Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater: Review, Manual, Best Price & Installation

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Hampton Bay Patio Heater
Hampton Bay Patio Heater

If you are thinking of purchasing a Patio Heater then this article will save you a whole lot of time, money and hassle in selecting the patio heater that is just right for you and your situation. If you have already purchased the Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater then there are plenty of tips to get the best use out of this heater, including replacement parts, a downloadable PDF manual and installation instructions, so please continue reading on. I wanted to make this article as comprehensive and helpful as I possibly could. So, lets dive into what we think about the Hampton Bay 48000 BTU patio heater first.

The Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater has a very good heat distribution with a simple design and weather proof stainless steel body. Although the heat distribution will cover a wide area at 215.28 square feet, it is mostly directed at head height. There is both a propane and a gas version of this heater.

With a height of 7.2 feet (220 cm) it will comfortably warm most people who are standing, and with its reflector will warm most heads that are sitting. Don’t expect full body coverage if sitting at a table as this is more suitable for those standing crowds.

The housing material is constructed from rust proof stainless steel and features an automatic shut off safety feature in the event it topples over. This is not likely in most situations as the 20 lb propane or gas tank that fires the heat sits comfortably in the bottom internal compartment giving it stability. There is also the ability to stake it making it extremely unlikely to ever fall over.

Weighing in at 24 kg (52.91 lbs) without the propane or gas tank and attached to wheels, it is easy to move around to find that perfect location for that perfect occasion. It will need to be assembled, however, assembly is easy taking around 1 to 2 hours. This includes a little time to remove the packaging and protective film before assembling.

Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Patio Heater Reviews

With an overall review rating of 4.5 stars from 665 buyers this product received a 72% recommendation. This comprised 70 customers giving it a 1 or 2 star rating with the remaining 595 giving it a 3, 4 or 5 star rating.

The majority of problems encountered were that some of the parts rusted out quickly, in some instances within a few months. This is due to the quality of the stainless steel being inferior, which reflects on the price. Higher grade stainless steel will cost you comparatively more but is less likely to rust.

A good way to ensure this patio heater doesn’t rust quickly is to make sure you keep it stored in a dry place when not in use. Wash it and clean it with a soap or detergent based cleaner for stainless steel and not a water based cleaner, which can cause water to pool on the surface resulting in rusting. At the very least towel dry your patio heater if it gets wet, after it has cooled down. Check out our maintenance duties that should be performed on a regular basis near the end of this article.

Another problem with this patio heater is the packaging. It can be difficult to remove this packaging as it is a blue film that covers most of the heater. One customer noted that it appears that the patio heater rivets were put on while the film was on making it difficult to get it all off.

Some of the big positives going for this heater are the easy assembly and good heat output. In fact, the majority of customers of this product were very satisfied and happy with the purchase.

What can you expect to pay for this Patio Heater? Currently, at time of writing this heater will cost you $199, however checking on Amazon you can buy the same model at a cheaper price. Please take a look here for the Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater (Affiliate Link to Amazon).

Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Stainless Steel Patio Heater Manual

To download a free PDF copy of the Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater please click on the link below. The manual will show you assembly instructions and part descriptions.

Click Here to Download the Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater Manual

If you are looking for replacement parts and customer care for your patio heater then please check out this article: Hampton Bay Patio Heater Replacement Parts. In this article we show you how to locate parts for patio heaters.

Installation Instructions

Below are the basic installation instructions, please download and consult the full installation instructions here: Installation Instructions 48000 BTU Patio Heater for the full assembly procedure. Please make sure you have all the required parts according to the instruction manual. Assembly takes approximately 60 minutes.

Please also take a look at our video with assembly recommendations for the 48,000 BTU Patio Heater.

1. Assemble the base

Step 1 Patio Heater Install

2. Attach support brackets to base

Step 2 Patio Heater Install

3. Put upper pole onto lower pole

Step 3 Patio Heater Install

4. Attach pole to support brackets

Step 4 Patio Heater Install

5. Load cylinder housing onto pole

Step 5 Patio Heater Install

6. Attach 3 reflector spaces to top of assembly

Step 6 Patio Heater Install

7. Unscrew stainless steel bolts from head assembly

Step 7 Patio Heater Install

8. Insert and secure hose of head assembly into pole

Step 8 Patio Heater Install

9. Remove protective covering before assembling

Step 9 Patio Heater Install

10. Slide 2 reflector panels together

Step 10 Patio Heater Install

11. Slide reflector plate onto reflector panels

step 11 Patio Heater Install

12. Support and secure heater

Step 12 Patio Heater Install

13. Connect hose and regulator to cylinder

Step 13 patio Heater Install

14. Do a full leak check outdoors

Hampton Bay BTU 48000 Maintenance

If you want to get the full life out of your patio heater you will need to make sure you do some periodic maintenance. To prevent premature rusting please follow these basic steps:

  1. Be sure to keep exterior surfaces on the patio heater clean. Use warm soapy water for cleaning rather than just water.
  2. Never use any corrosive or flammable cleaning agents.
  3. Always keep the area around the burner and control assembly dry at all times.

Click here to Download the Full Hampton Bay 48000 BTU Patio Heater Maintenance Care Instructions

How To Locate Hampton Bay Patio Heater Replacement Parts

We have put together a complete list of resources and locations with helpful videos for finding any replacement part for your Hampton Bay 48000 Patio Heater. Please read the article: Hampton Bay Patio Heater Replacement Parts where we show you step by step how to get any replacement part for your patio heater.

We show you six different resources available to you to locate and purchase even difficult to find parts, along with simple videos to show you visually how to go about the process. It’s easy, simple and quick, just visit: Hampton Bay Patio Heater Parts

How Many BTU Do I Need to Heat My Patio

For those of you who are wondering what BTU means, it is simply an acronym for British Thermal Unit. It is a basic unit of heat, used to measure the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water’s temperature by one degree.

To calculate how many BTU you need to heat your space then use this simple formula. First, you need to calculate the square footage of your patio by multiplying length x width in feet. Generally, 20 BTU will be sufficient to warm 1 square foot. So simply multiply your square footage by 20 BTU to get the total BTU you will need to warm your outdoor space.

Here is the calculation:
Length X Width = Area
20 BTU x Area

For example if we have a 25 foot by 25 foot area to heat we would multiply 25×25 to get 625 square feet. Now, 625 x 20 BTU = 12,500 BTU. So you would need a patio heater with a heat output of 12,500 BTU to heat an 625 square foot area.

Other factors to consider are colder climates which will require a higher BTU (Colder Climate = 50-60 BTU’s) per square footage.

Here is a table below to give you a rough idea with different patio areas and the required BTU.

Area in Square FeetRecommended BTU
100-150 square feet5,000 BTU
150-250 square feet6,000 BTU
250-300 square feet7,000 BTU
300-350 square feet8,000 BTU
350-400 square feet9,000 BTU
400-450 square feet10,000 BTU
450-550 square feet12,000 BTU
550-700 square feet14,000 BTU
700-1000 square feet18,000 BTU
1000-1200 square feet21,000 BTU
1200-1400 square feet23,000 BTU
1400-1500 square feet24,000 BTU
1500-2000 square feet30,000 BTU
2000-2500 square feet34,000 BTU
 Table to determine how many BTU you require for your patio heater.

How Much Space Does a 48000 BTU Heat?

A 48,000 BTU patio heater will heat a space of 2,500 square feet. However, it is best to use more than one patio heater strategically placed to heat large areas. Rather than place one in the centre, where guests will bump into it, place a few around the perimeter of the area.

This is good enough to heat a medium sized crowd. On high heat you should get about 6 hours of continuous heat out of a full standard 20 lb gas tank.

Can You Leave Patio Heaters Outside in the Winter?

A patio heater can be left outside in the winter since it is designed for outdoor use. However, exposure to the elements will mean that it will deteriorate quicker. It is best practice to buy a water proof covering to protect the patio heater when not in use or place it in a sheltered spot such as in a garage when not in use during extended periods of time.

Juan Paul

I'm Juan Paul, the guy behind HamptonLightingAdvice. I've been the owner of several Products from Hampton Bay over the last few years and have become obsessed with them. Nearly every day you'll find me searching for newly updated manuals to help myself and others who visit this site. Over the last few years, Hampton Lighting Advice has grown into a pillar of the Home Decor industry with tens of thousands of site visitors each month. You can read more on our About Us page.