
Tips to buying the right greenhouse heater
A greenhouse heater is a smart investment in taking care of your
greenhouse if you live in an area that is not warm year round. Depending
on the type of heater you purchase, you can protect your plants against
disease and harm, as well as frostbite in the winter. They are not only
effective in the winter, but also in the summer by improving air
circulation when there may be no wind or just damp, humid air. A
greenhouse heater will also aid in the development of seeds and
enhancing the growth of plants. There are several different types of
greenhouse heaters on the market, so it is important to do your research
on the benefits of each type before making a decision on what is best
for your greenhouse.
The most important factors to consider are the size of your greenhouse,
the size you would want the device to be, how much space you have
available, where the ideal location for it would be, operating costs,
other expenses you may need to consider such as a ventilation system,
and how much power you will be using. It is also important to insulate
your greenhouse before installing any type of heater to keep your costs
from going up and preventing the greenhouse from trapping any heat in at
all.
The most basic heater available on the market is the paraffin greenhouse
heater. It is also the most inexpensive. Paraffin comes from crude
petroleum, which is not only very affordable, but gives off carbon
dioxide emissions which are needed by plants. These are ideal for small
greenhouses or plant sheds to keep the plants from freezing and a stable
amount of heat circulating through the house. They come in a variety of
sizes so you can find one that suits your greenhouse perfectly.
As with any device, there are downsides to using a paraffin heater.
While paraffin is an inexpensive type of fuel, it is also rarely used
and may be harder to find available for purchase, especially if the
heater requires regular use and is heating up a large greenhouse. This
type of heater is also manually controlled and will not automatically
stop pumping heat once the greenhouse is stable and heat is no longer
necessary. If a close watch is not kept on the greenhouse and use of the
heater, damage may be caused to plants.
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Another common type of greenhouse heater is the gas heater. These are cost
efficient and use gas or bottled gas, which is cost effective and easy to
obtain. However, using a gas heater also requires a very effective ventilation
system. Gas heaters emit smoke and fumes, and if too much is being let into the
greenhouse without being released shortly after, it may cause damage to plants.
Take the location of the heater into consideration before installation to
determine which spot in the greenhouse would be ideal for preventing unnecessary
fumes to flood the building.
Electric
greenhouse heaters are another popular choice because they are known to be most
effective in holding consistent temperatures within an entire greenhouse. They
work the same as a gas heater, but pose less of a risk to the plants because
they do not emit any fumes. They do not require gas or any other products, but
will require a power supply run from your house if you don't have one installed
in the greenhouse. Some heaters also come with a fan built in so they can be
useful for your greenhouse year round.
Electric
heaters do still have a downside. They are more expensive than paraffin or gas
heaters, and there have been complaints that some electric heaters tend to focus
providing more heat near the area closest to where they are installed. These are
more effective if you only have a small greenhouse or plant shed to maintain,
but if you have a large greenhouse that will take a dense amount of heat, it may
be a good idea to purchase 2 electric heaters.
Many horticulturists have a hard time determining whether or not a greenhouse
heater is worth the investment for them. It is an easy decision and can be
determined simply by looking at the weather patterns in your location. If your
temperatures are generally steady without harsh winters or dipping too low, a
heater may not be necessary at all. If you're in an area with varying weather
patterns that include snowy, icy winters, a greenhouse heater is definitely
worth the investment.
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