Best choice for economical heat?

[Daren]

I am looking for others input on a heat source for my 6x12 RO room. It will have R-23 walls and R-29 ceiling. I was looking at one of those oil filled radiator types or perhaps a cheap milkhouse heater. I have seen ag thermostats that can be set to just above freezing and are designed for use with electric heaters. Any input would be welcomed!

[tuckermtn]

I have an oil filled roll around radiator that has a temperature setting. I have it set at 45 and it does the trick...

[Haynes Forest Products]

I use a oil filled for my outside laundry bldg and it never freezes. New to the RO end of things and wonder how much heat a 600 GPH CDL will put out during operation?

[maple flats]

I'm new to RO but the producer who I sold sap to when I couldn't keep up last year just used a 100 watt light. His RO room was about 5 x 12 x 6.5. Don't know the insulation but he said it was very well insulated.

[collinsmapleman2012]

probably a milkhouse heater would work best. and haynes, i dont think ROs give off any heat.

[maplecrest]

i use a 20 dollar manual ceramic heater from home depot. has all the temp settings, 3 speed fan ect, you need to keep at 45 degrees. do not want too hot in there will dry out-rings ect and make the membranes stink after a few days shut down during season.make sure you do not get digital one they do not restart after power filcker. found to be very inexpensive to run compared to the oil heaters.

[markct]

probably a milkhouse heater would work best. and haynes, i dont think ROs give off any heat.

they surely do when running, think about it you have 2 or more big electric motors running, those definatly give off alot of heat!

[Greenwich Maple Man]

i use a 20 dollar manual ceramic heater from home depot. has all the temp settings, 3 speed fan ect, you need to keep at 45 degrees. do not want too hot in there will dry out-rings ect and make the membranes stink after a few days shut down during season.make sure you do not get digital one they do not restart after power filcker. found to be very inexpensive to run compared to the oil heaters.

Any chance you are the fellow in Shrewsbury who I talked to on the phone this past season? If I'm right you were telling me about your wet/dry line system. Was just curios. I think the fellow said he worked for the RR. Might also have been dealer for Leader.

[wiam]

probably a milkhouse heater would work best. and haynes, i dont think ROs give off any heat.

My ro room is very well insulated and no heat as it is built into a bank so ground keeps it warm all winter. If I do not leave the door open when the ro is running it will get up to 80* in there.

[KenWP]

Haynes would probbably be able to heat it as he is full of hot air.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Its always good to hear from Ken. The problem not all the hot air comes from my mouth so the door needs to be open:o

[Brent]

If you're going electric don't be tricked by the ceramic and other heaters that claim to be 100% efficient. They all are except for the minute amount of energy lost in noise.

The only difference is where the heat goes
oil filled radiators it convects straight up
baseboard ditto
radiant about 80% horizontal or where ever you aim it and then 20% up
ceramic fan or element fan heaters where ever you aim them for about
3 feet then it goes up too.

I like the little ceramic fan unit because I can aim it under the RO and the heat drifts up through the rig.

[adk1]

I have a small propane rediheater that I will be using to get things warmed up (no RO)...like feed lines etc. should work nicely

[Daren]

I have read on the Internet several problems with the little milkhouse heaters. Something about a tip over protection and plastic thermometer parts detaching. I also heard the oil filled tend to be a bit more cost effective as the oil continues to heat even when the element shuts down. I was just worried that the heat won't distribute as well as a fan type ceramic heater. Too many options for my short attention span!

[Brent]

I agree that the oil would be cheaper to run. But the set up cost would be higher. In a small room even with just plywood walls and nearly nothing for insulation, a 1500 watt heater will be more than enough.
And it's not like you need to run it all winter. 3 - 4 weeks maybe.
Installation time about 1 minute flat. KISS

[Perkmapleacres]

I have used a quartz work light as a heat source to keep my RO from freezing.

[Daren]

I wish it was 2-3 weeks! Freezing temps start in late October here and continue thru April. The really cold is more like dec to march though.

[Brent]

Put the membranes in the basement until the season starts. Only a 15 minute job compared to running heat fo 5 months.

[lew]

My RO room is about 6X12 and I heat it with a single 100 watt light bulb for most of the year with a milkhouse heater as backup if/when the bulb blows. The room has 2x4 walls with 3.5 inch insulation then 1 inch styrofoam insulation board over the studs then 1/2 inch chip board sheathing inside and out. The room stays at about 45 degrees most of the winter and the milkhouse heater is set on a seperate thermostat (not the one built into the unit) to come on any lower than that. Running a light bulb doesn't burn much energy and the milkhouse heater is cheap insurance against freezeups. I also keep a couple of cans of Sterno in the RO room in case we lose power for any extended periods of time. Just light one up and in fifteen minutes it's toasty warm. Put it out and come back every couple of hours to reheat room. A pain in the a$$ but it keeps the room warm until the powers back on.

[Daren]

Thanks for the input Lew. Your room dimensions are the same as mine and I too have 3.5" batten with 1" foam board inside and out. Roof is insulated with 6" and one layer of 1" foamboard on the inside. You are also in a similar temp area so the 100w lightbulb doing the bulk of the work is music to my ears.