heating shed

logan1881

my small shed will be insulated. i need to keep water from freezing and am wandering if a 150 watt bulb would be good enough? the shed is 4x4 7'tall on a croncrete pad. if the bulb will not work well what other choices do i have? an electric space heater w/ thermostat/timer?

Scuba_Dave

How much insulation are you putting in the walls, floor & ceiling ?

Billy_Bob

I would say try it and keep an eye on the temperature inside the shed as well as the outside temperature.

If it never gets near freezing no matter how cold it gets, then fine. Or if it gets near freezing inside the shed at a certain extra low temperature, then add another bulb or space heater if it is going to be extra cold.

And if it is *really* important that it never get below freezing, might want to use two bulbs for in case one burns out.

Scuba_Dave

Here's a pic of an insulated box to protect banana plants
Located in Seattle WA, has survived to -40
He uses (3) 100w bulbs, I think using R10 2" thick rigid foam

I would use (2) 100w or 75w bulbs instead of (1) 150w

logan1881

i plan on insulating the walls with 2x4 insulation same with the ceiling. i may place 2" foam under the slab and i will use tuff stuff in the trouble areas. will i need to provide air flow or will the imperfections in my insulation (the door seems) be good enough for ventilation?

J. V.

The make a heating cable/tape that looks very similar to Romex. You just Ty-Rap it to the bottom of the pipes and plug it into any wall socket. The pipes will not freeze. If it's extremely cold where you live, you can wrap the heat cable around the pipes. It's for plastic or metal pipes.

You will need to look in an industrial catalog or web site. Grainger or McMaster Carr should carry the cable and any parts you require.

The advantage of the cable is you are only keeping the pipes from freezing, not heating the shed. This saves energy and cost.

logan1881

thank you for the tip j.v. i am concerned about not only pipes but also large tanks that make up the chlorination system. water flow may keep tanks from freezing but durring the night and trips away the tanks will be at a stand still. i may insulate the pipes with pipe tubes also. i really want to leave nothing to chance

logan1881

do you think that a plug in radiant heater would do a good job? would this use more energy? i found them for$20 and up

frenchelectrican

The other choice you can do is get the pumphouse baseboard heater some big box store may have this on hand otherwise you can get a standard baseboard heater on 240 volt verison.

Typically they are about 500 watts but they will included the thermosat { some don't so check it out }

Merci,Marc

logan1881

the upside to this would be that it would not draw electricity all the time like a light bulb would right? i dont know about the 240. can the pumphouse version plug into a reg. outlet?

Scuba_Dave

NO a 240v will not plug into a 120v receptacle

logan1881

i am trying to heat a shed that will contain my water chlorination system. i plan on insulating it with 2x4 R13 in the walls and ceiling. i hope to heat this area (4'x4' 7'high) with 2 light bulbs or a small radiant heater. should i also insulate with 1" or 2" rigid board or will the fiberglass be enough? which heat source sounds the best? i am putting in an outlet for the water system so i will have power available for a heater. if the light bulbs will work should i use two on 1 switch or have two on differant switches . i ask because if the heat goes off than my water system and tanks will freeze. is there a product that i can put on the slab that will hold heat in? will i have to insulate the bottom and sides of the slab? i would think so. if there are any other ideas please comment. if i am way off track with my ideas please be brutally hones, my buisness is concrete not heating and electrical. will this shed need a lot of air flow or can i build it like a pill box? the tighter the better i think= less energy to heat.

Scuba_Dave

Please do not start multiple threads on the same issue
Thank you

2 Threads merged

logan1881

sorry dave just wanted a diff group of people to see my questions, and maybe get diff answers more feedback gives me more options and a bettor product.

beenthere

Will chlorine eat concrete? if so, you need fresh air.

2" insulation under the slab. perimeter insulation.
Then 2 small electric baseboard heaters(500 watts each). 1 set to come on at 35, the other at 30.

Means you need a 240 line to the shed.