Alfresco Heating
Alfresco Heating is a multi-brand specialty retailer of outdoor patio heaters (gas, electric infrared, portable) and adjacent outdoor-living products, serving homeowners, restaurants, wineries, and contractors via national e-commerce and Bay Area installation services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersNovato, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Alfresco Heating does
Alfresco Heating, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Novato, California, is a specialty retailer of outdoor patio heating solutions and adjacent outdoor-living products. The company operates as an authorized, multi-brand dealer distributing third-party-manufactured gas, electric infrared, and portable patio heaters from brands including Infratech, SunGlo, SunPak, Schwank/eSchwank, Calcana, Eurofase, SunStar, and Outdoor Order, alongside complementary categories such as outdoor kitchens (grills, pizza ovens, smokers) and fire features (tables, bowls, pits). A core technology focus is on infrared radiant heating, which warms people and surfaces directly rather than heating ambient air, the company positioning this as well-suited to outdoor environments.
The business combines a national e-commerce storefront (built on BigCommerce) with phone-based consultative sales and local field installation and authorized repair services in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pricing is largely unit-based and publicly listed across portable ($1,699-$3,255), electric infrared ($682-$1,512), permanent post gas ($1,958-$2,717), and overhead gas ($2,582-$4,005) heater categories, complemented by parts and accessories ($40-$516) and zoned installation fees of $150-$250 per heater depending on service area. Revenue streams are predominantly one-time product sales plus professional services for installation, repair, and consultation, with no subscription or recurring revenue disclosed.
Customer segments span homeowners, restaurants and hospitality venues, wineries and tasting rooms, and contractors/installers. Notable named commercial customers include Burgerfi, Il Fornaio, Cassava Restaurant, Bridges Restaurant, Mission Rock Resort, Bouchaine Vineyards, and Calistoga Ranch. The company holds the Infratech Elite Dealer credential, claims first-in-America Infratech Pro Installer status, and has accumulated approximately 76,000 customer reviews alongside a verified 5-star Yelp rating, evidencing durable brand positioning in a narrow niche.
Alfresco Heating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alfresco Heating
- Legal name
- Alfresco Heating
- Website
- https://alfresco-heating.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Alfresco Heating is a multi-brand specialty retailer of outdoor patio heaters (gas, electric infrared, portable) and adjacent outdoor-living products, serving homeowners, restaurants, wineries, and contractors via national e-commerce and Bay Area installation services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alfresco Heating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Heating Equipment
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Heating, Fire Pits & Fireplaces Retail (CRAIAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Outdoor & Specialty Major Appliance Retail (Outdoor Kitchens, Grills, Ice Makers) (CRACACAG)
Keywords
Where Alfresco Heating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Novato
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alfresco Heating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Patio Heater Sales: Direct sales of patio heaters including gas, electric, and infrared models from various brands (SunGlo, Infratech, Schwank, Calcana, SunPak, Eurofase, etc.). Products range from portable units to permanent installations.
- Parts and Accessories: Sales of replacement parts, brackets, controls, timers, remotes, covers, and gas hoses for various heater brands.
- Installation Services: Professional installation services for Bay Area customers, including assembly and positioning of patio heaters. Local assembly options with per-heater pricing.
- Repair Services: Authorized repair service for the San Francisco Bay Area, including troubleshooting and replacement of components.
- Consultation Services: Patio heating consultations to help customers select appropriate heater types, sizes, and positioning for their specific applications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Portable Patio Heaters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Electric Infrared Heaters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Permanent Post Gas Heaters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Overhead Gas Patio Heaters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Parts and Accessories |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bay Area Installation Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alfresco Heating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alfresco Heating is a specialty retailer that sells outdoor heating solutions, including portable gas patio heaters, overhead gas patio heaters, permanent fixed-post gas heaters, and electric infrared patio heaters from multiple brands (Infratech, SunGlo, Schwank, SunPak, Calcana, Eurofase, Outdoor Order, SunStar). The company complements its product sales with professional installation, authorized repair, and consultation services, primarily serving customers in the San Francisco Bay Area through local services and shipping nationwide via its e-commerce platform.
Product overview
Alfresco Heating is a specialty retailer of outdoor heating solutions and related products. Their core offering centers on patio heaters across multiple technology types: portable gas heaters (propane/natural gas) from brands like SunGlo and Outdoor Order; permanent gas heaters (fixed-post and overhead/mounted) from SunPak, Calcana, and SunStar; and electric infrared heaters from Infratech, Schwank/eSchwank, and Eurofase. The product portfolio includes complementary outdoor kitchen appliances (grills, pizza ovens, smokers) and fire features (tables, bowls, pits). The company provides value-added services including expert installation, repair, and consultation. Alfresco Heating operates as an authorized/elite dealer for multiple heater brands and serves both residential and commercial customers (restaurants, hospitality).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Portable Gas Patio Heaters Freestanding propane or natural gas patio heaters designed to be moved around outdoor spaces. Includes cantilever designs like The Curve and traditional upright heaters from the SunGlo A242 and A270 series. Targeted at homeowners and commercial venues seeking flexible outdoor heating.
- Electric Patio Heaters Overhead electric infrared heaters from brands including Infratech and eSchwank, available in various wattages (1500W-6000W) and lengths (33-61 inches). Designed for permanent wall or ceiling mounting to provide radiant heat for patios.
- Permanent Fixed-Post Gas Patio Heaters In-ground permanent gas heaters including the SunGlo PSA265 series (40,000-50,000 BTU) with manual or electronic ignition, available in black or stainless steel. Designed for fixed commercial or residential patio installations.
- Overhead Gas Patio Heaters Wall or ceiling-mounted gas infrared heaters including SunPak and Calcana models. Designed for permanent installations, keeping the heater out of the way while providing radiant heat to the area below.
- Patio Heater Parts and Accessories Replacement parts, mounting brackets, controls (timers, switches, infinite regulators), gas hoses, wheel kits, and covers compatible with all major heater brands stocked by Alfresco Heating. Pricing ranges from approximately $40 (switches) to $516 (gas valves).
- Fire Tables, Fire Bowls, and Fire Pits Decorative fire features including fire tables, fire bowls, fire pits, lanterns, and urns to enhance outdoor ambiance alongside primary patio heating solutions.
- Outdoor Kitchens (Grills, Pizza Ovens, Smokers) Complete outdoor kitchen appliances including grills, pizza ovens, and smokers, offered to complement patio heating solutions for a comprehensive outdoor living setup.
- Expert Installation Services Professional installation services for patio heaters, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. Local assembly priced per heater at $150-$250 depending on service area zone (Green/Blue/Red), with additional hourly rates for minor plumbing work.
- Repair Services Authorized repair service for patio heaters, providing national customer service and on-site repair in the San Francisco Bay Area, including troubleshooting and replacement of components.
- Patio Heating Consultations Expert consultation services to help customers select appropriate heater types, sizes, and positioning for their specific outdoor spaces and applications. Free phone consultations are provided by knowledgeable patio heating professionals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Restaurants report recovering patio heater costs through increased outdoor dining revenue
Companies that use Alfresco Heating
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Alfresco Heating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Alfresco Heating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- InfratechcoreAlfresco Heating is an Infratech Elite Dealer, the highest tier of partnership with Infratech. As an Elite Dealer, they receive preferred pricing, extended warranty programs (4 years vs standard 3 years), and priority access to new products and technical support. They were also the first company in America to become Infratech Pro Installers, demonstrating the highest level of installation certification.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alfresco Heating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Infrared Dynamics (SunGlo): Manufacturer of SunGlo and infrared patio heaters for residential and commercial use. A supplier to Alfresco that also sells direct, creating overlap with Alfresco's customer base.
- Home Depot: National home improvement retailer with deep patio heater assortment. Competes across both DIY homeowners and pro/contractor segments that Alfresco targets.
- Infratech: Leading U.S. manufacturer of electric infrared patio heaters. Sells direct to consumers and through dealers (including Alfresco as Elite Dealer); overlapping product category and customer base.
- Wayfair: Mass-market online home goods retailer carrying a broad selection of patio heaters, fire pits, and outdoor furniture. Competes for the same residential outdoor heating buyer with significantly larger scale.
- Schwank / eSchwank: Manufacturer of gas and electric infrared heating products for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. A brand carried by Alfresco but also a broader competitor in infrared heating.
Direct peers
- Bromic Heating: Global manufacturer and direct-to-consumer seller of premium gas, electric, and infrared patio heaters. Closely comparable product portfolio and target market (restaurants, hospitality, premium residential) to Alfresco Heating.
- Fire Sense: Specialty retailer and brand of patio heaters, fire pits, and outdoor living products. Operates with a similar multi-brand retail-plus-DTC model serving residential and commercial outdoor heating customers.
- AZ Patio Heaters: Specialty e-commerce retailer of patio heaters, fire pits, and outdoor heating products across multiple brands. Directly comparable DTC model and assortment breadth to Alfresco Heating.
- Calcana: Manufacturer and seller of high-output commercial-grade gas infrared patio heaters. Overlaps with Alfresco's commercial/overhead gas heater category and ships direct to commercial customers.
- Patio Heater USA: Online specialty retailer focused exclusively on patio heaters and accessories. Mirrors Alfresco Heating's narrow category focus and e-commerce-first GTM motion.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Alfresco Heating social profiles
Digital presenceAlfresco Heating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alfresco Heating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Alfresco Heating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alfresco Heating M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alfresco Heating
What does Alfresco Heating do?
Alfresco Heating is a specialty retailer that sells outdoor heating solutions, including portable gas patio heaters, overhead gas patio heaters, permanent fixed-post gas heaters, and electric infrared patio heaters from multiple brands (Infratech, SunGlo, Schwank, SunPak, Calcana, Eurofase, Outdoor Order, SunStar). The company complements its product sales with professional installation, authorized repair, and consultation services, primarily serving customers in the San Francisco Bay Area through local services and shipping nationwide via its e-commerce platform.
Is Alfresco Heating a public or private company?
Alfresco Heating is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Alfresco Heating founded?
Alfresco Heating was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alfresco Heating based?
Alfresco Heating is headquartered in Novato, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alfresco Heating make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Patio Heater Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Accessories, installation Services, repair Services and consultation Services.
Who are Alfresco Heating's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Infrared Dynamics (SunGlo), Home Depot, Infratech, Wayfair and Schwank / eSchwank. Direct peers are Bromic Heating, Fire Sense, AZ Patio Heaters, Calcana and Patio Heater USA.
Does Alfresco Heating have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alfresco Heating.
What industry is Alfresco Heating in?
Alfresco Heating's product category is Outdoor Heating Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAIAI, Outdoor Heating, Fire Pits & Fireplaces Retail, with a secondary code of CRACACAG, Outdoor & Specialty Major Appliance Retail (Outdoor Kitchens, Grills, Ice Makers).