Temp Elec. Heat

[Thumper68]

The boiler at my uncles store went out last week, it is going to take at least a month to get a replacement for the 50+ year old converted from coal to gas boiler so they asked me to find a way to heat the 30 x 80 foot space until either they find a replacement part for the boiler or get a new boiler installed.

I'm think that a couple of ceiling mount 5000 or 7500 watt elec units with the wiring run temp straight to the panel.

For those of you that use these heaters my question would be how well they work?

Right now I put 2 1500 watt milkhouse heaters in the basement to keep the pipes from freezing along with 3 more in the store space and 1 in the bathroom.

The 3 in the retail space are keeping it at about 40F but I need it more in the 65F range.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You'd have to do a heat loss calc to determine just how many kW of heat you need, but electric heaters will do the job. Of course it will be expensive heat, and you also have to make sure the building's electrical panel has enough capacity.

I'm a little surprised it will take that long to get a new boiler installed.

 

[Rookie2]

I heated a two story house once while the plaster dried with two electric furnaces that had forced air fans.

 

[aandpdan]

You near the Twin Cities or Rochester? Check out this place:

http://onsiteco.com/portable-heating/

It's a construction heater. They have some that are vented. Basically, it's a hot air furnace that is directed into your building. Nice and quiet, no fumes.

Not sure if they rent but they may know someone that does.

 

[Thumper68]

You'd have to do a heat loss calc to determine just how many kW of heat you need, but electric heaters will do the job. Of course it will be expensive heat, and you also have to make sure the building's electrical panel has enough capacity.

I'm a little surprised it will take that long to get a new boiler installed.

I used the calc on the pex supply website it comes in between 500k and 750k for the whole building and it seems no one stocks a boiler this big 3 to 4 week lead time.

The building used to be a grocery store so lots of elec available so no worries there.

I found this one for $200.

7500 watts and talking to the guy at the store about 22k btus, I think 2 of these will do the job. 33 amps 240 v. Now I just need to figure out how to temp wire them.

Would 6-3 SOOW work, If I am putting it in just temp then I want to buy something that I can use in the future as well. total run from panel to heater would be about 100 ft for one and 50 feet for the other.

 

[casetractorfarmer]

Whats your price range and is natural gas easly avable

 

[Thumper68]

There Is nat gas, that's what the boiler runs on now, but since I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible it is a temp install until the boiler can be replaced or repaired I think Elec is the way to go, also I can keep this equip in storage when they are done with it for future use.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I was thinking a couple of unvented gas space heaters. You would have to run a couple of copper lines, or a black steel pipe and short copper connection, but that might be better heat than the electric ones.

Do you have a generator? Reason I ask is that if so, buy the SOOW in 8/4 or 6/4 so you can convert the cable to generator extension cords when done. Also could be used for welder power extension cords. More initial cost but more useful afterwards.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Assuming the store is in Minnesota, unvented heaters are not allowed.

 

[Thumper68]

Assuming the store is in Minnesota, unvented heaters are not allowed.

This is correct.

 

[Thumper68]

Well $1100 later it is done, only took about 3 hours to install the 2 heaters, granted they are not to code, but seeing as they are temporary I'm not to concerned.

The larger room got the 7500 watt and in the time it took me to install the 5000 watt unit in the smaller room it raised the temp in the big room by 10 degrees.

I did go with the 6-4 SOOW cable so I can use it later as a real heavy extension cord for something maybe a plasma cutter the Lincoln SP250 already had a 40 foot cord on it and will reach anywhere in the shop.

If anyone is wondering 150 feet of 6-4 SOOW comes to $665 with the taxes here.