will this little Kerosene Heater work? (with wicks)

17 years ago

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HT%2DPAR%2D685

DO you think this would work for a 6x8 HFGH? It says it heats up to a 7x8 GH. I get down to 20 in the months I would want to use it.

Thanks for your feedback.

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Comments (10)

oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)
17 years ago
Since the specifications of the heater give no mention of the btu output, it is not possible to determine what exactly it will be able to produce.
chris_in_iowa
17 years ago
I sense panic setting in.

Can anyone else run the numbers for heebiejeebie,

I ran it rough at 244sqft (what is the 6x8 surface area?)
Outdoor 20F
Indoor 50F
Heat loss 0.7 (4 mm (5/32") twinwall polycarbonate)

BTU required 5124BTU/h
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Mine is a lean-to (door connected to living room), it's about 12'Lx12'Wx21'H, i switched between 2 kerosene heaters. On the nights when it would only go down to 20F, i would use the 10,000 BTU heater. On medium would keep it about 45F-50F, when it would get colder I would use the 20,000BTU kero heater and on medium would put it around 50-55F, give or take depending if there is wind.. You just have to be careful, because if the GH is airtight, combustion will be poor and it will stink. Also, I was getting tired of filling up the Kerosene cans every week or so. You may want to crack open a window just so there is a transfer of oxygen. The plants weren't affected by the kerosene to my notice... but you have to try it and see. I like to open the door into the living room to let the heat in on sunny winter days but it would have the kerosene smell, it was nauseating. I just purchased a Dayton 240V heater, didn't install it yet, but i am confident it will suffice. So far the outside temps have been in the 80's and 60s-70's at night, so there is no need for heat yet!! Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.
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heebiejeebie
Original Author
17 years ago
Dear Chris,
Please stop responding to my posts.
You are being annoying and unhelpful.
stressbaby
17 years ago
Actually, this is helpful information, Heebie.

I get the same number, around 5124BTU. This, coincidentally, is almost precisely the BTU output of an inexpensive, 1500W electric heater, the kind you could get at Walmart. Do you have power out there? If so, that could be a quick solution for you.
boom_to
17 years ago
Thanks so much for the link heebiejeebie,
my hubby and I were looking for this stuff for quite a while. Personally, we think it is a great way to heat the greanhouse. It is very cost efficient comparing to using electric heater because the fuel cost us a penny. Good investment, it will be on the way to us today Hooray!
heebiejeebie
Original Author
17 years ago
stressbaby:
all of his "informatioN" is not wanted, because it is presented in an incredibly obnoxious way.
heebiejeebie
Original Author
17 years ago
Stressbaby:
Electric is VERY expensive in our area compared to other areas (go figure... right next to Niagara Falls). I'm not interested in electric.

Looking at this further I see this is probably not the heater for me, appears to unreliable.
chris_in_iowa
17 years ago
Rough guess 1300btu/h

You need four of them to get to 50F on a 20F night in a HFGH 6x8
Karen Pease
17 years ago
I'll reiterate that I really don't like those "amount of heat" you'll need calculators because they're overly simplistic. Greenhouse heat loss is a very complex issue.
chris_in_iowa
17 years ago
karenrei,

I agree, but they are really the best we have. It gets us in the right "ball park", gives some idea of the requirements.

In my case using the simple method of heat loss calculation made it quite obvious I shouldn't even bother getting a heater at all.

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will this little Kerosene Heater work? (with wicks)

Comments (10)

oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)

chris_in_iowa

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will this little Kerosene Heater work? (with wicks)

Comments (10)

oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)

chris_in_iowa

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