LP heater question

[ohanahana]

thank you guys for sharing your experience/input. my husband and i shopped this morning for some kind of heater and then decided to think about it some more--i thought i wanted the propane with the attachment on top. our greenhouse is ventilated on top--all around--it's called "unfinished boxing"--i'm not sure that will be good enough ventilation or, maybe too much?--he's thinking kerosene for heating--i'm thinking electric space heater--our gh is only 168 sq.ft. what we did end up buying was a $150.00 turkey cooker--maybe we can use that!!!

[nancy]

Originally Posted by ohanahana

thank you guys for sharing your experience/input. my husband and i shopped this morning for some kind of heater and then decided to think about it some more--i thought i wanted the propane with the attachment on top. our greenhouse is ventilated on top--all around--it's called "unfinished boxing"--i'm not sure that will be good enough ventilation or, maybe too much?--he's thinking kerosene for heating--i'm thinking electric space heater--our gh is only 168 sq.ft. what we did end up buying was a $150.00 turkey cooker--maybe we can use that!!!

I did end up using the LP (thing that attaches to the top of a propane tank used usually for the BBQ) in a shed full of tropicals a few times last winter - it is only 6x8, so in the morning the automatic vent was WIDE open and it was very sauna-like. Kind of overkill, when I just wanted to keep them at 35F when the outside temp got to 28 or so...
I keep using a little electric space heater in the glasshouse. Had been using one ($10 @ Lowe's) that you simply turn 'ON', but hit my neighbor's yard sale and got a much sweeter one with a thermostat, so when you get to the desirable temp, you hit the switch, and it comes on to maintain that temp. So my glasshouse lows have been just about 59F, which is pretty good for the general population.
I have a few species Dendrobiums that typically get winter temps into the mid-30's, so I have those few in a crate, and put them in the shed on the coolish nights, and leave them out the rest of the time.
Nope, nothing anal about me!
Regards - Nancy in dreary, rainy south Louisiana

[BikerDoc5968]

I use the same heater that Al mentioned; his might be the propane version. I use natural gas to heat my 120 sq. ft. GH and this will be the 3rd cold winter with no problems. The plants do just fine and if I want to kick up the heat to 85 deg this little puppy will do it and not flicker its flame!!!! Rated at 20,000 BTu's it would comfortably heat a space twice as large. I do have an electric heater as backup but it rarely turns on ... just as well because electric heat is major expensive. If you can run a gas line into your GH, natural gas would be my preference because there are no tanks to replace.

[ohanahana]

yes--rainy rainy rainy louisiana! weather people said it would stop this morning, but it's night and rain is STILL coming down and coach for LSU displayed inexPRESSible inability! i think he PLANNED to lose tonight!

back to topic--yes, i think i will, as you are, use an electric heater that with thermostat that can be adjusted. i'm thinking 45-50 degrees will be good enough "for the general population" too, so i won't worry about it until we start getting the low 30's.

bikerdoc--we just spent $150.00 on a turkey cooker--the heater you and al use costs about $200.00--you should have said something earlier....


thank you all very much--glad for the help

[BikerDoc5968]

Originally Posted by ohanahana

bikerdoc--we just spent $150.00 on a turkey cooker--the heater you and al use costs about $200.00--you should have said something earlier....


thank you all very much--glad for the help

Sorry, but I got out of this thread way back when... I have posted to another thread of similar content and had pictures of my setup.... anyway, sorry that I've been a day late....

[ohanahana]

bikerdoc--i hope you see i wasn't serious at all, ok? except for the part about appreciating feedback--! i surely do appreciate everyone's help. and i'll try to find your photos...we're really just "winging" it here and learning as we go

[BikerDoc5968]

Originally Posted by ohanahana

bikerdoc--i hope you see i wasn't serious at all, ok? except for the part about appreciating feedback--! i surely do appreciate everyone's help. and i'll try to find your photos...we're really just "winging" it here and learning as we go

Not to worry.... I understand your situation... 'cause I was there and didn't have this wonderful resource to help me. This is how the G/H looks today. The gas heater is centered and the red box is the 220W electric backup. It came with the G/H but electric is too costly so I use it as backup and set the thermostat to about 50 deg. You can find electric units that are 110W. Both the gas and electric have their own fans to circulate the heat and I have an additional fan to help keep the heat from going to the top pitch of the G/H.

[nancy]

Hey Doc -
You have a *real* greenhouse with *real* temperature control! I think what ohanahana and I (in mid- to south Louisiana) were mulling around looking for was something reasonably cheap, easy and dependable for the kinds of winters we have. You would probably consider us whiny sissies...for example, our latest, greatest snowfall was 12/10/08. The entire city was out before dawn with cameras. The previous snow: 2/7/88 - ditto the cameras.
We are renowned for turning on the A/C for Thanksgiving and Christmas so we can light the fireplace, because we are in shorts and sandals.
My winter lows are generally 40-ish, but there are occasional frosts - and that's what we need the heat for. Most of the time, no. And we often get temps in the 80's (and even close to 90) in winter.
I know, it sounds like paradise.
Cheers - Nancy

[ohanahana]

bikerdoc--your gh is beautiful!! i remember seeing your setup earlier and it's looking real good now! thank you thank you for your help.

and nancy, thank you for perfectly describing our usual Thanksgiving and Christmas attire we may be a little cooler this year!

yes, i'm really looking for something to take the chill off the occasional low 30's temps. i was interested in the propane system, until i saw your post describing your greenhouse as a sauna! i'll go with the little space heater too.

thank you guys

[Akhenaten]

BikerDoc5968, nice greenhouse
What average temperatures did you have in 3 last winter?
I have dreem to constract greenhouse, but our winter is very strong some weeks we have about -50,8 F (yes Fahrenheit), usualy -25,6 F.