Are Wall Radiators Suitable for Heating a Greenhouse?

[delightfulbags]

Hello everyone.

I’m looking at ways to keep my greenhouse warmer during the colder months and have been considering installing a small wall radiator. I like the idea of using a radiator because it would provide steady background heat rather than relying on a portable heater that switches on and off frequently.

Has anyone here used wall-mounted radiators in a greenhouse, and how well did they work?

I’m particularly interested in whether they provide enough heat to protect plants from frost and maintain a stable temperature overnight.

Are there any issues with humidity, condensation, or positioning the radiator near plants? I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences.

 

[delightfulbags]

Hello everyone.

I’m looking at ways to keep my greenhouse warmer during the colder months and have been considering installing a small wall radiator. I like the idea of using a radiator because it would provide steady background heat rather than relying on a portable heater that switches on and off frequently.

Has anyone here used wall-mounted radiators in a greenhouse, and how well did they work?

I’m particularly interested in whether they provide enough heat to protect plants from frost and maintain a stable temperature overnight.

Are there any issues with humidity, condensation, or positioning the radiator near plants? I’ve also been looking at Radiators Ireland for suitable options and would appreciate hearing about your experiences.

thanks in advance for any help

 

[nao57]

You could test this idea with a temperature laser device. Then get readings during the coldest part of the night and at say 2 hour intervals. The coldest time of the night is around 6 to 7 AM right before the sun comes up. You would want to measure this several times to make sure the water radiator heater isn't getting close to freezing up itself; if that happens it would get damaged. Also you could use the temperature laser all around the area around the plants.

But another concern is if its really that cold would the water radiator heater be working overtime and maybe get too hot from not being able to stop heating?

I haven't tried your idea. So I don't know, but those are some of the thoughts I had to try to help you.

But there are people that do stuff like that using various means to do early spring greenhouses. In my area they were heating them but I don't know what kind of device they used for the heater, I don't think they were using a water radiator type. :S

 

[Sluggy]

I have a small electric wall mounted one in my summer house that works great. It blows out hot air. It has a 7 day timer plus a thermostat control built in which switches it on if the temperature falls under the set temperature. Should work in a green house but watch the temperature as you do not want to fry your plants or dry them out to quickly.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I don't think you would get condensation problems, they tend to happen when you have something with a flame in it.
I don't know what your lows are like, but I find it takes remarkably little heat to stop my greenhouse actually freezing. I started with a candle under a large, inverted, flower pot, lots of condensation, then added a 'chimney', a length of copper pipe from the hole in the flower pot to a hole in the roof, condensation problem solved. Candles are expensie and I now use a small oil lamp, that's enough to stop it freezing in a small 8' x 6' greenhouse even on pretty cold night, though I tend to move the tender stuff away from the walls.

 

[big rockpile]

I’m using Mr.Heater Propane and have not had a problem with condensation. Now if it stays cold enough the Exhaust Fan to run I’ll kick it it just to be safe.

My only problem was my strong Summer Fans would blow the pilot light out so I put in smaller fans.

big rockpile

 

[Sluggy]

You could also try a small paraffin heater. Add a small amount of water to the paraffin and it does not smell. A trick I was told when I had a paraffin cooker on my yacht and it worked as I did not want gas aboard.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

My only problem was my strong Summer Fans would blow the pilot light out so I put in smaller fans.

That seems like the most expensive solution, and the most work, couldn't you have put a wind shield around the pilot, or even turned it off for the summer?