in or around a gazebo.

 

Conclusion

To summarise, there’s a whole host of things you can do to ensure that you and your guests stay warm in your gazebo during the colder months. You can still be a great host and ensure that everyone has a great time even when the sun isn’t out. By taking into account the safety information in this article, using a range of heating accessories and serving warming food, your get-together in the garden can be a safe and fun event for all involved. Explore Gazeboshop’s range of gazebo heaters now.

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