Heating Up A Greenhouse | Best Green Houses

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Heating Up A Greenhouse


Certain geographical locations experience climatic extremes in terms of temperature. In these

conditions, many plant species are unable to survive, prompting farmers to practice crop

rotation. As a result, crops appear in the market during specific seasons. Since there is demand

for cash crops throughout the year, large amounts of crops have to be imported and transported

from other climatic locations, leading to rise in prices during offseason. However, to overcome

this problem, researchers have come up with the idea of growing them in greenhouses

equipped with heaters. Nevertheless, heaters are expensive devices and one must choose the

best option available, depending upon the type of crop, the specific requirements of the crop

and the weather conditions of the locality.

Greenhouse heaters typically use 1.8-4.8 Watts of energy, depending upon the volume of air

being heated inside the greenhouse. For larger sized greenhouses, several heaters may be

needed. However, the higher price during off seasons is likely to offset their running cost.

Moreover, these products would certainly compete well against imported ones, since they are

likely to be fresh products than their imported counter parts, which usually travel long distances

to reach the market.

Types of greenhouse heaters

There are various types of greenhouse heaters that are suitable for greenhouse. They are

mostly classified based on the type of fuel they consume. While purchasing a heater, you must

be sure there is ready access to the type of input your selected heater requires. Based on the

criterion of fuel type, the various options available include:

1. Electric heaters

These heaters are best suited for amateur hobbyists since they do not discharge effluents and

are sake to use even when left unmonitored during night time. Furthermore, they are not bulky,

and an be installed on the ground or can suspended from the ceiling.

2. Gas heaters

These heaters are fueled by natural gas propane. Since flue gas is produced from them, proper

ventilation is required for complete combustion. Without proper ventilation, their use can be

dangerous since incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide, which is poisonous for

both humans as well as plants. These heaters can be costly if you do not have a cheap source

of natural gas in your greenhouse.

3. Paraffin heaters

As in the case of gas heaters, paraffin heaters emit smoke and thus require a smoke stack.

They also require a reliable source of fuel for their operation to be economical.

4. Coal heaters

Similar to other non-renewable fuel heaters, these heaters require a reliable supply of coal to

continue operation, as well as proper ventilation for air supply as well as expulsion of flue gases.

Important consideration

For a heater to be effective, the greenhouse must be properly insulated for the heat to remain

inside its enclosure. While 100% insulation is impossible, efforts must be made to minimize heat

loss, otherwise the cost of fuel is likely to erode the profitability of your venture. For best results,

the expert advise must be sought in order to acquire the most suitable heater for your

greenhouse. Since it is a major investment, proper homework must be done before making the

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