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Think air, and think patio (the concrete or rock surface of the area). Keeping a patio warm in winter could be accomplished by enclosing it and heating it in a conventional manner. Heat would be absorbed by the air and, to a degree, by the surface of the patio. (Rooms are warm because the air in them is warm, but primarily because the objects in them are warm.) A number of construction companies specialize in enclosing a patio. Heating an outdoor patio is a challenge. In this energy-conscious world, running heating pipes under the surface of the patio would be grossly inefficient. For the unenclosed patio, consider one of the number of devices that could be used to provide direct heat to individuals on the patio while they are there. The propane gas heaters that house the fuel tank in the base and rise up on a pole some six or so feet to the burner are becoming more popular (but are generating controversy in Europe because of their carbon footprint). There are also small ceramic wood burning stoves for outdoor use. There are no "trick" solutions, no novel methods to keep an outdoor area warm. Heating the air would be pointless since the warm air will just leave. Heating the surface of the patio would take a staggering amount of energy.

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17y ago

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