Workshop heating in winter

[Chriscb]

Morning,
I have a question about keeping a workshop above freezing during cold winter nights. Let me explain - during the day the workshops are fair warm - between 10c and 13c, when occupied, but at night the temperature can fall below freezing. I move everything out that might complain about the cold - oils and such like. I have been using a greenhouse paraffin heater that does keep the chill off, but am I being overly cautious? I tend to wipe down every metal surface (lathe bed, band saw bed et al) most mornings as paraffin produces water as a consequence of combustion. What's the common experience (for those of the Northern Hemisphere)?

Thanks.
Chriscb

 

[pittswood]

Hi Chris,
Don't use paraffin or any gas heating fire, it only gives off water, as you well know. Never mind the northern area, here in Wales it's been bloody cold for the last week and a half. I have a timer/temp controlled 2.5 Kw oil radiator. It comes on at 7am to 8am and again at 5pm to 6pm. If it's needed during the night, I can control it to come on during the night at approximately 3-4am. I find this the best way for me and I have not had any frost of freeze up in my shed. Just one more thing to say about my shed, It does have insulation on the floor, 4 inches thick, in the walls and in the roof, 2 inches thick and the walls finished with 6mm ply facing, even the entrance door has insulation on it of 2 inches and the door frame has rubber draft proofing all round. No draft in my shed! I did not use the costly foam stuff, but just good grade polystyrene sheets. At -7, only two nights ago, inside the shed without any heating on that night, was 13.5. But later that day, the temperature did drop to only 10 degrees, so the heating went on again.
I have never had any rusting on my lathe bed or any other of my tooling, but I do coat most of the metal with lubricating wax, every time they are put away, summer or winter.
Hope this helps,
Kelvin

 

[Dalboy]

I have an electric greenhouse heater which stays on all the time very low consumption and just enough to keep it over freezing. It has a thermostat so that once above the set temperature it turns off and the same for when it drops below a set temperature it comes on. If I need it a little warmer I just top it up with a small electric heater and turn it off when comfortable the second on I have on a timer just in case I forget to turn off the timer is set to 9am to 11am but can be over ridden if need be without altering the times

 

[Frederick]

I like most others would not use parafin in the workshop. It produces more water than you think and, as you say, not good for cast iron beds etc. Like Derek, I have (or did have until the kids boiler packed up) a 2kw oil heater set on very low to keep the air as dry as possible and maintain a heat level just above freezing. Works ok and costs just under 30p per night to run depending on the outside temperature. It does add up but I would rather keep my tools safe and well.

Regards
Frederick

 

[alpha1]

I have a variable temperature controlled electric fan heater.

 

[Phil Dart]

Have you considered a tube heater Chris? That's what I used to use in my workshop in Scotland to keep the cold at bay during the night. It was wired in to a frost-guard thermostat which I used to keep set to about 5 degrees, then it was only a matter of a boost with an electric fan heater during the day to bring the place up to a comfortable working temperature.

 

[wm460]

Hi Chris,
Never mind the northern area,
Kelvin

I live in the Northern Territory I never get this problem.

 

[21William]

I’ve been led to believe any type of heating with an open flame will produce unwanted moisture? That being the case I use an oil filled radiator and an electric fan heater. The latter works well enough in my 5m x 3m shed if I put it on a little while before I go in there.

 

[Chriscb]

Well thank you all for your suggestions for heating workshops. Seems that the preffered method is an oil filled radiator coupled with a fan heater. To that end the workshops are now being kept at around 5 degrees during the night and around 12 degrees during the day by dry heat - oil filled radiators and a couple of fan heaters. Still too early to work out accurate costs but it seems like it's around £1.75 a night and £2.10 during the daytime (if occupied). Both workshops are insulated, but not to the degree that Pittswood mentions above.

Chriscb:waver:

 

[Penpal]

I use a fan heater with black tubes,no flames.

Peter.

 

[Rod S]

Good morning from Winnipeg,

Heating a stand alone workshop is much discussed in this part of the world (-32C - wind chill -43C as I type). Several years ago I opted for an electric solution which has served me well for 5 years (Wall Mounted Electric Panel Heaters - 220 Volt Hardwired - eheat, Inc.) and this morning the temperature inside was +6C - too cold to work but nothing freezes. I'll use a supplemental fan to bring it up to 20C if I want to work. Of course, insulation is a must - 20R walls, 40R floor / ceiling and triple pane windows. We have about 6 months when heat is NOT required so if we want the best solutions. Note: The cost of heating is quite minimal and the heater is not a big draw.

Good luck with your shop and your heating issues.

Rod