30x40 heat options

[rinconnick]

I recently completed a 30x40 pole barn. What options are there for heating? I live in Kentucky and will only heat on the weekends.

 

[fatjay]

Radiant heat floor if you can. If it's completed already then maybe a mini split with heat exchanger. Will get you cooling too. Not difficult to install.

 

[tom-ky]

What kind of budget?

 

[laser3kw]

I recently completed a 30x40 pole barn. What options are there for heating? I live in Kentucky and will only heat on the weekends.

how well is it insulated?
I heat my 30x40 on the weekends with a 30k - 80k construction heater on a 40lb propane tank. It will go from 30 to 60° in an hour or so. I use a box fan to circulate the air off the ceiling just a bit

 

[jkeyser14]

If you are only out there on weekends I would avoud radiant in-floor heaters. They take days to adjust the temperature and it would cost you a ton.

I would look into a natural gas hanging heater or a ductless minisplit system.

 

[marinusdees]

If you are only out there on weekends I would avoud radiant in-floor heaters. They take days to adjust the temperature and it would cost you a ton.

I would look into a natural gas hanging heater or a ductless minisplit system.

I have a 40 x 40 stick built, insulated. I have had it for 30 years. I have a 150,00 BTU hanging natural gas heater. It will bring it up to temperature in short order. I maintain a minimum 45 degrees. I don't want any thing to freeze. Jus' me. Probably old technology, but I'm 81 and have not moved into the 21st Century yet. It doesn't have to last another 30 years.

 

[sixty4]

If you are only out there on weekends I would avoud radiant in-floor heaters. They take days to adjust the temperature and it would cost you a ton.

I would look into a natural gas hanging heater or a ductless minisplit system.

I agree! I was going to due radiant even put it through out the garage floor. I just put a Hot air furnace with AC. I added a nest tstat turn it on an hour before I head over, turn it off when finished.

 

[Steve in UT]

+1 on the hanging heater. It's the only way to go for intermittent heating. They heat lots of air fast and are designed just for that purpose.

 

[rinconnick]

It will only be heated on the weekends. I have looked at hanging natural gas heater such as the mr.heater 80,000btu or the hot dawg 75. both are affordable options. Trying to stay away from wood heat.

 

[rinconnick]

DO either of those options require a inline pressure regulator?

 

[dcg9381]

Natural gas should already be pressure regulated. As this is a new structure, the answer is probably "yes" - you may need a new regulator.

You could (perhaps) do this in propane - a regulator for that is a self-install deal. A 100 lb tank is still "portable". Larger tanks obviously have more capacity.

Electric is an option too, depending on how much power you have available.

 

[theoldwizard1]

how well is it insulated?
I heat my 30x40 on the weekends with a 30k - 80k construction heater on a 40lb propane tank. It will go from 30 to 60° in an hour or so. I use a box fan to circulate the air off the ceiling just a bit

Insulating just the roof/ceiling will help a lot.

 

[rinconnick]

After reading a bunch of post about overcycling of large heaters if I should go with a 50,000btu

 

[Jackfre]

Yes, go with the 50.

 

[rinconnick]

My building only has r-9 insulation on walls and ceiling and has 7 windows. Would the 50 be enough? I always thought it was good to go bigger?

 

[ThomasZ]

If you have money, why not. But 50k is enough in my opinion, too