42x48x16 Tube Heater

[wewiserangers]

Having a 42x48x16 fully insulated (fiberglass) shop build this summer. Will have one 18x14 over head door in one 42' end wall.

I got quotes for both 1 and 2 tube heaters. Around $10,000. For 2 tubes and around $6000. For 1 tube.

I'm looking for suggestions on which route I should go on a building this size. This will be a farm shop in central Illinois.

Thanks

 

[PoorUB]

Having a 42x48x16 fully insulated (fiberglass) shop build this summer. Will have one 18x14 over head door in one 42' end wall.

I got quotes for both 1 and 2 tube heaters. Around $10,000. For 2 tubes and around $6000. For 1 tube.

I'm looking for suggestions on which route I should go on a building this size. This will be a farm shop in central Illinois.

Thanks

My largest consideration with tube heaters is clearance under them. Many rewire several feet directly under the heater.

You mention 16' high. If you mount the tube heater right at the 16 foot, and you park the largest piece of farm machinery right under it and still have 5 or more feet of clearance under the heater?

Before buying the heater, get a good look at installation instructions and verify the clearances.

 

[Bert_]

One tube will do a fine job.

Location matters. Right down the middle is not always a good spot. Put it were you spend the most time. Don't put it right above where you always park a big piece of equipment.

 

[cannuck]

I have layed out a 48' wide shop that I can't yet afford to build on our farm. My layout uses tubes on each side with reflectors at 45 degrees. Means a lot more tubing but I managed to find mine from surplus inventory so quite cheap. Oh: locate burners at entry door end to offset leakage/opening.

 

[PoorUB]

I have layed out a 48' wide shop that I can't yet afford to build on our farm. My layout uses tubes on each side with reflectors at 45 degrees. Means a lot more tubing but I managed to find mine from surplus inventory so quite cheap. Oh: locate burners at entry door end to offset leakage/opening.

You need to consider the BTU load. Two tubes can be much more than needed. For the OP's shop he only needs about 60,000 BTU, assuming it is reasonably insulated. Tube heaters are about 80% efficient, so about input 75,000 BTU should be plenty.

 

[wewiserangers]

The quotes were for one 125,0000 btu or two 75,000 btu. Fully insulated shop 1 14x18 overhead door with three 3x3 windows. Central Illinois

 

[dscheidt]

D

The quotes were for one 125,0000 btu or two 75,000 btu. Fully insulated shop 1 14x18 overhead door with three 3x3 windows. Central Illinois

Did anyone actually calculate the load, or did they just say “that’s what we always do? “.

 

[wewiserangers]

D

Did anyone actually calculate the load, or did they just say “that’s what we always do? “.

They did the calculations. Three contractors have recommended two tubes for the space.

 

[Bert_]

The quotes were for one 125,0000 btu or two 75,000 btu. Fully insulated shop 1 14x18 overhead door with three 3x3 windows. Central Illinois

Those guys didn't do any meaningful calculation. That's way to big even if they were just shooting from the hip.

I put two 80k tube heaters in a 60x100x18 shed a few years ago here in NW Iowa. Guy is real happy with it.

 

[PoorUB]

The quotes were for one 125,0000 btu or two 75,000 btu. Fully insulated shop 1 14x18 overhead door with three 3x3 windows. Central Illinois

Unless the insulation is substandard, there is no way you need 125,000 or 2X75,000 BTU.
Here in North Dakota we would shoot for 30 BTU per square foot, even in a truck shop with 20 foot ceilings. That math comes out to 60,000 BTU. I probably would consider two 50,000 BTU tubes, or one 100,000 BTU tube at the most. Two 40,000 BTU tubes or one 80,000 BTU should be fine.

 

[mikedodge]

My shop has one down the middle and it gets the whole room. The hottest part is under the start of it. I'd kinda prefer one over two but figure out the final layout of your room and let that determine it. Having two means two seperate hot spots you need to avoid putting stuff under altho with 16 foot ceilings that should be a bit less of an issue.

 

[wewiserangers]

Unless the insulation is substandard, there is no way you need 125,000 or 2X75,000 BTU.
Here in North Dakota we would shoot for 30 BTU per square foot, even in a truck shop with 20 foot ceilings. That math comes out to 60,000 BTU. I probably would consider two 50,000 BTU tubes, or one 100,000 BTU tube at the most. Two 40,000 BTU tubes or one 80,000 BTU should be fine.

I have 4 quotes now and they are all recommending two 75,0000 heaters for the space. I gave all of them the insulation and window/door details.

 

[Bert_]

I have worked out of a 42x100x16 building for many years here in NW Iowa. It's heated with a single 100,000 tube heater. We get down to about -10*. Occasionally colder but not often.