Heating my 30x32x14 pole barn

[Pinkfloydperson]

I have a 30x32 pole barn with a 14’ ceiling and two insulated 10x10 roll up doors. The walls are insulated with 1 1/2” foam board covered by 1/2” plywood. The ceiling will have 6” of insulation blown in once I’m all done wiring the building. I use a 28,500BTU air conditioner mounted in the window that does a great job cooling the building right now, even with the ceiling not being insulated. My next thing I want to get taken care of before winter rolls in is figuring out heating the building. I’m likely going to go with a propane fueled forced air unit hung from the ceiling, I’m just not sure how big or what brand I should get. I’d like to hear from people with similarly sized buildings who are happy with their setup.

 

[Black Oak]

please put your location under your name . also , what kind of use do you anticipate ? daily , weekends ? additional insulation in the walls would have helped you , so your location and heat needs req. more info .

 

[Pinkfloydperson]

My location is Quakertown Pennsylvania, about an hour west of Philadelphia. I plan on maintaining a temperature of about 50 throughout winter, and bumping it up a few nights a week and on weekends when I’m working or entertaining guests.

 

[nadogail]

Can you use a waste oil burner? If you can, waste oil often can be had for hauling it away.

 

[Pinkfloydperson]

That’s not really an option. Don’t want to deal with the oil, don’t have the space for an oil tank, and they’re pretty pricey to buy, even used.

 

[toyotadriver]

I suspect if you heat it all winter I think you'll be ok with a 30K. If you won't be heating it all the time, I'd go bigger. Maybe 60K.

Since you plan to heat full time, you need a smaller size than if you simply want to heat it up when you are going to be working out there since maintaining a temp needs less BTUs than raising the temp of a cold shop.

I originally planned to heat my shop full time but since it's pretty well insulated, I decided not to use all that propane. Instead, I went with a larger heater and just turn it up to 62-65 or so when I plan to work out there. My shop is a 30x40x10 and I went with a 80k BTU. I tried a 45K first but it didn't heat it up quickly enough for me when it was cold.

 

[earlybirds]

I use a 100,000 btu(80,000 output) Modine sealed combustion NG heater in my 30x40x12 pole barn. r15 in walls and roof. Two 12x12 overhead doors that are insulated.

I keep my shop at 40 degrees when not using it and 65 degrees when occupied.This heater is plenty big and heats quickly if I need heat in a hurry. I haven't noticed any short cycling with the heater.

I wouldn't change a thing with this setup.

 

[Pinkfloydperson]

Any specific suggestions on the heater itself and where to buy from?

 

[purediesel]

I use a 100,000 btu(80,000 output) Modine sealed combustion NG heater in my 30x40x12 pole barn. r15 in walls and roof. Two 12x12 overhead doors that are insulated.

I keep my shop at 40 degrees when not using it and 65 degrees when occupied.This heater is plenty big and heats quickly if I need heat in a hurry. I haven't noticed any short cycling with the heater.

I wouldn't change a thing with this setup.

Have you looked into minimum temp for that heater? Im installing a 100k reznor UDAS and it says not to heat below 50 degrees due to condensation in the heat exchanger. This could rust out the exchanger and cause it to fail. This seems to be a standard for most unit heaters.

 

[Pinkfloydperson]

So it's starting to get cold out, and I'm still not 100% certain on what heater I should pick out. Does anyone have any suggestions on what brand and BTU I should be looking for and the best place to buy from? Any help would be hugely appreciated. Again, I'll be using propane, and I have water lines coming out to the shop to a very small electric water heater and a utility sink. I need to maintain a temperature above freezing to prevent freezing of the lines, at bare minimum. I'd like to maintain a minimum temp of around 50* and maybe bump it up to 60 or 65* a couple nights a week and on weekends when I'm in the shop working or hanging out. I'd love to hear people's opinions on their setup, especially when it comes to the noisiness (or lack thereof) of their setup, the cycling of their setup, etc. This is a purchase I'd like to make once, and be confident that I made the right decision.

 

[pvanderlugt]

I have a similar sized shop I am heating in a similar climate (NW Ohio) i have more insulating in the walls, r-19, and about that much in the ceiling... have 2 large OH insulated doors... heating it with a 60000 btu Reznor, it has no issues keeping up, or heating back up after bringing a car in.....Reznor is one of the better brands, in my opinion... blower fan is nice and quiet, what is important to me.., have had zero issues in 10 years..I keep the shop at 50 ish unless I am working, what is a couple of hours most days...turn it up to 60.. Use about 300 gallons of propane a season.. depending what I am doing...
Pete

 

[Showkey]

Have you looked into minimum temp for that heater? Im installing a 100k reznor UDAS and it says not to heat below 50 degrees due to condensation in the heat exchanger. This could rust out the exchanger and cause it to fail. This seems to be a standard for most unit heaters.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Is a standard recommendation on almost every heater.

 

[96PSD]

I have a 40x40 with a 13' ceiling. I do not have it insulated yet in the attic and I have about half of the walls insulated. I installed a Hot Dawg 75,000BTU unit last winter and it worked great. It was a NG model. I put it near a corner blowing out into the room at 45 degree angle so that it would naturally circulate around the room. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Modine-...er-w-Alumnized-Steel-Heat-Exchanger-75000-BTU

 

[toyotadriver]

Buy a 50k heater and install it. Problem solved.