Infrared vs Gas Patio Heaters: Which Is Right for Your Deck?
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TL;DR: Infrared wins on running cost ($0.70/hr vs $4.11/hr), wind performance (heats people, not air), safety (no flame, no gas), and convenience (plug in, no bottles). Gas holds one advantage: real-flame ambiance. For most NZ decks, infrared is the better choice — and saves over $1,000 per winter season.
Quick Comparison Table
Two different technologies. Two very different experiences on your deck. This table covers the categories that matter most for NZ outdoor use.
| Category | Infrared (Electric) | Gas (LPG Mushroom) |
|---|---|---|
| Running cost | ~$0.70/hr (2000W at $0.35/kWh) | ~$4.11/hr (12kW, 9kg bottle at $37) |
| Season cost (22 wks, 14hrs/wk) | ~$216 | ~$1,266 |
| Heat method | Radiant — heats people and objects directly | Convection — heats air |
| Wind performance | Unaffected — infrared energy travels direct | Poor — wind carries heated air away |
| Warm-up time | Seconds | 10–20 minutes |
| Noise | Silent | Hissing / roaring flame |
| Power control | 9 settings (F1–F9) + half/full power modes | Usually on/off only |
| Timer | 1–24hr auto shut-off | None on most models |
| Fuel source | Standard NZ/AU power outlet | 9kg LPG gas bottle |
| Emissions | Zero | CO₂ + combustion gases |
| Safety (fixed install) | No flame, no tip-over risk, no gas | Open flame, hot surfaces, gas storage |
| Weatherproof | IP65 on quality models | Limited — most not rated |
| Ambiance | Soft amber glow | Visible flame |
For most NZ homeowners heating a covered deck or pergola, infrared is stronger in every category except flame ambiance. The sections below break down each comparison in detail.
Which Costs Less to Run?
Infrared is approximately six times cheaper per hour. This is the single biggest difference between the two technologies — and it compounds fast over a NZ winter.
The hourly numbers
A 2000W infrared heater at full power costs $0.70/hr based on NZ's average residential electricity rate of $0.35/kWh (Canstar NZ, 2025). At half power (1000W), that drops to $0.35/hr.
A standard 12kW gas mushroom heater consumes roughly 1kg of LPG per hour. At $37 for a 9kg bottle (LPG4U, Feb 2026), that works out to $4.11/hr.
The season numbers
A typical NZ outdoor heater season runs 22 weeks (April through September). At 14 hours per week — two hours each evening — the costs look like this:
| Heater Type | Cost/hr | Weekly (14hrs) | Season (22 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared 2000W — half power | $0.35 | $4.90 | $108 |
| Infrared 2000W — full power | $0.70 | $9.80 | $216 |
| Gas 12kW mushroom — full power | $4.11 | $57.54 | $1,266 |
The saving: over $1,000 per season when running infrared at full power instead of gas. At half power, the gap widens to over $1,150.
Upfront cost and payback
Quality infrared heaters range from $349–$399. Gas mushroom heaters range from $179–$599 depending on brand and build quality. Even if the infrared heater costs $200 more upfront, the running cost difference pays that back in the first winter. By the second season, the saving is pure net gain.
For a full breakdown of electric running costs by wattage, usage pattern, and NZ region, see How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Outdoor Heater in NZ?
Which Heats Better Outdoors?
Infrared heats people. Gas heats air. Outdoors, that difference is everything.
How infrared works
Infrared energy travels in a straight line from the heater to your body, furniture, and surrounding surfaces. It is absorbed on contact — the same mechanism as sunlight warming your skin on a cold day. The air between the heater and you is mostly irrelevant. Wind passes through without carrying the warmth away.
For a deeper explanation of the technology, see How Does Infrared Heating Work?
How gas works
A gas mushroom heater burns LPG to heat the air inside and around the reflector dome. That warm air rises and radiates outward. The problem: warm air moves. On a still evening, you feel warmth within a metre or two of the heater. Add even a light breeze — common on most NZ decks — and the heated air scatters before it reaches you.
The NZ wind problem
New Zealand is a windy country. NIWA data shows mean wind speeds of 15–25 km/h across most urban areas, with gusts regularly exceeding 40 km/h. A gas mushroom heater on an exposed deck in Wellington, Christchurch, or any coastal NZ town is fighting the wind constantly — and losing.
Infrared does not fight the wind. It bypasses it. The energy reaches you regardless of what the air is doing. This is why infrared consistently outperforms gas in real-world NZ outdoor conditions.
Warm-up time
Infrared delivers felt warmth within seconds of being switched on. You walk onto the deck, press the remote, and sit down warm.
Gas mushroom heaters take 10 to 20 minutes to reach effective output. The burner needs time to heat the dome and surrounding air mass. On a short winter evening, that delay matters.
Which Is Safer?
Infrared electric heaters avoid the three main safety concerns that come with gas: open flame, combustion gases, and pressurised fuel storage.
No flame
A gas patio heater has a visible flame burning LPG at high temperature. That flame creates a fire risk around flammable materials, fabric, and overhead structures. Infrared has no flame. The carbon fibre element produces radiant heat and a soft amber glow — nothing combustible.
No gas, no fumes
Gas heaters produce CO₂ and trace combustion gases during operation. In a well-ventilated outdoor setting the concentration is low, but it is not zero. Infrared produces no combustion products at all.
Gas bottles themselves introduce risk: a pressurised LPG cylinder stored on a deck or in a garage requires careful handling and appropriate ventilation. Infrared needs a power outlet. That is it.
No tip-over risk when fixed
A fixed infrared heater mounted at 1.8m or above on a wall, beam, or post cannot tip over. It is bolted in place. There is no floor-level base to trip on and no cord crossing the deck.
Gas mushroom heaters stand on the floor with a heavy base. They can be knocked over by foot traffic, children, or wind gusts — placing a hot, flaming appliance face-down on your timber deck. NZ Fire and Emergency identifies portable heaters among the top causes of residential fires each winter (FENZ, 2024).
For more on outdoor heater safety considerations, see Outdoor Heater Safety: What You Need to Know.
Which Is More Convenient?
Infrared is plug-and-forget. Gas requires ongoing management. The convenience gap is wider than most people expect before they have lived with both.
Infrared: plug in, press a button
- Standard NZ/AU plug — no electrician, no gas fitter
- Remote control with 9 power settings
- 1–24hr timer for automatic shut-off
- No fuel to buy, store, transport, or replace
- No maintenance beyond occasional wipe-down
- Silent operation — no hissing, no roaring
Gas: bottles, swaps, and supply runs
- Requires 9kg LPG bottles ($37 each, lasting 8–12 hours)
- Bottles run out mid-evening in winter — guaranteed at the worst moment
- Buying a new bottle means a trip to the petrol station or hardware store
- Storing spare bottles on the deck or in the garage requires ventilation
- Ignition systems can fail in cold or damp conditions
- Most models have on/off only — no granular heat control
- No timer — you turn it off manually or it runs until the gas is gone
The bottle management cycle is the part gas heater owners complain about most. It is not difficult. It is just constant. Every few evenings in winter, you are checking the bottle level, planning the next swap, or wondering whether tonight is the night it runs out during dinner.
Infrared removes that entire cycle. Plug it in once. Use it whenever you want. The electricity is always there.
Which Is Better for the Environment?
Infrared electric heaters produce zero direct emissions. No CO₂, no carbon monoxide, no combustion gases of any kind.
Gas emissions
A 12kW LPG mushroom heater burning 1kg of LPG per hour produces approximately 3kg of CO₂ per hour (based on the standard LPG emission factor of 2.95–3.03 kg CO₂ per kg LPG). Over a 22-week NZ winter at 14 hours per week, that is roughly 924 kg of CO₂ released directly into the atmosphere from your deck.
NZ's electricity grid
New Zealand's electricity grid is approximately 82–87% renewable (MBIE, 2024), primarily hydro and geothermal with growing wind generation. The indirect carbon footprint of running an electric heater on this grid is a fraction of the direct emissions from burning LPG.
For a household looking to reduce its carbon footprint, switching from a gas patio heater to electric infrared is one of the simpler, more impactful changes available. No solar panels required. No retrofit. Just swap the heater.
When Gas Makes Sense
This is not a one-sided comparison. Gas patio heaters have legitimate uses — and pretending otherwise would not be fair.
No power outlet nearby
If your outdoor area has no accessible power outlet within cord reach, gas is the only option without running new electrical supply. Some rural properties, large gardens, and detached entertaining areas simply do not have power where the heater needs to be.
Flame ambiance
Some people want a visible flame. The warm glow of a real fire adds atmosphere that an infrared element cannot replicate. Hospitality venues in particular often choose gas for the visual appeal as much as the heat output.
Large open commercial spaces
High-output commercial radiant gas heaters (not the consumer-grade mushroom type) can deliver intense heat across very large open areas. Warehouse events, outdoor markets, and stadium-adjacent hospitality spaces sometimes require the brute output that a commercial gas installation provides.
The trade-off
In each of these scenarios, you are accepting higher running costs, wind vulnerability, gas management, and emissions in exchange for a specific benefit that infrared cannot provide. For most NZ residential decks and pergolas, those trade-offs do not stack up. But for the situations listed above, gas earns its place.
FAQ
Is an infrared heater cheaper to run than a gas patio heater in NZ?
Yes — approximately six times cheaper per hour. A 2000W infrared heater costs $0.70/hr at full power ($0.35/kWh, Canstar NZ, 2025). A 12kW gas mushroom heater costs $4.11/hr based on a 9kg LPG bottle at $37 (LPG4U, Feb 2026). Over a 22-week NZ winter at 14 hours per week, the saving exceeds $1,000. See Electric vs Gas Patio Heater Running Cost NZ for a full breakdown.
Do infrared heaters work in wind?
Yes. Infrared heats people and objects directly — not the surrounding air. Wind cannot carry infrared energy away. Gas heaters warm the air, which wind disperses immediately. This is the core reason infrared outperforms gas in exposed NZ outdoor settings.
Are infrared patio heaters safer than gas?
For most residential settings, yes. Infrared electric heaters have no open flame, produce no CO₂ or carbon monoxide, and require no gas bottle storage. Fixed infrared heaters mounted at height eliminate tip-over risk entirely. See Outdoor Heater Safety: What You Need to Know.
When does a gas patio heater make more sense than infrared?
Three scenarios: no power outlet within reach, the visual ambiance of a real flame is a priority (common in hospitality), or very large open commercial spaces requiring high-output commercial gas units. For standard NZ residential decks and pergolas, infrared is the stronger choice on every practical measure.
How long does a 9kg gas bottle last in a patio heater?
Approximately 8 to 12 hours at full output — roughly 1kg per hour consumption for a typical 12kW gas mushroom heater. At 2 hours per evening, one bottle lasts about 4 to 6 evenings before needing replacement or refill.
Do infrared heaters produce any emissions?
Zero. No CO₂, no carbon monoxide, no fumes. On NZ's grid (82–87% renewable, MBIE, 2024), the indirect carbon footprint is also very low compared to burning LPG directly.
Verdict: Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Running cost | Infrared | $0.70/hr vs $4.11/hr — over $1,000 saved per season |
| Wind performance | Infrared | Heats people directly; wind is irrelevant |
| Warm-up time | Infrared | Seconds vs 10–20 minutes |
| Safety | Infrared | No flame, no gas, no tip-over when fixed |
| Convenience | Infrared | Plug in and go — no bottles, no swaps |
| Emissions | Infrared | Zero direct emissions vs ~924 kg CO₂/season |
| Power control | Infrared | 9 settings + timer vs on/off |
| Noise | Infrared | Silent vs gas hiss/roar |
| Flame ambiance | Gas | Real flame — infrared cannot replicate this |
| No power outlet | Gas | Works anywhere with a bottle |
Infrared wins eight of ten categories. Gas wins on ambiance and off-grid flexibility. For the typical NZ deck — covered, near a power outlet, used for evening entertaining through winter — infrared is the better technology on every practical measure.
The running cost alone makes the case. Over $1,000 per season is not a marginal saving. It is the difference between a heater you use freely every evening and one you hesitate to turn on because you can hear the dollars burning with each bottle.
For the Zuna Infrared Heater 2000W, infrared technology meets the practical features that make it work: 9 power settings, 1–24hr timer, IP65 weatherproof rating, silent operation, and a standard NZ/AU plug. No gas. No bottles. No compromise.
Related Articles
- Best Outdoor Heaters in NZ 2026: Full Buyer's Guide
- How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Outdoor Heater in NZ?
- How Does Infrared Heating Work?
- Does a 2400W Heater Actually Heat Better Than 2000W?
- Outdoor Heater Safety: What You Need to Know
- Electric vs Gas Patio Heater Running Cost NZ
- View the Zuna Infrared Heater 2000W