Patio, Lawn & Garden Specs Explained

Propane patio heaters are portable and run on a tank, natural gas heaters connect to a gas line, and electric heaters plug in but put out less heat.

A single speed pool pump runs flat out, while a variable speed pump slows down for filtering, which ENERGY STAR says cuts energy use sharply.

Watt-hours (Wh) tell you how long a power station can run your devices, and watts (W) tell you which devices it can run at once; size for both.

Trimmer line is sold by diameter, from .065 inch for light work to .155 inch for heavy work; use a size your trimmer head lists, then pick a shape.

Gas grills light fast and hold a set heat, charcoal grills burn lump or briquettes, and pellet and electric grills are the other two fuel types we list.

A gazebo has a solid roof and gives full shade, a pergola has open crossbeams that filter the sun; size either one by the people and furniture it must hold.

Watts only show what a grow light draws; plants use light from 400 to 700 nanometers, measured as PPFD, and leafy greens need far less than fruiting plants.

Hot tubs are sized by how many adults they seat; inflatable tubs cost less and set up anywhere, while acrylic hard shell tubs generally hold heat better.

A traditional sauna heats the air with hot stones, an infrared sauna warms you directly at a lower air temperature; traditional is the top heat type we list.

Push and reel mowers suit small yards, self-propelled models ease bigger or hilly ones, and riding mowers with wide decks cover large open lawns.

Most home landscape lighting runs at 12 volts from a transformer; load the transformer to about 70% of its rating, and compare fixtures by lumens, not watts.

Pick a planter big and deep enough for the plant's roots but not much bigger, with a drainage hole; material changes how fast the soil dries.

A pool heater's BTU rating is the heat it adds per hour; bigger pools and colder air need more, gas warms faster, and a heat pump costs less to run.

PSI is how hard the water hits and GPM is how much water flows each minute; multiply the two and you get cleaning units, a quick way to compare machines.

Suction and pressure cleaners run off your pool's pump and filter, while a robotic cleaner has its own motors and filter and costs more to buy.

Add up the running watts of everything you will power at once, then make sure the generator's starting watts cover the biggest motor as it kicks on.