Patio heater setup in Exeter
Professional patio heater setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
45 mins-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Patio heater assembled, positioned safely, and fully tested so you can actually use your garden on chilly evenings. Gas connections leak-checked, electric ones wired properly, and positioned for best coverage.
Extend Your Garden Season by Months
British summers are short enough without packing away the garden furniture in September. A patio heater means you're still outside with a glass of wine in October instead of staring at the garden through the window.
💡 Pro tip: Position matters hugely with patio heaters. Too far away and you're still cold. Too close and you're roasting one side while the other freezes. I'll get it in the sweet spot for your seating area.
Why Professional Setup Matters
Patio heaters seem straightforward until you're wrestling with the instructions at 7pm:
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Gas connections leak-tested | "Seems fine" (famous last words) |
| Stable base, won't tip over | Wobbles when you walk past it |
| Positioned for even heat coverage | Random placement, patchy warmth |
| Electric ones properly weatherproofed | Indoor cable outside (death wish) |
What You Get
🔥 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assemble | All parts fitted correctly, everything secure |
| Connect | Gas tested for leaks, or electric wired safely |
| Position | Placed for best coverage and stability |
| Test | Fire it up, check operation, you're warm |
📦 You're Left With
- Heater ready to use immediately
- Safe gas or electrical connections
- Optimal positioning for your space
- Instructions for daily operation
Pricing Guide
| Heater Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard gas tower heater | 45 mins-1 hr | £60 |
| Tabletop or small electric | 45 mins | £60 |
| Wall-mounted electric heater | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Large hanging gas heater | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Gas bottles and heater hardware not included.
Perfect For Your Garden If...
✅ Autumn/spring entertaining - extend the outdoor season
✅ Covered patio or pergola - keep warm under shelter
✅ Smokers - actually comfortable outside in winter
✅ Garden offices - take breaks outside year-round
Why Choose Us for Patio heater setup in Exeter?
Assembled correctly and safely
Gas connections checked for leaks
Positioned for best heat coverage
Full safety check before use
What to Expect
Step 1: Unpack & Assemble
I'll get the heater out of the box, check all parts are there (missing bits happen), and assemble it properly. This includes attaching the reflector, pole sections, base assembly, and control mechanisms. Everything tightened correctly, not "finger tight and hope."
Step 2: Gas or Electric Connection
For gas heaters, I'll connect the regulator to your bottle, run a full leak test with soapy water on every joint, and make sure the valve operates smoothly. For electric, I'll run appropriate outdoor-rated cable to a safe power source with RCD protection.
Step 3: Position & Test
We'll place it where it gives best coverage for your seating area - accounting for wind direction if your garden catches prevailing winds. Then a full test run - ignition works, flame pattern is correct, safety cut-off operates if you tip it, and you're getting good heat output.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to set up your patio heater yourself? Here's how to do it safely:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Screwdriver set (often Phillips and flathead)
- Adjustable spanner for gas connections
- Spirit level
- Soapy water in spray bottle (for leak testing)
- Allen keys (usually supplied but good to have spares)
🔩 Assembly tips
- Lay out all parts and check against the parts list BEFORE starting
- Don't fully tighten everything until it's all together (allows adjustment)
- The reflector hood usually goes on last
- Most have a safety tilt switch - make sure it's positioned correctly
- Check wheels are locked before testing (if it has them)
⛽ Gas connection safety
- Use the correct regulator for UK gas bottles (usually supplied)
- Hand-tighten the connection to the bottle, then one more turn with spanner
- NEVER over-tighten - you'll damage the seal
- Spray every connection with soapy water - bubbles = leak
- If you smell gas, turn off immediately and re-check connections
- First use always smells a bit until protective oil burns off
⚡ Electric heater safety
- Only use outdoor-rated extension cables (IP44 minimum)
- Must be on an RCD-protected circuit
- Wall-mounted ones need secure fixing - they get hot and heavy
- Keep cables away from the heating element
- Never leave unattended if using an extension lead
📍 Positioning safely
- Clear space above (at least 1m for gas, check manual)
- Away from overhanging plants, parasols, gazebo fabric
- On stable, level ground - they're top-heavy
- Account for wind - sheltered spot works better
- Safe distance from seating (arms' length usually)
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not leak-testing gas connections (genuinely dangerous)
- Positioning under low canopy (fire hazard)
- Using indoor extension leads outside (shock risk)
- Leaving gas bottle partially open when not in use
- Not checking the safety tilt switch works
💡 Pro trick: When positioning, sit where you'll actually be sitting and get someone to move the heater around while it's running. You'll find the perfect spot by feel much faster than guessing. Just don't burn them.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🍂 End of season storage? Book me in autumn to disconnect, clean, and store it properly. Gas regulators especially don't like being left outside all winter - they perish and leak. Much better stored in a shed.
Multiple heaters? If you've got a larger patio, sometimes two smaller heaters positioned well beats one big one in the middle. I can advise on coverage when I see your space.
Gas bottle storage? Legally should be outside, away from ignition sources, standing upright. In practice, most people keep them in the shed - just make sure it's ventilated and away from electrics.
Running costs? A typical 13kW gas patio heater costs about £2-3 per hour to run on full power. Electric ones are cheaper per hour but often less heat output. I can talk you through the trade-offs.
Permanent mounting? Some people want wall-mounted heaters permanently installed. That's more involved - proper brackets into masonry, potentially permanent wiring. I can do it but it's quoted separately based on your specific setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of patio heaters can you set up?
Gas bottle ones (most common), mains gas if you've got an outdoor supply, electric radiant heaters, and those big hanging ones. Each type has different setup requirements - gas needs leak checking, electric needs safe outdoor wiring, hanging ones need secure mounting. I've done them all.
Do I need to buy the heater and gas bottle myself?
Yes - there's loads of choice in style, heat output, and price range. Most people go for the tall gas ones with a bottle in the base. I'll assemble and set up whatever you've got. If you want advice before buying, I can recommend what suits your space and budget.
Is it safe to use gas heaters on a covered patio?
Depends on ventilation. Fully enclosed conservatory? No, carbon monoxide risk. Open-sided pergola or gazebo? Usually fine. Retractable canopy? Depends how much airflow. I'll advise honestly based on your setup - safety matters more than making a sale.
How long does assembly and setup take?
Standard gas patio heater from a box? About 45 minutes to an hour - assembly, gas connection, leak test, positioning, test run. Wall-mounted electric ones might be 1.5 hours if I'm running cable and mounting brackets. I'll give you a proper estimate when I know what you've got.
Will you store it away at the end of autumn too?
Yes - I offer an autumn pack-down service. Disconnect gas safely, clean it, cover it or store it in the shed/garage. Much better than leaving it outside all winter getting corroded and full of spiders. Same pricing, usually a bit quicker than setup.
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