greenhouse heating

I have current;y got a paraffin heater in the greenhouse, which i put on when it is frosty. But it is costing a lot of money - sometimes 20 pounds a week. Is their a more economical way to use the paraffin. Also, does anyone know of somewhere in cumbria which supplies larger amounts of paraffin as i currently get it from the garage? also i cannot keep it off on 'light' frosts as last time the whole inside of the greenhouse froze up along with some plants

thanks

 

�£20 a week Gardenguru, It doesen't cost me that much to heat my house.. By the way Welcome to GC..

 

GG that sounds like a lot of money. I have a 10' by 8' summerhouse that I use to overwinter plants. I kept it frost free last winter with an electric heater, at a cost of �£1 for the whole winter. I am not suggesting electricity is cheaper, its just that with a thermostat the heating was only ever on when it was needed.

Try using a max/min thermometer to measure what is happening. I have an electronic one that measures the temperatures both inside and out. What is the objective? Is it just to keep it frost free, or is it to keep it at a higher temperature than that? When it is freezing outside I want the min temperature in my shed to be about +1C. If it was +5C it would be using much more heat unneccessarily. You sound as if your heater is set too high.

If you insulate your greenhouse, it will need less heat. My shed has a complete glass front, but the rest is mostly wood, which is a good insulator. I have also covered the entire surface inside with bubble wrap - so I have effectively double glazing. Its the combination of no unnecessarily high temperatures and insulation that allows my shed to cost me so little to heat.

Mind you, the seperate thermostat and the power meter to moniter the heat used, cost far more. :D

 

well im afraid it cost �£5 for a white container full at the garage, (actually it is �£15 max) and i can get through 3 a week!!

also, my greenhouse is quite a distance from my house,and there is no where to plug it in!

 

Gardenguru, what heater are you using, you shouldn`t be using more than a gallon a week.

 

Apologies if I am wrong but maybe you arent setting the heater up correctly. I use mine constantly and only use a gallon of paraffin a week.....

 

I agree with you, Wilroda, also, Gardenguru, is your greenhouse insulated?

 

i use a paresene heater with two chimneys. My greenhouse is not insualted. I could have opted for the plastic-type 'glass'. but this was really expensive so i didnt get it. i think it would have however been a wise investment :(

dont worry, it is only maybe once in ablue moon my heater is on constantly.

what type of insulation should i use?

bubblewrap sounds hard to put on. It may fall off.

 

Bubble wrap it wonderful! invest in a large roll and it will do you for years.
You can buy clips to attach it to the inside of the greenhouse which work great. I use a long pole attached at the point of the eaves and drape the wrap over it then clip it in place.
I have taken it off now and have a glass 8x6 greenhouse - still only use a gallon of parrafin a week though.

 

G G Buble insulation it keeps your greenhouse warm in winter and act as shading in summer. It is a very good investment. Wilroda, why take the bubble down? It works all year round.

 

aha.....daitheplant.....my greenhouse needs all the light it can get in the spring/summer thats why i take the wrap down.Its not in an ideal spot, tucked into a corner so i dont need shading!

 

We have just moved to a house with a large conservatory, 5 meters by 3.75 metres or 16 feet by 8 feet!

My wife wishes to store her pot plants in here for the winter, which means a minimum temperature of 8 C.

Any thoughts on heating, she doesn't want bubble wrap!!