Gtech's HeatWave patio heater is a brilliant wall-mounted option if you're looking to heat a small space (and fast)

Gtech’s wall patio heater is an affordable essential for homeowners looking to heat their outdoor space quickly and efficiently.

We’re always on the hunt for the best patio heater on the market, so I thought I’d put the Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater to the test. It claims to heat up to six metres in seconds, with easy installation and a sleek design — and I was impressed.

The best part? It’s an infrared heater, making it far more energy-efficient and eco-friendly than its gas counterparts — so if you’ve wondering whether to buy a gas or electric heater, this might persuade you to invest in the latter.

I've put the Gtech HeatWave patio heater through its paces, reviewing everything from unboxing to design and performance.

Specifications

• Heat type:  Electric
• Dimensions:  (H)18.5 cm x (W)57 cm x (D)10.5 cm
• Weight:  1.5kg
• Power output: 2kW
• Oscillation: No
• Self-assembly required: Yes (fixings)
• Portable: No
• Other features: Warms up in one second

How I tested

Sophie King

Sophie is Ideal Home's gardens editor. She's always on the lookout for the best patio heater on the market, browsing electric and gas models to suit every space. After hearing good things about the Gtech HeatWave patio heater, she decided to put it to the test.

Unboxing

I need to start by saying this patio heater is light (1.5kg, to be exact). Even in its packaging, it was really easy to carry through to the garden, and because it’s small, moving it around is a one-person job.

The heater came in a cardboard box which bore the Gtech logo. Inside, the heater was wrapped in a plastic bag, and so were the brackets and screws — less eco-friendly than the cardboard box, but probably necessary to keep everything protected from moisture.

There were also polystyrene blocks supporting the outer edges and centre of the heating unit, but again, I didn’t feel this was excessive.

Assembly

Assembling the HeatWave patio heater was relatively fast and simple. As it’s a wall-mounted patio heater, it took two people to install it on the fence, but fixing the brackets to the unit itself was a swift, one-person job. It took around half an hour to assemble from start to finish.

The only hitch was that some of the instructions in the manual were a little unclear. The diagrams showed screws in places that didn’t align with the holes on the back of the heater, but we soon managed to make do with what we had.

It’s also worth considering that you might need a power drill to make the holes for the brackets on your wall or outdoor structure — but the same goes for most wall-mounted patio heaters.

The lead was 1.8m, which felt quite limited given that it’s a wall-mounted heater and you need to allow for the height. However, this is in line with the standard guidelines, and I used a 13-amp outdoor extension lead, which did the job just fine. You'll need to make sure it's a CE-approved 13 amp extension cord, as Gtech warns a non-approved product might overheat. You can buy 13-amp weatherproof extension cords from B&Q.

There are also wing nuts on the brackets which can be loosened to adjust the angle of the heater, which is really handy.

Design

I love the look of the HeatWave patio heater. It’s sleek, simple and finished in a ‘contemporary’ matte black.

I was a little wary when it came to turning the heater off, because the switch is located underneath the unit, so you have to move quite close to the heater to access it. That said, I just ensured I came at it from the right-hand side of the heater, away from any direct heat.

The instruction manual advises us to wait at least 20 minutes before touching any part of the heater, so I gave it plenty of time to cool down after I switched it off.

The only other hitch, which some reviewers on Amazon have highlighted, is that there is only one heat setting — just the on and off switch, and nothing more. That's fine if you're just looking to warm the space, but some shoppers might prefer a more customisable model.

Performance

The Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater's unique selling point is that it heats up within seconds, and that's exactly what it did. As soon as I switched it on, I could feel the heat (and it was toasty!).

Gtech advertises a six-metre heat range, but I found the best warmth was around two metres away. That said, I tested the patio heater at the beginning of February, so it certainly had the cold weather to compete with!

There are a few reviews on Amazon which complain that the heat doesn't travel very far, though, so it could be that the range is a little smaller than advertised.

We fixed the patio heater to the fence, so it was about five or six feet above the ground. I sat in a chair opposite the heater, and although I was lower, I still got to enjoy plenty of heat from the product. Peripherally, the heat was good, too — I could feel it best within a two-metre range of the heater, though.

As I mentioned, the Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater is an infrared model, meaning the heat isn't disturbed by the wind in the same way gas heaters are. On their website, Gtech explains, 'Our outdoor electric heater uses infrared technology to give you the sensation of warmth as if felt from the sun, while the glow creates cosy mood lighting.'

On that note — the light produced by the heater is pretty intense, but not overpowering, and actually, it does create a cosy atmosphere in the garden. If you've been looking for garden lighting ideas, this is a great way to combine the two.

In terms of efficiency, Gtech says on their website, 'The Gtech HeatWave patio heater's running cost is approximately 60p/hour using an average UK standard electricity tariff of 28p/kWh, but may be higher depending on your electricity supplier and tariff.' That's a little on the steeper side, but as the heater uses infrared technology, you can be sure that energy isn't going to waste — and it's still less expensive than another of our favourites, the Kettler Kalos Copper Lantern Patio Heater.

Maintenance and storage

The Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater is advertised as a weatherproof product, so you can 'enjoy your outdoor spaces all year round'. However, I wouldn't leave it outside all year round — and because it's so lightweight and small, it can easily be dismounted and stored inside.

Cleaning-wise, the instruction manual says the HeatWave patio heater doesn't need much maintenance. It does include instructions on how to wipe it down with a soft, damp cloth, though — you'll just need to make sure the heater is turned off and unplugged beforehand, and wait until it's fully dry before you plug it back in again.

Verdict

Overall, I think the Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater is a brilliant, affordable and efficient model that's perfect for those looking to heat a smaller space. It's relatively easy to assemble (as far as wall-mounted heaters go), and its sleek, simple design looks great, too.

I can't say I felt as much heat from six metres away as Gtech advertised, but I was testing the product in colder weather, so I'll have another go when the weather warms up and update this review accordingly. But for now, I'll go by the word of reviewers on Amazon, who also wish the heat would reach a little further — that's why I think the HeatWave patio heater is best for smaller spaces.

In a nutshell, the Gtech HeatWave patio heater is a simple option if you're looking for a fast way to heat a small patio area. Though it only has one setting, it gets the job done, and fast.