How to Heat a Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a great way to maintain a garden and have a green spot in your household all year long. However, keeping a greenhouse means that you need to monitor the heat within the greenhouse at all times. Here’s how to heat a greenhouse and how you can maintain its temperature.
Calculations and Considerations
Constructing a greenhouse means a couple of calculations and considerations. These include:
The types of plants you intend to keep in the greenhouse and the temperature they require.
The material you intend to use on your greenhouse.
The area of your greenhouse.
The highest temperature to be maintained inside the greenhouse and the minimum outside night temperature.
The conduction heat loss factor
Coal, Oil and Gas
The most commonly used sources of energy for heating greenhouses are coal, oil and gas. They are also the cheapest sources of energy available anywhere. When using these energy sources, your greenhouse must also be installed with vents to avoid toxic fumes.
With gas units, heat is vented typically using polyethylene vent tubes. These tubes are attached near the heater and they inflate when the blower fan is turned on. The heat is then forced through the tube and into the greenhouse through the holes in the vent tubes.
Under Pot Heating System
In this system, water is heated using a modified hot water heater which then pumped through a tubing system mounted to the bench. The heat radiated will be absorbed by the pots and placed directly on them. Direct heating on the pots spells efficient heat usage and therefore, reduced energy costs.
Temperature Controls
The devices used to sense and monitor the temperature within the greenhouse should be placed at the same level as the plants. Your should also have enough thermostats appropriate for the area of the greenhouse.
Avoid placing your thermostat or temperature monitors in the direct path of the sun. This will give you inaccurate readings. The ideal placing for them should be facing North or in a protected place. A small fan that will circulate air over the thermostat is also recommended.