Greenhouse Heaters  HOME

Gas Greenhouse Heaters      Forced Air Heaters

Custom Search

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.
 

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.