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orchiddude

Things you might need if using a gas heater and info about gas

13 years ago

First, let me introduce myself. I am old greenhouse grower of orchids and palm trees.I can grow just about anything and the greenhouse is a great way to help keep plants growing through the winter. Way back 10 years ago we use to have some good ole discussions here on Gardenweb about all types of greenhouse related projects. There was a great group of people here and it was very active. Not sure what happen to everyone but times changed and the activity fell and it became real slow. My passion is about heating the greenhouse with gas heat and getting the correct information to people so they can save money and time and do it right. I have been greenhousing for over 25 years.

Winter Check List

With winter coming up and people getting ready to pack up the greenhouses, I thought it would be nice to have a section about heating your greenhouse and things you might need to help with the winter cold and everything that goes with it. This is by no means the only things to have, but just ideas for those that might be new. If I have missed something, please add it to the list. The links below are just examples and the products could be bought anywhere.

1. First check your heater and make sure it runs. After it sits all summer sometimes they get cobwebs and insects in them. Clean the heater up and make sure it works. I try do do this well in advance, so if any problems come up, I have time to fix them.

2. Get a wireless thermometer. Besure to check the distance that the device will cover, some do a 100 feet and some do 300 feet. Example below, there are tons of them on the market.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006FKTT4C/ref=asc_df_B006FKTT4C2212182?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B006FKTT4C&hvpos=1o6&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=622627259644652682&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=

3. Check gas supply if using propane. Check wires and cords if using electric.

4. If you dont have a back up heat source, think about getting one. I have used Kerosene heaters before that work great and will last for 12 hours. If you electric fails and you dont have gas, these are great and work great. The Mr. Heaters listed below would work great for this. They have 2 or 3 sizes and can be hooked to grill tanks or small gas bottles.

5. Tip that helps save heat inside the greenhouse. It takes less heat to heat a full greenhouse than an empty one. So if your greenhouse it not full in the winter, then fill it up with something, if you plan to heat it. It is better to heat an object than to heat the air. The object will release the heat back, thus requiring less heat from the heat source. I found this out one year when I had way to many plants, and I packed them into the greenhouse so tight that it was hard to walk around. I had the lowest heat bill ever that year. I dont pay must for gas heat as it is now, but that was even lower. Pack'em out, and save.

6. If you are looking for a heater for your greenhouse, depending on the size of place you have, these Mr. Heaters will work great also. They have several sizes avaiable and you can get them at Walmart or Lowes.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005LEXI/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=25058352235&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1345921051977042248&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_103bz5wqsc_e

You can get these wonderful gas heaters also. I use this type for natural gas. Works great, been using them for 20 years.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UPR5TY/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=7605394059&hvpos=1o3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16721670931337884569&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B000UPR5TY

Hope this helps...I would love to hear what you do for your winter checklist.

Comments (4)

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    This is very helpful info Orchid Dude, thanks for taking the time to share it!

    Last fall was the first time I took the plunge and bought an electric heater. I don't heat the greenhouse except in the fall to tide us over during cold snaps when the greenhouse is absolutely packed with tomatoes, cucumbers and other yummy things. Even so, I only use the heater during especially cold weather. Once it gets cold for real, I reluctantly harvest everything and then switch over to winter mode, which means no heat and instead I grow cold-hardy greens and use hoops and frost blankets. Even in chilly MT that only means a 6 week hiatus from harvesting food in the GH. During those 6 weeks I am busy skiing anyway, so the break is OK.

    Your info is very helpful though - this can be a tricky time of year to figure out what to do as cold weather moves in. Thanks!

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hey Orchiddude,
    I agree thanks so much for the info. I have a few questions if you don't mind. I recently bought a small 6x8 GH & plan on using Natural Gas to heat it this winter. I have been looking at the Blue Flame heaters (199.00 at Lowe's) and have heard they are better than the infrared. Any thoughts?? I want to use NG over electric given that in the past few years I have gone thru 2 ice storms that have left me without electricity for several days. I also plan on putting the Gh right next to my house so that I can easily tap into the gas line right under my living room. Have a line that is capped off where a heater used to come thru the floor. Should be easy to ell over and come outside. I know that I will have plenty of plant materail to fill it up already...brought everything in with our first little cold snap and was overflowing on a 12x9 dropcloth...and of course love the idea of having to add more plants..haha
    I guess my only question again was with regard to Blue flame verses infrared, since it seemed you linked to one of each. I appreciate your thoughts. Thanks Rick

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hey Rick,

    Yes the blue flames are great. That is the only kind I use in the GH. I put a fan behind mine to blow the heat into the GH, just a cheap box fan. Depending on the size of your GH any fan could be used. Your idea should work great, just make sure you put a cut off valve somewhere on the line to cut gas off if needed too. The Mr. Heaters do work great for a portable heater and are a great back up. They could be used all the time for a small greenhouse.

  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Thanks Rob,
    I appreciate the input.
    My GH is only 6 x 8 & it is going to be chockfull of plants so i think I will just try the heater by itself at first...otherwise will have to try to rig something up to get electricity for a fan. Thanks again.

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