Heating Options???

[uk.cats]

I'm looking for advice/suggestions on heating a 30x40 pole barn, bubble wrap insulated on all walls and roof, 15 ft. roof at the peak, 10 ft. high sidewall. So far this winter the coldest I've ever seen my barn is low 30's, obviously without any heat on at all. If I could obtain between 60-65 degrees from low 30's I'd be pleased. I've been looking at propane infrared tube heaters and electric heaters (such as King or Farhenheat). Any experienced advice and/or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

What sort of fuel do you have easiest access to?

 

[uk.cats]

Easy access is definitely electric, my whole house is electric. No natural gas in the area and if I go propane, I'll have to get a tank set which isn't the end of the world to me really. Just something to deal with.

 

[jvitez]

Start searching! There are days of reading available on this topic here. For any advice on heating you need to post your location. Insulation, vapour barrier and heating requirements are substantially different depending on your climate.

Things to consider:

1. Type of heat: forced air, overhead radiant, in floor radiant, convection.
2. Fuel source: fuel burning, electric, solar, geothermal.
3. Cost of each fuel.
4. Cost of each type of heating system. Can you do some of the installation yourself?
5.. How often to heat: continuous in winter, intermittent only when you're in the garage.

Please answer these questions and give us your location and we can give you much better advice.

 

[philjafo]

Bubble wrap insulation won't be enough. Whatever you choose to heat with good insulation will let you use a smaller one and spend less in fuel long term.

 

[uk.cats]

Start searching! There are days of reading available on this topic here. For any advice on heating you need to post your location. Insulation, vapour barrier and heating requirements are substantially different depending on your climate.

Things to consider:

1. Type of heat: forced air, overhead radiant, in floor radiant, convection.
2. Fuel source: fuel burning, electric, solar, geothermal.
3. Cost of each fuel.
4. Cost of each type of heating system. Can you do some of the installation yourself?
5.. How often to heat: continuous in winter, intermittent only when you're in the garage.

Please answer these questions and give us your location and we can give you much better advice.

I live in western Kentucky, my 30x40 bubble wrap insulated building has never been below about 32*F inside on the coldest days outside without any heat source whatsoever.
1. Forced air, overhead radiant, convection
2. Electric or propane
3. Electric is cheapest, followed by propane
4. Cost isn't reaaly an issue within reason. Installation will not be a problem.
5. Only looking to heat while I'm in my building.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

So your walls are open/unfinished? No ceiling, just open trusses? Do you have ceiling fans? You say electricity is "cheaper tham propane", what type of electrical service does the building have? 100 amp/200 amp/400 amp?

Charles

 

[philjafo]

Forced air will have the fastest recovery as in raising the temp when you go out there, available in both propane or electric. Overhead radiant heats the things in the room that in turn heat the air, you would be one of the things it heats also. It's nice when you standing under it but cold when your not. Also available in propane or electric. Convection or baseboard electric is slow to raise the temp unless you put in a lot of it. There's pros and cons to each write them down add up the costs of operation then pick one. Most heating contractors are willing to sit down with you and discuss options and write up estimates free of charge.

 

[uk.cats]

So your walls are open/unfinished? No ceiling, just open trusses? Do you have ceiling fans? You say electricity is "cheaper tham propane", what type of electrical service does the building have? 100 amp/200 amp/400 amp?

Charles

Yes walls are open/unfinished and there is no ceiling, just open trusses. I do have 2 large ceiling fans. Electric is cheaper by my calculation of cost/BTU. I have 100amp service in my building.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Yes walls are open/unfinished and there is no ceiling, just open trusses. I do have 2 large ceiling fans. Electric is cheaper by my calculation of cost/BTU. I have 100amp service in my building.

With the current wall and ceiling situation, I seriously doubt you will be able to heat with electricity, as you don't have enough service to the building to supply the necessary heaters, a few lights, air compressor, etc.

The bubble insulation is very limited in effectiveness, it keeps you above freezing and that is all, you need to raise the temp at least 30°F or more, I'll bet you need 150K btu or more to do this in this building (wild a$$ guess but probably not far off).

The following threads were by redsky49, while I have not seen him on here much lately if at all, he is an engineer if I recall, and quite knowledgeable in heating, heat loss and insulation.

Bubble insulation discussion by redsky49

Formulas and method of doing a heat loss calculation on your building by redsky49

Air infiltration discussion by redsky49

How much insulation is enough discussion by redsky49

 

[uk.cats]

Any other recommendations?

 

[tylernt]

Any other recommendations?

Two of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTAC, one on each end of the building.

Definitely need a ceiling though. Even if you don't insulate the ceiling, it will drastically reduce the amount of air volume that has to be heated.

 

[dandan111]

Close the ceiling. I would go forced air. You can install the heater and see how it works but closing that ceiling will be a big help.

 

[theoldwizard1]

"You pay for insulation once. You pay for heating fuel every time you turn on the heating device !"

Buy as much insulation as you can possible afford, and then some !

The cheapest and easiest to install would be propane, forced air. With a 30x40 you might need to ceiling mounted units or at least some duct work to spread the hot air around.

Electric resistance heat might be a bit cheaper to install, but I don't think you will have enough power with 100A service to run a couple of them (again, more than 1 is likely to be needed to heat that space). Even if you can run 2, you will not have enough reserve capacity for any large shop tools (welder, compressor, table saw, planer, etc.).

 

[DPelletier]

Based on #5 and your insulation, I would suggest a propane tube heater.

Dave