As well as the heating systems for inside your home having developed greatly over the recent years there have also been many developments in the way of outdoor heating appliances. There are many different types including under floor, free standing and fire pits all of which prove very effective, however, some function better than others.

• Fire pits - These can be made from different materials including clay, insulated metal and an open metal frame. They act as an outdoor coal or log fire providing a safe holding for the burning coals/wood and are perfect for heating small areas such as small patios. Another variation of this product is the chiminea which usually have a section for the use of cooking food, so this acts as a heater and a BBQ.
• Fire bowls - These are similar to the fire pits in the way you have to burn wood in order for them to work. With them usually being smaller in size compared to the fire pits you may expect less heat but in some cases it can be the opposite because of them having an open top they act as a bonfire there fore more heat gets expelled into the air.
• Free standing heater - There are many different variations in this style of heater and they often carry out more than one function. There are the electrical designs that may only tend to have the function of a heater but are economical to those not liking to waste energy. Then there are the gas ones that can have different uses like there is one design that has the heater above that also acts as a light, it has a grill section that can be used to cook your food and its base is designed to give off heat acting as a foot warmer, however, these designs tend to be more expensive to buy and also to run but they do cover practically all your outdoor needs.

The price of these items varies greatly you can have fire pits and bowls that cost around £25 - £30 right up to the most high tech free standing ones that can cost up to the region of £1000.

With the prices varying so dramatically you may be best to think about how often you will use it, what you would like for it to be able to do etc. So if for example you rarely have people round to your garden you may be better off with a fire pit or simple free standing heater, but if you often have people round and in the evenings especially you may want to consider something a little more extravagant.

With the technology in heating developing so quickly it is making it more possible than ever for people to entertain guests in their garden regardless to the weather. With heaters that involve electric you may be best seeking professional advice for the fitting of the product as it can be dangerous. As well as the different types there are also many suppliers from high street shops to the internet so it's advised you shop around for the best price and model.