TIPI FIRE PITS & HEATING

Tipis are ideal structures for outdoor events, all year round. Whether your event carries through into a summer evening or takes place in the colder autumn and winter months, heating is an essential feature and an integral part of keeping guests and customers satisfied, comfortable, and most importantly, warm.

Heating a Tipi

There are several ways in which you can heat your tipis effectively to ensure your guests have an enjoyable time whilst at your site. The most popular options amongst our clients are:

TIPI FIREPITS & HEATING

Tipis are ideal structures for outdoor events, all year round. Whether your event carries through into a summer evening or takes place in the colder autumn and winter months, heating is an essential feature and an integral part of keeping guests and customers satisfied, comfortable and, most importantly, warm.

Heating a Tipi

There are several ways in which you can heat your tipis effectively to ensure your guests have an enjoyable time while at your site. The most popular options amongst our clients are:

INDIRECT FAN HEATERS

Indirect fan heaters are positioned outside the tipi, with the vent pushed under the edge. This heating method is the most effective at heating the tipis. We have found that one indirect fan heater is suitable for 1-2 Big Hats, whereas two indirect fan heaters are needed for 3-4. Being positioned outside of the tipi, indirect fan heaters allow you to maximise the space available within your tipi, creating a comfortable and wider space for guests to occupy.

INFRARED HEATERS

Infrared heaters can be installed inside of our tipis and are attached to the purlin beams. Whilst providing direct overhead warmth, they aren’t always necessarily the most efficient source of heat available within a tipi, primarily heating the isolated space below where they hang. Depending on the size of the tipi, you may need to install nine infrared heaters per tipi (one attached to each horizontal purlin beam), to ensure all guests are comfortably heated.

WOOD BURNERS

Enclosed wood burners are positioned to the side of the tipi to ensure maximum floor space, and the vent is installed through the tipi (canvas side). Although this option looks fantastic and certainly creates an ambient atmosphere within our tipis, we have found this method doesn’t suitably heat them in their larger formations and is much more suited to our smaller standalone tipis for glamping accommodation, such as the Baby Tipi and Midi Tipi.

INDIRECT FAN HEATERS

Indirect fan heaters are positioned outside the tipi, with the vent pushed under the edge of the tipi. This heating method is the most effective at heating the tipis. We have found that one indirect fan heater is suitable for 1-2 Big Hats, whereas two indirect fan heaters are needed for 3-4 Big Hats. Being positioned outside of the tipi, indirect fan heaters allow you to maximise the space available within your tipi, creating a comfortable and wider space for guests to occupy.

INFRARED HEATERS

Infrared heaters can be installed inside of our Tipis and are attached to the purlin beams. Whilst providing direct overhead warmth, they aren’t always necessarily the most efficient source of heat available within a tipi,  primarily heating the isolated space below where they hang. Dependent on the size of the tipi, you may need to install nine infrared heaters per tipi (one attached to each horizontal purlin beam) to ensure all guests are comfortably heated. 

WOOD BURNERS

Enclosed wood burners are positioned to the side of the tipi to ensure maximum floor space, and the vent is installed through the tipi (canvas side). Although this option looks fantastic and certainly creates an ambient atmosphere within our Tipis, we have found this method doesn’t suitably heat the tipis in their larger formations and is much more suited to our smaller standalone tipis for glamping accommodation, such as our Baby Tipi and Midi Tipi. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT HEATING A TIPI WITH A FIRE PIT

A traditional heating method that has been used for centuries within tipis is the use of open fire pits. Without a doubt, tipi fire pits add a cosy ambience and aesthetic appeal to the overall tipi experience. That said, if you are planning on using the tipi as an event space, which will be rented to a number of different guests, we have found that there are a number of downsides which may make you reconsider your interest in heating a tipi with an open fire pit.

We have found through years of feedback that open fire pits within your permanent outdoor shade structures can:

Honesty and giving practical advice are at the centre of everything we do here at The Tipi Company, and it is in our best interest that your investment stands the test of time. Due to the reasons above, we do not recommend the use of open tipi fire pits in our tipis. A great alternative is to position a fire pit in the open air, outside the tipis, to act as a quirky breakout space for wedding and event guests to gather around, ensuring that you get your rustic fire pit experience without any damage done to your tipi canvas.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HEATING A TIPI WITH A FIRE PIT

A traditional heating method that has been used for centuries within tipis is the use of open fire pits. Without a doubt, tipi fire pits add a cosy ambience and aesthetic appeal to the overall tipi experience. That said, if you are planning on using the tipi as an event space, which will be rented to a number of different guests, we have found that there are a number of downsides which may make you reconsider your interest in heating a tipi with an open fire pit.

We have found through years of feedback that open firepits within your permanent outdoor shade structures can:

Honesty and giving practical advice are at the centre of everything we do here at The Tipi Company, and it is in our best interest that your investment stands the test of time. Due to the reasons above, we do not recommend the use of open tipi fire pits in our modern giant event tipis. A great alternative is to position a fire pit in the open air outside the tipis, to act as a quirky breakout space for wedding and event guests to gather around, ensuring that you get your rustic fire pit experience, without any damage done to your tipi canvas.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about heating a tipi or our outdoor structures, and how they can benefit your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. If you already know precisely what you need, you can request a quote. Why not check out some of our Customer Stories for inspiration and ideas on how you can utilise tipis for your events. You can also Download a Brochure of our complete product offering to help with your decision-making.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about heating a tipi or our outdoor entertainment structures, and how they can benefit your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. If you already know precisely what you need, you can request a quote. Why not check out some of our Customer Stories for inspiration and ideas on how you can utilise tipis for your events? You can also Download a Brochure of our complete product offering to help with your decision-making.