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Maverick
Lover of Earwigs!




Registered: 12/18/05
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Heating a Greenhouse?
#14437901 - 05/11/11 11:27 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I've got a greenhouse that's about 5'x16', it's a raise garden bed with a hoop house over it, it's plastic, 4mm plastic. At night it averages 4-6F more than the atmospheric temperature, in day it's 10-30F warmer depending on intensity of the Nevada sun. I'm curious to an economical way to heat this. I don't know if using power is economical in such a small area, especially considering the moisture content and how enclosed it is, (electricity and water don't mix too well). Would a glass lantern of some sort work where the flame is enclosed? I don't need much of a temperature lift, but if I can get a warmer temperature going in the winters, which can reach -10F at times (Those rare nights I'm willing to use electric), averaging 20F at night in the january and february months, I'd much appreciate a greenhouse around 35-38F.
A little drunk, hhope I explained it right hehe.
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argg
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Registered: 07/20/09
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Loc: Nigeria
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: Maverick]
#14437923 - 05/11/11 11:33 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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if you can use sun to heat water then store the heat in water for night time you will save cash and the whole thing can be DIY built. Other wise a propane heater might work if you don't want electric.
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naum



Registered: 10/09/07
Posts: 4,069
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: Maverick]
#14437933 - 05/11/11 11:35 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Propane heaters are industry standard.
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argg
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: naum]
#14437963 - 05/11/11 11:41 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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geothermal is really cheap DIY and nice to add as way to get some heat. Just rent a bobcat and do work
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Maverick
Lover of Earwigs!




Registered: 12/18/05
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: argg]
#14438075 - 05/12/11 12:15 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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It's small. Do you think a 350w water heater and a large vessel of water would work? Not sure how I would manage this considering most everything is covered with living stuff... I could build it in before the winter crop though!
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argg
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: Maverick]
#14438098 - 05/12/11 12:22 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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heat the water with the sun. You get lots of sun during the winter? if you do look into that. If you grab a couple defective water heaters and do a bit of pluming and make a solar collector you should get water at boiling temps. If you don't really have the DIY spirit just a few big black jugs sitting in the sun inside the greenhouse should help take the overnight load off your heater.
Can you add a layer of plastic to the inside of the metal rails then inflate it with a small fan? I have seem some nerds do that on an aquaponics forum that I am reading right now. Maybe hit up some gardening sites and check out what other have done in you area.
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GoOnThen
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Registered: 02/06/09
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: argg]
#14438113 - 05/12/11 12:26 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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The first thing I would do is add another plastic skin you then fill the area between the two plastic skins with air provided by a computer fan. This basic form of insulation will help to stabilize the temps in the green house and if you do heat it will help to hold the heat in. This way of insulating isn't a backyard DIY idea it is used in commercial hot houses. The idea of heating with water is a cost effective way of heating on a commercial scale this done by heating an insulated tank and then pumping the hot water through pipes in the hot house. If the hot house is planted out in the ground the pipes are laid either side of the beds providing heat not only to the structure but also at ground level. If you are interested I can give you more info on the fan setup and provide pics of a commercial setup. It would take me a few days to get the photos.
Cheers Got
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Maverick
Lover of Earwigs!




Registered: 12/18/05
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: GoOnThen]
#14445489 - 05/13/11 01:18 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I had a brilliant idea. If I had a 55gal drum that was black, and had tubing that came from it and pumped under the soil of the bed, to warm the soil, as well as maybe some exposed to air, and a waterpump circulating, would this be an affective means of warming a greenhouse? You could even throw one of those 400watt agricultural water heaters in there (I happen to have one too).
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argg
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: Maverick]
#14445525 - 05/13/11 01:26 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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make sure the roots don't get to hot. I would just roll the black barrel in there so the sun would hit it all day then over night the heat would come off it by its self all slow like and shit.
flat black might absorb more rays then gloss. If I was going to add 400 watts of load I would add some lights. As long as you are not disturbing a night cycle maybe have the lights come on early morning when the barrel is cooled off a bunch. 400-1000 watt lights make a decent amount of heat and help you plants.
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fngbronco
Monkey Man



Registered: 09/26/10
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Re: Heating a Greenhouse? [Re: argg]
#14445730 - 05/13/11 02:06 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Solar panel and a space heater or water heaters in large tanks. Also look up rocket stoves, those are great.
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