Greenhouse insulation - part 3 - heating

[Ralf]

The winter is almost over and the heating period also. So let me quick explain how I handle this.
After the insulation is done will the heating equipment installed.

15.JPG (42.47 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

1 = the propane heater warmed up the air and it ascends up to the roof
2 = a ventilator blow the warm air through a hose to the opposite side of the greenhouse
3 = the end of the hose where the warm air comes out
4 = the out blown air will sucked into a dehumidifier
5 = the dehumidifier blows the dried air in direction to the propane heater

So it develops a closed circulation. (I hope so.)

6 = is the control system for a heating wire, it is on the tables installed

19.JPG (197.51 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

20.JPG (209.13 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

Therewith is the possibility to adjust the heat from below the pots.

16.JPG (36.78 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

2 = a ventilator blow the warm air through a hose to the opposite side of the greenhouse
3 = the end of the hose where the warm air comes out
4 = the out blown air will sucked into a dehumidifier
7 = is a electrical fan heater as backup for the propane heater, its temperatur is somewhat lower adjust than the propane heater
so it only works if the propane heater has a failure

the ventilator with hose

18.JPG (167.53 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

17.JPG (198.53 KiB) Viewed 2973 times

It seems to be very complex but it's a efficient way to keep the plants in the greenhouse during the winter.
It lasted a long time to find the best configuration for that, anyway the time wasn't wasted.

"Greenhouse insulation - part 1 - outside"
"Greenhouse insulation - part 2 - inside"

[gemhunter178]

As long as your setup works and your plants stay dry, then it's a good setup (provided operation doesn't break the bank) !

[CactusFanDan]

A very elaborate method! Evidently it gives good results, so all is good.

[Tiggy]

Very impressive, and can't see why it shouldn't work. How big is your greenhouse Ralf? 'm you have probaly mentioned it on the earlier posts but can't remember.

Susi

[Ralf]

Thanks for your comments!

Susi, the greenhouse is rather small. It's only 2x4 m (6.5x13.1 ft).
In that case the heating costs aren't too much. Because of that I've tried to get the best efficiency thereof.

[Sharpy]

Ralf, Thanks for this.

Question on the heat cable. My future GHs will be short but long. 3' tall x 30' long x 4' deep with a corrugated roof. The benches will be wooden slats. I was planning on adding heat cable under the slats and wrapping the outside with bubble wrap. Will the heat cable be able to do the job on its own, in that type of situation? I have no clue how much the cable can do on its own.

Thanks

[daiv]

Ralf,
Each of your posts are great alone, but together, it is really a wonderful resource for everyone!

I only heat mine in the late spring/early fall, but I definitely have a problem with all the heat going to the roof! Your ventilator system is very good and I think I really need to devise something like that too.

[Ralf]

Doug, I can hardly imagine that you need any kind of heating in Florida.
Anyway, it depends on what you want to do with a heat cable. If you want to place it under the slats, you only warm the pots above and not the air. If I understood right.
To warm the air in a greenhouse it is only partly recommendable. Therefor it have to be hanging free in the air.
On the other hand you don't have any air movement to spread the heat in the greenhouse. At that point is a fan heater a better choise.
Also the heat power of that cable should be too weak to get satisfying results.

Daiv, thanks for your kind words!
One word again to the ventilator-hose combination. That is only for the heating season. Outside of that time is the hose removed and the
ventilator runs without. It's very important to get air movement so close to the roof for the plants at this location.
Without that they would be overheat and get damages thereof.

[iann]

The lengths we go to for our plants

[Sharpy]

Thanks Ralf, and yes you got the right idea of what I was asking.

Every winter is different down here. This year I believe we only had aobut 3 days under 40F. But some years we will get a couple actual freezes.

Just want a plan in place for when those days come along.

Thanks for the input!