Anyone have a 110v portable heater that that will come on at around 34deg and go aff at about 40deg? Most i've seen turn on at 40deg which is too high imo, and prob turn off at 55. Heating the pump house that high seems like a waste. Just wanting to keep it above freezing. Same for my shop bathroom. Thanks
pump house heater
- Thread starter trashyman
- Start date
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
Stick with 40 for a low, give yourself a little buffer and account for cold spots. Usually they go on 1 deg below the set point and off at 1 degrees above.
jack stand
Well-known member
They sell an in line temperature controlled gizmo for the kerosene rocket (slang) type heaters, I also have a little plug in and on at a little above freezing block that you'd plug your heater into. Just match/ watch the wattage rating and make sure it's greater than your heater draws.
PWC Repair
Well-known member
One of these doo-hickeys.........https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Max-1200W-Temperature-Controller-Greenhouse/dp/B01HXM5UAC/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=CETHT14BUBL&keywords=temp%2Bcontroller%2B115v%2Bplug&qid=1702842200&sprefix=temp%2Bcontroller%2B115v%2Bplug%2Caps%2C265&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
you can use the cooling side for a powered vent too!
you can use the cooling side for a powered vent too!
not sure how much savings you'll see with a 6° lower temperature , and as said, 34° is cutting it pretty close . you could always wire in an electric baseboard t-stat for a closer temp differential
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
If the pump house is well insulated, a couple of 100W incandescent bulbs running all of the time is adequate. If you only have 240V, NO NEUTRAL, wire the bulbs in SERIES and connect to the 240V.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
He didn't say where he lives - if he's in International Falls, MN or Fairbanks, AK light bulbs may not be adequate (plus, try to find them at the store anymore.)
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Now THAT is a problem !
finn
Well-known member
I have a baseboard type 110v heater sold as a pump house heater equipped with an integral thermostat. I think it’s 400 watts.
Problem is, there’s no scale on the dial, but from memory, it’s supposed to be calibrated with 40 degrees as the minimum.
I set a remote reading thermometer next to the pump and it was reading around 45 degrees when we left for the winter.
You don’t want to push things and set the well temp too close to freezing. It’s not uncommon to loose power for a period in the winter.
No snow so far this winter to insulate the well, so we’ll see if my first order of business when we return in the spring is to order a new pump.
Problem is, there’s no scale on the dial, but from memory, it’s supposed to be calibrated with 40 degrees as the minimum.
I set a remote reading thermometer next to the pump and it was reading around 45 degrees when we left for the winter.
You don’t want to push things and set the well temp too close to freezing. It’s not uncommon to loose power for a period in the winter.
No snow so far this winter to insulate the well, so we’ll see if my first order of business when we return in the spring is to order a new pump.
that's probably the most reliable set up you can get
I'm in Oregon. Going to order something like this I think. I didn't know these controllers/thermostats existed. Thanks all
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NakeDiesel
Well-known member
I'm in OK. We have weeks down to -19 for a week in the winter at times. My well house is 2x4 construction. Close cell spray foamed, so it's air tight. I use a temp controlled heat tape wrapped around the pipes and a couple loops around my pressure tank. Then insulation wraps over that and double bubble over the pressure tank.
I have sensor push out there and log the temps out there. Lowest I've seen inside is 23f once, the rest of the time has been lows right around freezing at the lowest.
20221012_155540 by NakeDiesel, on Flickr
I have sensor push out there and log the temps out there. Lowest I've seen inside is 23f once, the rest of the time has been lows right around freezing at the lowest.
20221012_155540 by NakeDiesel, on FlickrI have 2 different types of the simple controllers, this one
has two outlets, both on @ 35, off @ 45 - this one
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074HVYDV1/?tag=atomicindus08-20
is about 5 degrees warmer on both switch points but only has one outlet - I wanted a couple of spots to be a bit warmer but with 2 or 3 bulbs, it's a simple matter to add a 1-3 adapter, works fine. Both would handle a small heater.
Heatlamps were apparently exempt from the global warming idiots incandescent ban, but if you wanted a small heater I've had good luck so far with these - they have 3 heat settings, 600-900-1500 watts -
HTH... Steve
has two outlets, both on @ 35, off @ 45 - this one
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074HVYDV1/?tag=atomicindus08-20
is about 5 degrees warmer on both switch points but only has one outlet - I wanted a couple of spots to be a bit warmer but with 2 or 3 bulbs, it's a simple matter to add a 1-3 adapter, works fine. Both would handle a small heater.
Heatlamps were apparently exempt from the global warming idiots incandescent ban, but if you wanted a small heater I've had good luck so far with these - they have 3 heat settings, 600-900-1500 watts -
HTH... Steve
Most of those that still have well pump houses here, stack around the outside and use a heat lamp or 100W bulb.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Get the spray foam guys out and double, no QUADRUPLE the amount of spray foam insulation.
You pay ONCE for insulation. You pay for energy every time the thermostat calls for heat.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Both of those could be quite handy !
dcg9381
Well-known member
I had the same issue. There isn't a good heater that can do that. You need a thermostatic control. This is what I use in our pump house:
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My pump house is between the outdoor wood boiler and the house so I ran the lines through the pump house and back out to the house. I had them totally exposed at first so around 60’ of 1-1/4” pex at 180f was putting out heat. I figured that’d be plenty heat. Well now I have all the lines insulated with that cheap black pipe insulation stuff and it’s still 70f in there lol. It was close to 95f before insulating the pipes. When it gets down to -30f with a wind it’ll drop to 55-60f. I have no problem with it being warm in there as I know things won’t freeze from the time power goes out to the time I get the tractor hooked to the genny and get it all fired up.
Before I had the boiler I used a milk house heater and an inline thermostat for a torpedo style heater. I think it was set to 50f or so. A few extra dollars a year to keep it at 50f is cheap insurance as far as I’m concerned.
Before I had the boiler I used a milk house heater and an inline thermostat for a torpedo style heater. I think it was set to 50f or so. A few extra dollars a year to keep it at 50f is cheap insurance as far as I’m concerned.
That's a brilliant idea for those with outdoor wood boilers.... Sounds like a good place to hide out and take a nap.