Do wall-mounted electric patio heaters heat well outdoors?

Wall- and ceiling-mounted infrared units save floor space and suit covered patios, gazebos, and balconies, but they deliver directional radiant heat to whatever is in front of them rather than warming ambient air. Buyer ratings on the wall-mounted options in this pool are more mixed than on propane towers, so they're best for spot-warming seating areas under cover rather than open, windy spaces.