How to Throw a Great Outdoor Party

With springtime now upon us, parties may start moving from the living room to the backyard, and whether you’re hosting an informal barbecue with the neighborhood or plan on throwing a stylish starlit cocktail party, follow these easy tips to ensure a good warm-weather time will be had by all.

Setting Up
To make plating and cleaning easier, use disposable utensils and plates. To keep bugs from crashing your party, use an upended wire-mesh colander on top of fruits and vegetables, and loaf pans for stacked hamburger buns.

Creating Ambiance
Decorating for your backyard party can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. Summer dinners outdoors can become elegant affairs with a little help from inexpensive decorative items such as hanging lanterns or jelly jars, and don’t forget lighting. If you don’t wish to purchase separate light for your occasion, many local rental centers can provide with you these and also give you advice for your particular lighting needs.

Keep Your Guests Comfortable
If you live in an especially hot climate, even outdoor parties can have your guests sweltering. To keep everyone comfortable, pay attention to the weather. If you live in a dry, arid climate, outdoor misting fans such as the Windchaser WC163 are a great way to stay cool. On the other hand, if the outside temperature tends to dip in the later hours, patio heaters not only add a touch of class to a drab yard, but keep your guests nice and cozy as well.

Setting the Table
Decorating your outdoor dining table doesn’t have to be a chore. For simple, yet sophisticated centerpieces, place fresh fruit and flowers on small gift boxes covered in white gift wrapping; use brightly colored wrapping paper and pinking shears to create an inexpensive, yet chic table runner (and secure with double-sided tape); use cupcake foils to make elegant, yet disposable votive holders; and tie down the tablecloth and runner with twine to prevent them from blowing away in the wind.

Food
If you decide to offer food at your party, have as much prepared as possible before the soiree begins. If you are planning to barbecue, have it almost ready before your guests arrive, or even opt for quick-cooking food such as hamburgers or hot dogs. An even better idea is to set up a buffet table with a variety of foods so that guests can choose the different items they want.

Drinks
Beverages are an absolutely crucial part of a successful outdoor party, and when it comes to party drinks, a keg of beer is always welcome. Cocktails are another great idea, but to keep things simple, decide on two or three simple cocktails such as martinis or margaritas (from a mix to make it even more effortless) and allow your guests to choose which they’d like to imbibe. Not only does this save you money on ingredients, but time as well.

Also, when it comes to outdoor party drinks, make sure you have plenty of ice on hand and don’t rely on your refrigerator’s freezer! Either purchase ice from the grocery store and keep it in a cooler or invest in a portable ice maker such as the NewAir AI-100S. Relatively inexpensive and portable, this icemaker has the ability to produce as much as 28 pounds of ice cubes in as little as 15 minutes – making it the perfect addition to any party!

Propane Safety Tips

First identified as a volatile organic compound in gasoline by Dr. Water O. Snelling in 1910, propane has been widely used as a major fuel source since the 1930’s. Millions worldwide depend on propane to make their lives more comfortable, and because it is clean, reliable, affordable, and relatively safe, propane is widely used in home appliances such as cook tops, dryers, fireplaces, garage heaters, and patio heaters.

According to the Propane Education and Research Council, because the government is now enacting laws to bring forth a 20 percent reduction in gasoline consumption, propane is widely considered an efficient and cost-effective alternative fuel source. In fact, the Council notes that increasing the use of this affordable fuel in fleets by just 10 percent could displace over one million gallons of gasoline by 2017.

In terms of using propane as a home heating fuel, the portability of propane-fueled heaters makes them ideal for both garage and patio heating, as they can be moved from one place to the next with minimal trouble. However, like any type of fuel, propane gas is highly combustible, and when produced, it is both odorless and colorless. Therefore, for safety reasons, chemical odorants such as ethyl mercaptan are added to the fuel so that in the case of a leak, the gas can be detected by its strong, distinct smell.

However, at times, these odorants may not be enough to warn a user of a propane leakage, as colds, allergies, smoke, or alcohol can impair one’s ability to detect odors. Strong, competing odors may also mask the smell of escaping propane, and exposure to certain materials such as those used in masonry may lessen the effectiveness of the odorant. As well, continued exposure to propane can cause one to get used to the odor and fail to detect its presence, and because propane gas is heavier than air, floor-level leaks are especially difficult to detect.

With that in mind, if you have propane appliance, follow these steps to both recognize and prevent a propane leak in your home:

1. Be aware of what propane smells like. Many propane retailers offer pamphlets with “scratch and sniff” cards that allow you and your family members to recognize the smell. Also be sure to invest in a propane leak detector, which is similar to a carbon monoxide detector, for even more protection.

2. Always be sure of where gas service lines are located, especially in outdoor areas such as yards and patios.

3. If you smell a propane leak, evacuate everyone from the building immediately, and call your local propane deal. Never remain in the building or use the phone and light switches in an attempt to determine the source of the leak yourself.

4. If you suspect that your propane appliance controls may have gotten wet due to rain or flooding (as in the case of outdoor, propane-fueled patio heaters), immediately have a trained technician inspect your equipment.

Patio Heaters - Extend Your Outdoor Season in Warmth and Style

There's nothing quite like spending a nice evening outside with loved ones and friends, but with winter just around the corner, this may not be possible for much longer. Thankfully, patio heaters can help bring the comfort of the indoors to your backyard and add beauty to your outdoor setting.

In terms of fuel sources, most patio heaters run on either natural gas or propane. Natural gas patio heaters are very convenient because they
are directly connected to your gas line, but one of the most popular varieties of patio heaters is the propane-fueled "Umbrella Type Patio
Heater." These are ideal for keeping larger areas warm, and you may have seen these used outside of restaurants or bars. In order to heat an area, heat is radiated out through the cylinder at the top, while fuel burns at the
bottom of the heater. A standard residential patio heater will probably use a 20 pound propane tank that will provide roughly 10-12 hours of even, efficient heat, depending on how high the temperature is set. A standard patio heater which puts out 40,000 BTUs has the capability of heating an area 20 feet in diameter as much as 25 degrees.

Here are a few recommended patio heater models:

NewAir APH-4000 ($229.99 + 5% discount code "COOL"): Providing 40,000 BTUs, this propane patio heater
is built to last and has a coverage area of up
to 22 feet. Advanced features include a
piezoelectric pilot lighter, adjustable heat
control, and rust-proof construction. NewAir

APH-1100SS ($109): This propane-fueled patio heater is
compact, portable, and meant for tabletops. It produces up to 11,000 BTUs of heat and assembles and dissembles in minutes. Features include adjustable heat settings and a safety-tilt shut-off system. Also, at $109, this model is affordable and perfect for smaller areas.

However, like any heater, a few precautions should be taken when operating a patio heater in order to ensure safety:

- Never use a patio heater indoors - these types of heaters are strictly meant for outdoor use because of risk of fire and carbon monoxide
emissions.
- Allow enough clearance for combustibles around and under the emitter head of the patio heater.
- Make sure the patio heater is properly ventilated for airflow, and do not obstruct the air holes or vents. Dust, debris, and insects may sometimes clog the air ducts and decrease performance.
- Ensure proper maintenance of your patio heater, and have it checked yearly by a qualified professional, especially after an extended period of storage.