How to Heat Your Marquees at Outdoor Events
Know which heaters will not be suitable., Choose fans that can operate from the outside, directing the heat inward., Consider hiring several smaller heaters rather than one large one., Try to keep the heating to the minimum amount needed according...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Know which heaters will not be suitable.
Heating the outdoors requires a lot of power and the heater must have a powerful fan to be able to spread the warmth evenly and consistently across a wide area.
The marquee has no insulation at all, so providing an even temperature across the marquee is dependent on the fans constantly working at a high rate.
As such, the types of heaters that are not suitable include halogen heaters, patio heaters, cabinet heaters and table heaters, because none of these have internal fans.
Do not use anything that runs cords across where people will be sitting, standing and walking in the marquee.
That's a tripping hazard waiting to happen. -
Step 2: Choose fans that can operate from the outside
The best type of heaters for marquees are indirect heaters that are placed outside the marquee, and are powered either by gas or diesel, with ducting that sends the warm air inside.
Do not try to buy these heaters––this type of heater can be prohibitively expensive to buy.
Instead, find a company that specializes in these heaters and hire them.
The benefit of doing this is that you'll have the company's experts set it up and take care of it, and you won't have to worry about the heating during the event. , This will be helpful for evenly distributing the air at all sides of the marquee but you will need to pay particular attention to where you position these heaters:
The heaters will need to be relatively close to the main seating or gathering areas.
The heaters must be pointed towards any entrances where heat will be lost.
Both of these positions will help to maintain a more even temperature throughout the marquee. , That will save on costs and avoid overheating or over-drying the air in the marquee.
Obviously, for the deep cold of winter, you won't be turning the heaters off but you may find it optimal in other seasons to vary the usage of the heaters.
Consider the following as good ways to provide heating in the marquee as per the season:
In cold seasons:
You will need heaters on throughout the event, and perhaps for a period before guests arrive, to warm the marquee sufficiently.
In the late spring, summer and early autumn:
You may be able to heat the marquee at the beginning of the event, turn it off for a while, and then if the event runs into the evening, you can switch it back on again later in the day when the temperatures drop. , Test it at a similar time of day to when the function is taking place, so that you can work out how long the space takes to heat up to a comfortable temperature.
Or, ask for the recommendation of the hire company as to how long the heating is required to warm the marquee sufficiently., If you are heating an outdoor space, again an indirect heater may be a suitable solution.
If, however, you are only hosting a small summer event, such as a patio barbecue, you may find that several small outdoor gas patio heaters offer enough heating for seated guests, which will cost you less and provide sufficient comfort for the guests. -
Step 3: directing the heat inward.
-
Step 4: Consider hiring several smaller heaters rather than one large one.
-
Step 5: Try to keep the heating to the minimum amount needed according to the season.
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Step 6: Test the heating before the event.
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Step 7: Consider the size and location of the event.
Detailed Guide
Heating the outdoors requires a lot of power and the heater must have a powerful fan to be able to spread the warmth evenly and consistently across a wide area.
The marquee has no insulation at all, so providing an even temperature across the marquee is dependent on the fans constantly working at a high rate.
As such, the types of heaters that are not suitable include halogen heaters, patio heaters, cabinet heaters and table heaters, because none of these have internal fans.
Do not use anything that runs cords across where people will be sitting, standing and walking in the marquee.
That's a tripping hazard waiting to happen.
The best type of heaters for marquees are indirect heaters that are placed outside the marquee, and are powered either by gas or diesel, with ducting that sends the warm air inside.
Do not try to buy these heaters––this type of heater can be prohibitively expensive to buy.
Instead, find a company that specializes in these heaters and hire them.
The benefit of doing this is that you'll have the company's experts set it up and take care of it, and you won't have to worry about the heating during the event. , This will be helpful for evenly distributing the air at all sides of the marquee but you will need to pay particular attention to where you position these heaters:
The heaters will need to be relatively close to the main seating or gathering areas.
The heaters must be pointed towards any entrances where heat will be lost.
Both of these positions will help to maintain a more even temperature throughout the marquee. , That will save on costs and avoid overheating or over-drying the air in the marquee.
Obviously, for the deep cold of winter, you won't be turning the heaters off but you may find it optimal in other seasons to vary the usage of the heaters.
Consider the following as good ways to provide heating in the marquee as per the season:
In cold seasons:
You will need heaters on throughout the event, and perhaps for a period before guests arrive, to warm the marquee sufficiently.
In the late spring, summer and early autumn:
You may be able to heat the marquee at the beginning of the event, turn it off for a while, and then if the event runs into the evening, you can switch it back on again later in the day when the temperatures drop. , Test it at a similar time of day to when the function is taking place, so that you can work out how long the space takes to heat up to a comfortable temperature.
Or, ask for the recommendation of the hire company as to how long the heating is required to warm the marquee sufficiently., If you are heating an outdoor space, again an indirect heater may be a suitable solution.
If, however, you are only hosting a small summer event, such as a patio barbecue, you may find that several small outdoor gas patio heaters offer enough heating for seated guests, which will cost you less and provide sufficient comfort for the guests.
About the Author
Martha Gray
Experienced content creator specializing in cooking guides and tutorials.
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