home » Gardening » Heating a polycarbonate greenhouse: basic principles, features, technologies. DIY heated greenhouses. How to heat a greenhouse without gas and electricity in winter? Which heating in a polycarbonate greenhouse is more profitable?

Heating a polycarbonate greenhouse: basic principles, features, technologies. DIY heated greenhouses. How to heat a greenhouse without gas and electricity in winter? Which heating in a polycarbonate greenhouse is more profitable?

Greenhouses made of cellular polycarbonate protect vegetables and seedlings well from adverse weather conditions. This the material consists of two layers, separated by vertical stiffening ribs.

There is an air gap between the layers. The cellular structure gives the plastic high heat-insulating properties. Heating devices make it possible to operate such a greenhouse all year round.

Heating a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter

During cold months, plants lack the heat retained by the polymer material. At low temperatures, greenhouse buildings require artificial heating. For heating use:

solar energy;
furnaces and boilers of various designs;
electrical appliances;
soil heating systems;
air and water heating.

Solar energy

Long-wave radiation from the sun heats the body of the greenhouse, increasing the temperature of the air inside it. In the cold season, they are used to accumulate thermal energy. solar collectors. These devices have different sizes and design features.

How to set it up

In the solar collector, infrared radiation is converted into heat. To get maximum effect make preliminary settings for solar heating.

The collector planes are oriented to the south.
Solar panels are installed vertically or at an angle to the horizon (the angle of inclination is numerically equal to the geographic latitude of the area).
Collectors are mounted away from tall trees and walls of houses so that shadows do not fall on them.

Vertical arrangement collector has a number of advantages. If the adsorber plane is perpendicular to the ground, snow, autumn leaves and debris do not accumulate on it.

Features of solar heating

Factory solar collectors, designed exclusively for heating water in the system, make flat and vacuum. The heat exchanger of the device transfers heat to a single- or double-circuit coolant circulation system.

Photo 1. Solar collector installed on the roof of the greenhouse. Typically used as an additional heating source.

Flat consist of an adsorber that absorbs infrared radiation, transparent glass and a heat-insulating layer.
Vacuum consist of a battery of thermos pipes, inside of which there are metal tubes that receive heat and transfer it to the coolant.

Homemade collectors are boxes containing black corrugated steel sheet. The surface of the box is covered with transparent glass. Several pipes are built into the device body. The air flows by gravity into the box, heats up and exits into the greenhouse building. The air flow circulates naturally, without the help of a fan.

pros from the use of solar collectors consist of the quick payback of these structures, the reliability of the structures and a long service life ( 18-20 years old). These devices use free solar energy and heat the coolant up to 40-60 °C.

Minuses The disadvantages of solar collectors are their low efficiency during short daylight hours, constant cloudiness and low air temperatures. The heating system pipes coming from the collectors must be insulated to reduce heat loss during water transportation. This leads to additional costs.

Important! At air temperature minus 15 °C and lower operation of solar collectors ineffective.

Potbelly stove and other metal stoves

Stove heating is used to heat small and medium-sized polycarbonate greenhouses. Potbelly stoves and other metal stoves (factory and homemade) are suitable for this purpose.

Heating is produced by the heat emanating from the iron body during the combustion of firewood and other solid fuels. For heating small and medium greenhouses fit:

conventional ovens;
stoves with a long-burning fuel system.

Photo 2. Heating a greenhouse using a solid fuel stove. It is necessary to constantly monitor the availability of fuel.

Features of stove heating

Long-burning stoves have nozzles that allow air to be supplied to the middle and upper parts of the body, causing the combustible material to smolder slowly. A potbelly stove with a simple firebox quickly heats up the greenhouse, a long-burning stove generates less heat and releases it for a long time.

pros The advantages of using stoves are the ease of maintenance of these devices and the low cost of fuel.

The metal stove is easy to dismantle and remove from the greenhouse in the summer.
You can make a potbelly stove and similar devices yourself.
Any solid fuel burns in metal heaters.
Long burning furnaces burn fuel within 5-8 hours.

Minuses heating with iron stoves lies in the operating features of these devices.

The fuel in an ordinary potbelly stove burns quickly and the greenhouse cools down after a couple of hours.
The soil temperature remains low with this heating.
The greenhouse structure warms up unevenly, especially in extreme cold.
Heat is concentrated mainly under the ceiling and in the middle air layer.
A large area of greenhouse space is allocated for the iron stove.
The chimney needs cleaning 2-3 times during the winter, The ash pit is cleaned daily.

Air

Greenhouses of any size (including giant industrial ones) are heated warm air currents. This type of heating is used to heat year-round and seasonal greenhouses.

Features of air heating

Used to heat air heating and ventilation generators heat. These are gas or solid fuel boilers to which air ducts are connected.

Generators are installed on a foundation or on special supports. The air is heated from the generator heat exchanger to a temperature 50-60 °C, at the outlet of the pipes the temperature of the air mass is 15-25 °C.

The air flow enters the greenhouse through pipes and comes out evenly through special holes. Having given off heat, the air returns to the boiler for heating.

Reference. Exist three air circulation systems- recirculation, partially circulation and direct-flow.

pros Air heating consists of the ability to heat greenhouses with large areas and a high air heating rate.

For greenhouses built in regions with mild climates, only air heating is sufficient. Circulation ensures uniform heating of the entire room.
The air flow carries water condensation from the walls of the greenhouse.
Equipment (heat generator and air ducts) are cheaper than water pipes.

Minuses air heating - the high cost and complexity of gas equipment; specialists are invited to install a heating and ventilation generator. Electricity is used to operate fans that pump air.

Vodyanoye

This method is effective for growing vegetables in winter. Water heating system warms the air and soil in the most severe frosts.

Features of water heating

Installed in a greenhouse building boiler(solid fuel, gas) or homemade stove with built-in tank connected to the heating pipe system.

Water passes through a closed circuit, enters pipes and radiators, cools and returns to the heat generator.

Pipes are being laid in the middle of the greenhouse height or at floor level. Water circulation occurs naturally or forcefully using a pump. A chimney is built to remove flue gases.

Instead of radiators they are often used large diameter pipes, which give off heat for a long time and evenly.

pros water heating:

uniform heating of the greenhouse;
reliability and durability of the system;
in solid fuel boilers and stoves - the ability to burn any organic fuel.

Minuses water heating:

deposited in steel pipes calcium carbonate;
metal parts and pipes are susceptible to corrosion;
the need to periodically add water;
danger of pipe rupture due to overheating and boiling water in the heating system;
solid fuel boilers are stopped for cleaning 2-3 times a week;
chimney cleaning required several times a year.

Attention! To combat corrosion and scale, it is recommended to use plastic pipes and aluminum radiators.

Warm beds

Heating greenhouse beds from the inside allows you to obtain high-quality seedlings. To heat the soil, they place electrical cable And pipes through which warm water circulates.

Photo 3. Laying warm water-type beds in a greenhouse. Special pipes are installed through which the hot coolant flows.

Heating the soil with a cable - features of the method

The soil is heated with a special electric cable (for example, Green Agro), which is reinforced with a metal mesh and covered with plastic. The cable is laid in a sand cushion covered with a mesh (laying depth - 40 cm). The heating is regulated from the thermostat remote control, the electricity is turned off as soon as the temperature reaches 25°C.

Reference. In the "Warm Floor" system, the heating cable is laid over the entire area of the greenhouse.

pros This method of heating the soil consists of creating a stable, comfortable temperature for the root system. The combination of warming the soil and air creates ideal conditions for winter and early growing seasons.

Minuses cable use - complexity of installation, high cost of equipment, the need to attract specialists and labor, high energy consumption during constant operation of the system. If there is a power outage in winter, plants may die. The cable is sometimes chewed through by rats and moles.

Features of heating beds from the inside with water pipes

To warm the soil they lay plastic, ceramic or copper pipes, coming from the general heating system. Pipes are buried by 25 cm or carried out under the racks on which the beds are located.

Water for heating the soil comes from a solid fuel, gas, or electric boiler. The coolant temperature is set from the thermostat remote control, since it should not exceed 25 °C. The circulation of water in the pipes is forced.

pros heating ridges with warm pipes involves uniform heating of the soil.

In the case of using a gas and solid fuel boiler, the system does not depend on a power outage in the area. Heating installation is simple; you can lay the pipes yourself.

Minuses This heating method consists in the impossibility of using metal pipes, as they will quickly rust. Plastic water pipes are often damaged by moles and other animals. The heating system must be equipped with a thermostat, so only complex, expensive heating boilers can be used.

Electrical appliances

Electric heating is used to heat greenhouses. heaters and infrared heaters. Less commonly used for heating convectors and household fan heaters.

IR heaters: features of operation in greenhouses

Rays of infrared lamps like sunlight. The radiation generated by the operating device heats the soil and the plants themselves. Heaters or IR film are placed under the ceiling of the greenhouse building. For greenhouses, long-wave infrared emitters are often used. This type of heating is used if the outside temperature does not drop to extreme values.

Infrared heaters work not only from electricity, but also from gas.

pros infrared devices consist of selective heating (solid surfaces are heated, which release heat into the air). These devices quickly and evenly heat greenhouse structures; they are reliable and durable. IR heaters do not dry the air, do not create noise, and do not burn oxygen.

Photo 4. Infrared heaters in a greenhouse. The devices are installed under the roof along the entire perimeter of the greenhouse.

On to the cons This type of heating includes the high cost of devices and the dependence of heating on continuous power supply. The back side of the lamps gets very hot, which forces us to make special fastenings to separate the lamps from flammable materials.

Electric heaters for greenhouses: features of use

Electric heaters have different power and sizes. Large installations with fans are used to heat greenhouses. The heating elements of these devices are hidden under a casing; the devices are equipped with thermostats and operate in two modes. Heaters operate from a household network with voltage 220 or 380 volts. Stationary devices are placed in a specially made opening; durable stands are made for mobile heaters.

pros heating with a heater: warm air with the help of a fan evenly washes the greenhouse building, the device operates automatically and does not produce harmful emissions or fumes. The device has high efficiency, quickly heats the air and the beds on the racks.

Minuses: When there is a power outage, the temperature drops quickly. Beds made in the ground hardly warm up. If you use the device continuously, your electricity costs will be significant.

The high temperature decreases and oxygen reserves, consumed during the combustion of solid fuel and gas, are renewed.

Rate this article:

Be first!

Average rating: 0 out of 5.
Rated by: 0 readers.

In order to get a good harvest indoors all year round, it is important to take care of heating. Now there are many affordable ways to organize heating of a greenhouse in winter, which you can actually do with your own hands. The choice of option depends on the availability of fuel or thermal energy, the dimensions of the building, frame and covering materials, crops grown in the greenhouse, the structure of the beds, and the material and physical capabilities of the owner.

What to consider when choosing a heating system

When choosing a heating system for a greenhouse, consider:

climatic conditions of the region;
room dimensions;
characteristics of the crops grown;
financial opportunities.

Buleryan for air heating

Main selection criteria

In regions with moderately warm weather conditions, you can get by at the lowest cost by arranging warm beds with biofuel in the greenhouse. For these purposes, horse manure is used in combination with chopped straw, which prolongs decomposition time, or biological compost from household waste.

As backup heating, an electric cable is laid in a pipe along the greenhouse ridges or a fan heater with a thermostat is installed. The backup system provides insurance in case of short-term frosts.

Arrangement of a warm bed for a greenhouse

In areas with a temperate climate, where outdoor thermometers rarely fall below -20, it is advisable to install an electric heating system. A profitable and effective option is the use of heat pumps and infrared heaters.

Greenhouses located in areas with harsh weather, where temperatures dropping to -50 degrees are not uncommon, require increased attention to heating. For such conditions, more expensive solutions in the form of gas or water heating systems are appropriate.

Determining factors

When deciding which heating to choose for a polycarbonate greenhouse, calculate the rational distribution of heat relative to the area of the room. It makes sense to use expensive advanced technologies with mandatory professional installation in industrial complexes. You can also equip small greenhouses with your own hands.

The material from which the greenhouse is made is of great importance. Polycarbonate greenhouses require less heat generation than, for example, film greenhouses. This is due to the fact that polycarbonate acts as a heat insulator. At the same time, the film cannot withstand high temperatures, so most often you have to resort to heating the soil or warm beds.

The choice of heating scheme also depends on the crops. Cold-resistant celery, dill, and spinach will thrive with minimal soil heating and the presence of spare electric heaters. It’s more difficult with heat-loving cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes: they need a stable, comfortable microclimate, which can only be achieved thanks to a continuously operating heating system.

Combined system for industrial greenhouse

Types of heating in a greenhouse

There are several effective types of greenhouse heating. Learn more about each one, and then look at how to make some DIY heating gadgets.

Stove heating

A stove heating system will allow you to save on expensive energy resources and equipment. Its main element is a solid fuel stove or boiler that runs on briquettes, coal, firewood, and branches. To remove combustion products harmful to plants, the stove is equipped with a smoke exhaust exiting the room through the roof or walls. To heat the greenhouse as efficiently as possible, the stove is equipped with a sufficient number of radiators and pipes.

Important! Remember that the chimney must be regularly cleaned of solid gas particles accumulated during fuel combustion.

quick heating of the greenhouse;
inexpensive fuel materials;
easy installation and use;
possibility of independent production and arrangement.

non-automated heating process, the need for frequent fuel supply (there are more expensive long-burning boilers);
drying out of soil and air;
high probability of uneven heating of the area.

To prevent unnecessary drying out and death of plants, consider installing a humidification system in the greenhouse. In most cases, a large container of water is sufficient.

Homemade stove-stove

Types of solid fuel stoves

There are different designs of stoves on the market designed for heating greenhouses. The simplest one is a potbelly stove. This is an ordinary metal stove equipped with a direct chimney. Consists of an ash pan and a closed combustion chamber.

As the fuel burns, the walls of the stove heat up and fill the room with heat. To improve performance and increase low efficiency, a greenhouse oven is often equipped with a water circuit. To protect nearby beds from overheating, use a fan.

An improved potbelly stove equipped with hollow pipes through which air constantly moves during operation is known as a buleryan stove. It heats the space more evenly and does not burn growing crops.

Buleryan stove for greenhouse

A volumetric heat-intensive structure that will provide heating for the greenhouse in winter using gradual and uniform radiation of heat is a brick oven. Its size and design are chosen according to the area of the room. Such an oven may not cool down for 12 to 24 hours.

Brick oven

Rules for installing stoves:

place the stove near a cold wall on the north side;
To avoid tipping over, install the equipment on a sturdy base;
place particularly hot structural elements at a distance of at least half a meter from the polycarbonate;
When equipping a chimney with your own hands, use heat-insulated pipes.

Sawdust stove diagram

Heating with natural gas

In a gas heating system, heat is released during the combustion of gas. There are two ways to equip a polycarbonate greenhouse with gas heating in winter:

Connection to a stationary fuel supply system.
The use of gas in cylinders or gas heaters.

convenient and simple use;
quick heating of the space;
uniform distribution of warm air by heaters.

risk of fire or explosion;
excess carbon monoxide, harmful to plants.

Gas-burner

Having chosen this heating option, equip a high-quality ventilation system that will save crops when there is a lack of oxygen, the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other hazardous waste.

Electric heating

Electricity is not the cheapest source of thermal energy, so it is chosen only when there are no cheaper options for heating a polycarbonate or glass greenhouse. Electricity is used for water, air or infrared heating.

In the first option, an electric boiler is installed, which heats the coolant moving through the pipes. The pipes are laid in the ground or placed around the perimeter of the building. In regions with harsh winters, it is necessary to combine options.
Air heating with electricity is the most expensive method. In this case, heat guns are installed in the greenhouse, pumping warm air.
Infrared systems are the most economical heating option. Infrared lamps are hung on the ceiling of a greenhouse building. Such heaters do not heat the air, but direct their heat to the plants. This heat is similar to that of the sun and is as safe as possible for crops. Lamps can be installed only in the desired areas to create a suitable microclimate for different plants.
Infrared heating film is ideal for heating the soil in garden beds. The film is installed in the soil only in the right places.

Water heating

The main element of a water heating system is an electric, gas or solid fuel boiler. The heat source in the system is a heated liquid passing through pipes laid under the floor or inside the greenhouse. Circulating through closed pipes, the coolant releases heat into the room and then heats up again in the boiler.

Ease of use;
stable maintenance of the desired temperature;
simultaneous heating of soil and air;
safety;
no negative impact on the humidity level in the room.

Water pipes for heating beds

the difficulty of installing pipes with your own hands;
quite high costs.

Interesting! The polycarbonate coating does not collect condensation on the walls. All excess moisture formed in the air during operation of the water heating system enters the soil and additionally moistens it.

Typical water heating circuit

The coolant circulation in the system can be forced or natural. The first option is preferable: it uses a pump, the liquid moves through the pipes faster, and it is less likely to freeze.

It is better to heat greenhouses using the water method rather than using ordinary water. Buy a special non-freezing antifreeze for this.

When laying pipes under the soil, choose plastic products. They are not prone to corrosion, do not come into contact with the soil, are lightweight and inexpensive.

Boiler for water heating system

Heating from solar panels

Heating a polycarbonate greenhouse with solar panels is the most profitable way from a financial point of view. It is suitable for regions where the temperature rarely drops below zero.

The functions of solar batteries are:

reflective materials used to line the walls of the greenhouse;
black barrels filled with water;
a system of water pipes fixed in a transparent casing and interacting with a water heating system;
a trench with a heat-reflecting surface at the bottom.

low costs;
simple and affordable installation;
safety.

lack of ability to regulate temperature;
insufficient efficiency on frosty and cloudy days.

solar collector

When used in conjunction with other systems, the solar heating method will significantly reduce overall heating costs. It will not be possible to completely solve the problem of how to heat a greenhouse in winter. It should only be used as an addition to the main heating system.

How to choose a boiler for a greenhouse

You can effectively heat a greenhouse in winter using three main types of boilers:

Solid fuel. Type of fuel - firewood, sawdust, briquettes, coal, pressed pellets. Efficiency – 75 percent.
Gas. Type of fuel – natural or liquefied gas. Efficiency – up to 98 percent.
Electrical. Power source – electrical network. Efficiency – 95-97 percent.

When choosing a boiler for a greenhouse, two nuances are important: the area of the room and the purchase budget.

Gas and electric boilers are installed in small rooms with an area of no more than 15-20 square meters. m. Most often they are used when installing other equipment is impossible. The reason for this is the high cost of heat sources and unsafe use.

Solid fuel wood, combined and pellet boilers have more advantages in this area. Long-burning furnaces are especially preferred. Their operating principle is based on smoldering rather than combustion of materials. Such ovens are equipped with a controlled air supply system.

Combined boilers are “omnivorous”; they operate using firewood, briquettes and various waste materials. Pellet machines have the ability to fully automate their work. They operate on pressed pellets of wood, straw, and wood processing waste.

Important! Solid fuel boilers are not suitable for country-type premises. A greenhouse heated in winter in this way requires frequent presence and regular supply of firewood.

Solid fuel boiler

DIY greenhouse heating system

There are many ways to carry out heating without using the services of professional craftsmen. You can build a stove, water or air system from simple available materials.

Laying pipes in the ground

Greenhouse heating schemes

If you still can’t decide how to arrange winter greenhouses with heating, study different schemes. Perhaps they will help you choose the best option.

Solar battery equipment

Anyone can build a primitive solar heating system with their own hands:

Dig a shallow trench and cover its bottom with any insulating material.
Cover the thermal insulation covering with plastic film.
Place wet sand with coarse grains on top.
Cover everything with a layer of soil.

Solar battery

Such a simple structure will help maintain the temperature using accumulated solar energy.

It is better to entrust the installation of full-fledged solar panels to professionals. Batteries with different capacities are available for sale. It is important to correctly calculate their number, taking into account the area and height of the greenhouse.

Furnace heating installation

The stove heating system is easy to install, which means that you can handle its equipment yourself.

Make a foundation in the greenhouse vestibule and lay out a brick firebox.
Install a chimney along the entire length of the greenhouse.
Bring the chimney out from the other side of the greenhouse.

Modern brick oven

Find a metal barrel of the appropriate size. Paint it from the inside (it is advisable to apply two layers of paint).
Make several internal holes. In the future, you will connect a faucet, chimney, and expansion tank to them.
Using sheets of metal and a welding machine, make the furnace parts and install them in the barrel.
Attach a part of the chimney pipe to one of the openings in the barrel. The total length of the chimney pipe should be about five meters.
Install an expansion tank of the required volume, purchased in a store or welded yourself.
Distribute the pipes over the entire area, placing them on the ground at a distance of 1.2 meters.
Install a special pump that will circulate water.
Check the coupling points of the parts for leaks by turning on the fluid supply.

Stove heating with chimney

Boiler for a greenhouse from a gas cylinder

You can make heating for the greenhouse yourself by using an empty gas cylinder. To do this, it must be carefully prepared in advance. Unscrew the valve, rinse the container with water and ventilate for several weeks. Before starting work, burn the paint in a fire.

A boiler for a greenhouse can be built from a regular gas cylinder

To build a boiler for a greenhouse from a gas cylinder with your own hands, you will need:

metal grill;
door handles;
coil;
valve;
loops.

Gas cylinder cut in half

Having prepared the necessary materials, proceed step by step:

After making sure that the cylinder is empty, cut it in half with a grinder to make a body and an ash box.
Measure, cut and weld the grille. It should fit inside the cylinder, dividing it into a combustion chamber and an ash pan.
Take measurements on a piece of steel and cut out the front wall. Cut off the third part of the resulting circle and make an ash pan door from it, weld a handle to it.
From the second half of the cylinder, make a semicircle that will serve as the bottom of the drawer.
Stepping back a little from the hole for the box, make a large opening in the shape of a rectangle. Build doors from the cut out part, weld hinges, a latch, and a handle.
Having made markings and drilled two holes on top of the boiler, weld the coil and bring out the ends of the pipe.
Make a hole in the back of the structure, near the top. Attach the pipe to which the chimney will be connected. Weld the chimney pipe so that it can pass through the entire room at a slight angle. Exit the chimney from the back of the room. Connect it to the boiler pipe.
Attach metal pipes to the outer ends of the coil. Connect the pump and expansion tank.
Build a foundation of concrete or brick and install the boiler on it.
Equip the structure with stable legs, making them from reinforcement.

Video: DIY water heating

It is not difficult to build a water heating greenhouse with your own hands. See the video for examples of organizing various schemes.

Video: How to make heating in a greenhouse with your own hands

Video: Potbelly stove as a water boiler

Video: Electric water heating

Provided that the selected heating system is installed correctly, the productivity of the greenhouse will increase by 1.5-2 times. In a heated greenhouse with a favorable microclimate, crops will bear fruit regardless of the weather.

In central Russia, it is simply impossible to get a good harvest of heat-loving crops without greenhouses. If they are also heated, then from the beginning of March you can plant seedlings of any plants in it, and also get early greens for the table. Moreover, installing most greenhouse heating systems with your own hands is quite simple and does not require special skills.

Which method should you choose?

Read also: Do-it-yourself drip irrigation device in a greenhouse: from a barrel, a plastic bottle, or even an automatic system. For tomatoes and other crops (Photo & Video)+Reviews

It all depends on the goals, type of greenhouse, type of crops, as well as financial capabilities. If you plan to grow vegetables or flowers in it throughout the year, you will need a fully insulated building, which can be heated using infrared electric ceiling heaters, underfloor heating or a water circuit. To heat the greenhouse only in spring and autumn, it is enough to install a stove-stove, a gas gun or put biofuel (manure or plant residues) in the soil.

When calculating the required amount of heat, it is necessary to take into account that its consumption depends on the degree of insulation of the room and the ratio of the wall area to the soil area.

It makes no sense to heat a room that is blown from all sides. Therefore, before proceeding with the installation of heating a greenhouse in winter, it should be thoroughly insulated. For this you will need:

This heating method ensures uniform heating of both soil and air. Another advantage is the creation of an optimal microclimate in the room - the air with such a heating system does not dry out. Heating in this way is possible using firewood, peat, gas, coal or even waste automobile fuel. Therefore, you can choose the most optimal option, taking into account the cost of energy in a particular region.

How to make water heating of a greenhouse? This heating system consists of:

boiler or furnace
expansion tank, serving to store water
radiators
pipeline
pump: since lowering the heating boiler in a greenhouse below ground level is quite problematic, water circulation through the pipes is forced
chimney

Even if there is a circular pump, the pipeline in such a system is best positioned at a slight inclination. In this case, even if the pumping system temporarily fails, the heating will continue to function.

To calculate the thermal power of radiators, the formula is used:

P = S * 120 ,

S– area of the greenhouse (with a standard wall height of 3 m, calculation of the volume of the room is not required).

For example, to heat a greenhouse measuring 3x8 m, its area will be 3 * 8 = 24 square meters. m. Find the required thermal power: 24 * 120 = 2880 W. You can clarify this parameter for one radiator section in the data sheet.

Stove heating

Read also: Blind area around the house: types, structure, schematic drawings, instructions on how to do it yourself correctly (30 Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Stove heating of a greenhouse

To ensure that heating costs do not “eat up” the lion’s share of the profit from the sale of grown products, when choosing the type of boiler or stove, you should take into account the cost of fuel in a particular region of residence. Also take care of an effective room insulation system.

Brick structures are more complex in execution. Without experience, it is difficult to build them yourself. Plus, to build brick ovens that are heavy, you will need a strong foundation. The cost of a brick structure will be considerable. However, such stoves are capable of storing heat for a long time, saving fuel. If you attach a horizontal chimney (“hog”) made of metal to such a stove, you can get an additional source of heating.

Read also: Building a chicken coop: description, tips, arrangement of premises for 5, 10 and 20 chickens (105 Photo Ideas) + Reviews

Metal oven If you have basic skills in working with metal, you can weld it yourself from scrap metal or even an old iron barrel. Therefore, the price of such structures is minimal.

However, if there is no radiator system in the greenhouse, the stove will heat mostly air. Therefore, it is advisable to install it in the center of the room and slightly deeper into the ground. You can also raise the beds or place them on shelves, where the air temperature is always higher.

Read also: A septic tank for a home - a sewer pit without pumping: device, step-by-step DIY production from concrete rings and other options (15 Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Convection and pyrolysis ovens have high efficiency. Such designs are quite complex to implement, so it is better to buy them ready-made. In convection boilers, air passes inside the casing. The operating principle of pyrolysis structures is based on the complete combustion of gases that are formed during fuel combustion.

Read also: Construction and arrangement of a summer kitchen at the dacha with your own hands: projects, design, arrangement, with barbecue and barbecue (60+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Stove "Buleryan", surrounded on the sides by open pipes, takes in cold air from below. The rapidly circulating air in the room warms up faster even after adding fuel once. If you put “sleeves” on the lower pipes, you can distribute the heat evenly throughout the greenhouse.

Read also: Making vertical beds with your own hands: the best ideas of 2018. For vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers (65+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Feature of the Butakov boiler is increased heat transfer, which occurs due to the special design of convective pipes. However, it is quite difficult to clean it from combustion products. Plus, a single bookmark will not be enough to ensure a comfortable temperature. And it heats the air unevenly. The absence of a secondary combustion chamber significantly reduces the efficiency of the design.

Underfloor heating system

An ideal option for heating the soil in a greenhouse is also a heated floor system. After all, for successful plant growth, it is the roots that need to be warmed up.

Since heating a greenhouse with electric heating elements will cost a lot of money, it is better to install a stove or boiler in it. The heating system can be combined by installing radiators around the perimeter.

It is better to use polyethylene pipes to heat the greenhouse. They are buried to a depth of about 40-50 cm in the drainage - a layer of crushed stone and sand
It is not advisable to use metal-plastic for laying in the ground. After all, its fittings (connecting elements) require regular tightening. If you still decide to use such hard plastic, use compensation loops when laying the pipeline
Polyethylene film is laid first, serving as waterproofing
Next, a layer of thermal insulation is laid made of polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam
You can also reduce the thermal conductivity of the soil using compacted sand., which is poured over the heat-insulating layer to a height of 10-15 cm
The distance between pipelines should be 0.36 m. To ensure uniform heating, 2 collectors are placed along the edges of the greenhouse. Pipes are connected to them alternately
To protect the pipeline from damage when digging the soil with a shovel or pitchfork, slate or metal mesh is laid on top of it
The next 35-40 cm layer– fertile soil

Heating with gas

The disadvantages of such heating include the need for mandatory coordination with special services. Moreover, you will not be able to provide gas heating for the greenhouse - the design and installation of such systems is carried out only by specialists. Due to the high risk of ignition during operation, the operation of gas boilers will need to be constantly monitored. Due to the excess carbon monoxide generated during fuel combustion, in order to avoid poisoning and the threat of explosion, it is imperative to install ventilation.

But still, such devices have much more advantages. The cost of gas is not that high. You will only have to spend money on purchasing a boiler and equipment for it. Such designs ensure uniformity and rapid heating of the greenhouse, plus they are as easy as possible to maintain. But in order for it to heat up evenly, it is better to install heaters or connect several burners at once.

We list the main types of gas equipment used for heating greenhouses:

convectors: industry produces special devices of this type specifically for heating greenhouses; built-in heat exchanger distributes heat evenly throughout the room; ventilation in it is provided using a coaxial (pipe in pipe) chimney
heater with two open burners(the second of them serves as a spare) and a vertical chimney; the ventilation system is installed separately
burners with infrared radiation: they are located in separate zones for local heating of certain types of crops or accelerating seed germination; equipped with a smoke exhauster that throws combustion products into the chimney; their operation does not require the installation of forced ventilation systems - natural is sufficient

In most cases, gas heating of a greenhouse is combined with water. The principle of its arrangement is similar to that described above.

Thermal gas guns, used for spot heating, can be easily connected to both the gas main and the cylinder. Such structures are light in weight and quite mobile; they can easily be moved to any other place. The fuel in them burns completely, so the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during their operation is minimal. Modern gas-fired heat guns are equipped with a temperature and even humidity control system.

Solar batteries

Collecting and accumulating the heat given off by the sun's rays will help to get an early harvest in the spring. Heating a greenhouse using solar batteries can also be used as an additional option. For the winter period, the heat received only from them will not be enough.

To accumulate solar energy, the greenhouse must be installed in the most open place and located from east to west. It has been proven that arched polycarbonate structures are capable of “collecting” the maximum number of rays. Plus, the air in the cells of this material will serve as a natural heat insulator.

Solar batteries are divided into:

aquatic: the heat storage in this case is water containers (barrels or pools); Moreover, several small containers have a higher efficiency than one large one, because water always warms up better closer to the surface; they are distributed evenly throughout the room
stone: this material is capable of retaining heat for a long time, so it makes sense to line the walls of the greenhouse with stone or cover it with a sufficiently large layer around the perimeter of the structure
air: are among the most efficient battery devices (see photo); for efficient heating, heat exchangers are positioned perpendicular to the direction of the sun's rays; heated air enters the greenhouse through pipes; cold air is taken in through the second duct

When installing an air heating system in

To transform a greenhouse into a year-round greenhouse or winter garden, it is enough to develop an effective heating system. After all, for confident growth and fruiting, plants require not only light, but also warmth. And if a translucent polycarbonate sheet allows you to completely solve the problem of insufficient lighting of a greenhouse, then the issue of providing the necessary amount of heat (especially in spring and autumn) becomes extremely acute for the owners.

A heated polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands allows you to grow plants not only in transitional seasons, but also in winter - the main thing is to choose the right heating option and skillfully implement it.

How to implement heating of a polycarbonate greenhouse

Before heating a greenhouse, it is worth deciding on several factors: what temperature you are going to maintain inside, how cold it is outside, how much financial and time expenses you can afford.

In practice, there are many ways to heat a polycarbonate greenhouse: from homemade options to industrial automatic installations that do not require intervention during operation.

Typically, the following types of heating are implemented in greenhouses:

due to the energy of the sun. The main advantage is the minimum cost. But solar energy can only be used in late spring and early autumn. At other times, effective heating cannot be achieved;
using solid and liquid fuel heaters. An effective option that allows you to create a full-fledged winter garden from a greenhouse. But it requires constant human participation: adding fuel to the firebox, removing non-combustible fractions;
using electric heaters. Heating a greenhouse with electricity is quite expensive, but effective and convenient: heating can be fully automated, achieving and maintaining the temperature with an error of no more than one degree;
biological heating of a polycarbonate greenhouse. Traditionally used in spring. The most common option is to use cow or horse manure, which also serves as a fairly effective fertilizer.

It is worth choosing a specific type of heating when building a greenhouse - because in some cases it is necessary to make serious design changes. And it’s better to do everything at the construction stage.

How to heat a greenhouse with the sun

A warm polycarbonate greenhouse based on solar collectors is the best option for the middle and southern regions of Russia. But this method is not suitable for winter. It is not difficult to build this type of heating:

Initially, you should design a solar collector - this is a system of black-painted pipelines that is heated in direct sunlight.
Then you need to install heating devices in the greenhouse that give off heat. These can be traditional heating radiators.
Connect the solar collector to the heating outlets and fill the system with coolant. Usually water is used. It is also important not to forget to install an emergency pressure relief valve.

If designed correctly, the system does not require a circulation pump. Accordingly, there is absolutely no energy consumption for heating, and practically no maintenance is required for such an installation.

Stove heating for polycarbonate greenhouses

To distribute heat evenly throughout the entire volume of the greenhouse, it is recommended to use stove heating based on a water boiler. Moreover, the boiler itself should not be in a greenhouse, but stand separately. It is also easy to build such a system:

Build a room next to the greenhouse in which to install a stove.
Install heating devices inside the greenhouse: these can be convectors, standard cast iron or aluminum batteries, even a heated floor system.
Lay the pipeline, not forgetting the need for thermal insulation of open sections of pipes.
Fill the system with coolant - you can use both water and antifreeze.

There are many options for heating a polycarbonate greenhouse using a stove: it can be wood, coal, exhaust, gas or diesel fuel. It all depends on the type of boiler you choose and the availability of specific resources in your area.

Do-it-yourself electric heating of a polycarbonate greenhouse

Heating in a polycarbonate greenhouse is more expensive compared to other types of heating, but is extremely convenient to use. It is a good option for heating greenhouses in winter, spring and autumn, and can be fully automated or even controlled remotely.

There are many ways to make a heated polycarbonate greenhouse using electric heaters. Can be used:

infrared heaters. They are installed on the ceiling and effectively heat the greenhouse, starting from the ground itself. They are one of the economical and heat-efficient types of electric heaters, but their cost is slightly higher than other devices;
oil electric radiators. The best option for small greenhouses and organizing heating in the spring and autumn. But when installing them, you should be prepared for very impressive electricity bills;
electric heaters with fans. They allow you to quickly and well warm up the entire volume of the greenhouse, but when installing them, you should take into account a lot of nuances. For example, as soon as you point such a heater at the plants, they will inevitably begin to dry out. It is also worth considering that models equipped with open spiral heaters burn out oxygen in the room.

Any types of heating using an open flame are also not suitable for use in greenhouses - they will simply burn out all the oxygen, which will lead to the death of the plants.

It is worth noting that if you plan to operate a greenhouse in winter, then pay attention to the thickness of the greenhouse material - the thicker the sheets of cellular polycarbonate, the better they will retain heat inside the greenhouse, which will reduce heating costs.

It is also worth paying attention to a rather extravagant method: heating using hot air.

A heated polycarbonate greenhouse is a fairly common design and can be easily implemented with your own hands. The main thing is to choose the right type of heating and pay attention to the thermal insulation of the greenhouse.

Almost every summer cottage and garden in the private sector has a greenhouse. They are used mainly in the spring and summer for growing seedlings and summer heat-loving vegetables. And sooner or later, every greenhouse owner begins to think about its profitability. You can increase its efficiency only when you use it all year round, or when growing very early products, when everything is very expensive on the market and in the store. Now it has become fashionable to create winter gardens and grow greens, radishes, cucumbers for the New Year and flowers for March 8 during the cold season. Of course, it’s great to have fresh produce from your greenhouse for the holidays in winter, but for this you need to make it heated, because our winters are long and harsh.

- means increasing its efficiency

But for early or year-round use of the greenhouse, heating is needed, because it is severely frosty outside in winter, and sub-zero air temperatures are not uncommon. And then the question arises of which heating to choose, which is personally acceptable for your household, because any of them requires a financial investment. Here you need to figure out what you have enough money for and which heating will be less expensive to maintain. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the durability and efficiency of the selected type of heating.

Heating a greenhouse is the most important part of the microclimate in the life of plants, as is watering. It is advisable to think about what it will be like before construction begins. It’s better to do it right away, as it should be, so as not to have to redo it later. Let's consider different heating methods, the pros and cons of the selected options and choose what is most convenient and least expensive.

How to heat a greenhouse in early spring?

It is not necessary to use any heating to grow seedlings and early summer produce. To do this, it is enough to make greenhouse beds on rotted manure. It is necessary to remove the fertile layer of soil; instead of beds, you will get trenches. It is advisable to make the sides for future ones from boards or other available materials. Place a thick layer of rotted manure mixed with straw or peat on the bottom. Pour a fertile layer of soil on top. Manure rotting below will release heat and moisture. Plants planted on high, warm ridges will feel comfortable.

When it’s still cold outside, you can put a second layer of film over the greenhouse. An air pocket is formed between the main layer and the additional layer, which will also retain heat. The greenhouse should be positioned so that it is exposed to the sun as long as possible. The sun's rays will penetrate the film or cellular polycarbonate and heat the surface of the earth in the greenhouse. Thus, natural heat will condense in it. This is how you can “naturally” heat a greenhouse, just don’t make the roof too high, then it will warm up more. Experience has shown that greenhouses with an arched structure have the highest efficiency in terms of heat retention.

But there are some disadvantages. If you don’t have your own manure, you will have to buy it, and this is now quite expensive. In addition, it must be stocked in the fall. And make the ridges anew every spring. This is a very labor-intensive process. Making heated greenhouses with your own hands is not easy. And in winter such “heating” will not be enough.

Stove heating

How to heat a greenhouse without gas and electricity? One of these methods is to make an ordinary stove, and run a chimney from it horizontally along the walls of the greenhouse. It should gradually rise up and finally come out. This way the greenhouse will be heated. The firebox must be made so that it opens outside the greenhouse, because soot and smoke cannot penetrate into it. Then the quality of vegetables will suffer.

You can install a stove with a boiler in which water will be heated, and then it will circulate through pipes that will be laid on the ground along the length of the greenhouse. Hot water will heat the air.

While the efficiency of such systems can satisfy the user, the complexity of the process is very tiring. The point is that you need to constantly monitor the temperature and add solid fuel frequently. Not everyone can quit their job and be a fireman in their greenhouse all winter. And is it worth it?

When building heated greenhouses with your own hands, you should keep in mind that film and glass do not retain heat well, and therefore they need to be heated better. Cellular polycarbonate, due to its design, retains heat well, and therefore heating costs will be lower.

Heating with heat generator boilers is also a good option. Unlike simple stoves, a heat generator with solid fuel needs to be charged no more than 2 times a day. Diesel fuel systems are available. The efficiency of such heating is not the highest.

Gas heating

Gardeners are interested in how to make a heated greenhouse using gas. If it is small, then you can use bottled gas. If the greenhouse is of an industrial scale, then you need to take a permit and use a natural one. For this purpose burners of conventional heating and infrared are used. A conventional water heating system based on AGV is also used. Gas, of course, is profitable because it is cheaper than electricity.

When using such heating with burners, it is necessary to provide ventilation, and this already reduces the heating efficiency. If you make water heating based on heating water with gas, then the system can be fully automated. Without constant human control, the microclimate in the greenhouse will be maintained. The main thing is that it is profitable from a financial point of view, and the costs can soon be recouped.

Heating by heating air

How to heat a polycarbonate greenhouse by heating air? This heating can run on liquid fuel or electricity. Most often used in large greenhouses. The unit heats the air, which is directly blown out in the center of the greenhouse and circulates through polyethylene perforated hoses laid out along the length of the building. Thus, the air inside is heated.

Convectors will also work

You can heat the greenhouse with electric convectors. They are installed on the walls of the structure and on the floor. Convectors heat the air well, they have timers that can be set to a certain temperature, and they will turn on and off themselves. One drawback is that they are quite energy-consuming, and electricity is now expensive.

Hot air heating

There are many other ways to heat a greenhouse in winter. Some heat with portable heat guns (fans) or heaters. These devices actively blow out hot air, quickly heating the room. The main thing is to arrange them so that they do not dry out or burn the plants. It's good if they are equipped with thermostats. Then you don’t need to constantly monitor them, just set the desired temperature that they will maintain.

Warm floors in a greenhouse

A do-it-yourself heated polycarbonate greenhouse can be made with complex heating. After all, it is necessary to heat not only the air, but also the soil in which the plants grow. To do this, some use the “warm floors” design. A sand cushion is laid, a protective mesh is placed on it, then a heating element or cable, then a protective mesh again and a sand cushion on top. Then the soil is poured in a layer of up to 20 cm. It is necessary to install a thermostat so that the soil does not warm up more than 45 degrees, otherwise the roots of the plants may be damaged. This method of electric heating is very economical, with high efficiency. The sun warms the greenhouse from above, and the cellular polycarbonate retains heat. The soil below is also warmed up, and the heat from it rises.

The most efficient heating method

There is another way to heat a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter. These are infrared electric lamps and heaters. These devices are good because they do not dry out the air and act like solar energy. As is known, the sun's rays, reaching the surface of the Earth, heat objects and are reflected by heat. Lamps and heaters with infrared radiation also work. If they are placed along the entire length of the greenhouse, under the ceiling, then they will heat the soil, plants, walls, and, being reflected, the heat will accumulate in the room. They are absolutely harmless, with very high efficiency. Because they provide a lot of heat, but the energy consumption is small. Such heating can be very easily adjusted to create the desired microclimate in the greenhouse.

Perhaps, today this is the safest and most profitable method of heating a greenhouse in winter.

It is important not only to heat the greenhouse, but also to save heat

In order to be profitable, you need not only to heat the greenhouse well, but also to use all possible means to retain this heat as best as possible.

To do this, it is good to apply all knowledge in a complex. A well-chosen place to build a greenhouse, no shade, all day under sunlight. The greenhouse should be located so that the wind does not blow away the heat. Good, warm foundation. The greenhouse covering is better made of cellular polycarbonate. There should be no gaps in the structure: in the cold winter, any draft is destructive.

You can use warm, high beds with manure, which will also accumulate heat. You can grow seedlings on shelves. It is good to combine heating of the greenhouse: increasing the temperature of the air and soil. By the way, you can use waterproof mats to create the effect of warm floors. They are convenient to use in greenhouses with shelving, placing heating mats underneath them. Heat always rises from below, heating the trays with plants and the air.

Should you make the heating yourself or order a ready-made one?

You don’t have to invent a bicycle at all, but when ordering a greenhouse, immediately buy a heating system and fully maintain the microclimate. Specialists will deliver the structure and install it in the shortest possible time. They will equip it with all the necessary options, which is called “turnkey”, and will also give a guarantee.

Everything, of course, depends on your financial capabilities and desires. Every year, new products appear on the market that will help make the greenhouse pay for itself all year round. What kind of heating you want depends, of course, on how you want to use it: to grow something all year round or in the early spring and summer.

Type