On days or evenings when it’s too nice to be inside, but outdoor festivities still require a jacket, the EvenGLO heater from IR Energy, a Superior Radiant company, Stoney Creek, Ontario, was designed specifically with the outdoor bar and restaurant area in mind.
“The EvenGLO uses an electric spark recognition controller in concert with the valve, so there is a high-fire setting and a low-fire setting with about a 15% differential between the two,” says John Ciavarella, product manager at IR Energy. “If you turn the heater on high setting, you have the option of turning it down to a definitive low setting, or turning it off. There is also the option to turn it up to a definitive high-fire setting should it not be warm enough.”
The EvenGLO requires permanent installation (which includes running a pipe with a continuous flow of gas, and a 24-volt wired signal to facilitate its electronic capabilities) in which case it becomes a permanent fixture in your overall layout. However, its sleek appearance can blend in well with a clean floor plan, as it is vertically-oriented and not bulky, like typical space heaters. Its unique design also enables it to be a cost effective element to your outdoor furnishing budget versus the cost of using traditional space heaters.
“We have the largest top reflector that we know of in the marketplace,” says Ciavarella. The design creates a large comfort zone with 58% greater coverage than the market leader. Also, because you can control the high or low output, you don’t always have to burn the maximum amount of gas every time you use the heater. There is a cost savings in terms of gas consumption and variable electric output of the heater while you are keeping people as comfortable as possible.”
The permanent installation and remote-control operation of the EvenGLO also eliminates the possibility of it being knocked over or manually adjusted by a bar patron. Ciavarella warns that free-standing space heaters can be a liability when discerning bar patrons can access and move them to suit personal comfort levels.
“There is also the concern that someone who may have drank too much might inadvertently knock one over,” he says. “And while most are built to shut off when tipped to a certain angle, it becomes a nuisance to the wait staff or bartender who is now fixing the heater and not paying attention to serving.”
For more information on the EvenGLO heater, check out “Open-Air Opportunities” in the May/June issue of Bar Business Magazine
Click here for the EvenGLO website
