To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

What size heater?

sideways

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 21, 2010
Messages
77
Location
North Eastern Maryland
I'm relatively new to this site...it's one of the best there is and I've been reading and learning a great deal. This is my first ask for advice. I'm hoping to get your suggestions on a heating arrangement given my preference as a guide. I put up a 30x50 pole barn this summer and am now trying to finish it off (why not wait until winter right?). Some information: It is a metal building (sides and roof) with a 4" concrete floor, 2 overhead doors and will have a 10' ceiling. I plan to insulate the walls and ceiling. For the walls, I plan to use R13 bats covered with 5/8" T&G OSB (saw it in another thread). Not quite sure what to do with the ceiling. I like the look of the white metal ceiling but unsure about insulation, vapor barriers, etc....it confuses me. Anyway, for convenience, appearance, and to save floor space, I'd like to use a propane fed hanging heater or heaters. I use the garage/shop to tinker in support of my grandkids Quarter midget and go-kart racing activities...so not heavy industrial, but some general shop work. Want to keep safely warm when not in use - about 45 and be able to stoke it up quickly to be comfortable when I am in there during some evenings and more on weekends. Given this information, am I better off with a single heater or 2 heaters, and if only 1, what size....or, if 2 is better/necessary, what sizes. Would appreciate your suggestions...thanks to everyone in advance....
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

PontiacFan

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
102
General rule, cubic feet x .133, x (Temp increase) = BTU's
I've got 9000ft^3 x .133 = 1170 x 40degree increase = 46,800 BTU's

That's fairly accurate.
Google is a good resource too, as their are sites with calcualtors for ya.

Roughly 40,000 BTU's = 15,000 Watts if you're looking at electric heaters.
I'm sure they're are some other comparisons that may differ.

Also depends on what you have for the power.
Natural Gas?
Propane?
120vac?
240vac/1ph?
240vac/3ph?
460-480vac/3ph?

460vac/3ph for the motors, & Natural Gas for the flame, would probably be the most efficient long-term use.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom