Safely Heating a Tackroom

kellyann · Nov 3, 2014

Thanks in advance for any advice!
We have a 4000 SqF post barn. It is clad in metal sheeting and walled on the inside with OSB. There is very old dry clumping cellulose insulation in all the walls and somewhat covering the 8' OSB ceiling. We framed and insulated with batts an area 16' x 16' for a tack room. The barn cats spend their nights there. We also have horses and chickens in separate areas.

I'd like to put in a safe heat source to just keep the chill off (50F-60F) in the tack room only. Today it is about 35F outside and it is 40F inside this (tack) room. It can get a lot colder in the winter but has never gone down below 25F in the worse weather. There is slight "venting" due to an ill-fitting storm door that goes out back.

We are in retirement so around a lot.
Any ideas for something safe?

Xfaxman · Nov 3, 2014

We have always used an electric oil filled radiator.

Get the old fashioned round dial thermostat. The new digital readout display type will not come back on after a power drop out.

BKBoiss · Nov 3, 2014

X2. I have heated my little work shed with one for 6 years. Works great and you never worry about fires because there is no element exposed. Also make sure you get the old dial or knob type. I learned about those darn digital ones the hard way.

dave1949 · Nov 3, 2014

Adding more ceiling insulation and sealing that storm door better will likely pay for itself in reduced hydro costs.

I have two of the oil-filled radiator heaters and both have always worked well. But, what you may find happening is they will run continuously if the room cannot hold the desired temp (heat loss exceeds heat in).

IIRC ours have a 600 watt and 900 watt setting. 600 watts times 24 hours per day times 30 days in a month = 432 kilowatt hours @ whatever your electric rates are per kilowatt hour. 12 hours per day (overnight use only) will be half of that but still adds up over a season.

There are thermostat controlled outlet adapters that you plug into an outlet, then plug whatever you are controlling into the adapter. I've only seen 32F/0C fixed setting adapters but there may be others with different temperature settings. You could plug a 300 watt heat lamp into one of those to warm a small area in the room.

boomer1025 · Nov 3, 2014

I wouldn't use a heat lamp, guy at work lost his house to a fire that was started by a heat lamp. Oil filled radiator would be the best option.

dave1949 · Nov 3, 2014

boomer1025 said:
I wouldn't use a heat lamp, guy at work lost his house to a fire that was started by a heat lamp. Oil filled radiator would be the best option.

There are heat lamps in use all over the place from restaurants to chick brooders. If one started a fire it was improperly used I would guess.

boomer1025 · Nov 3, 2014

A heat lamp is ok if someone is going to be around it. Better and safer choices for heat then a heat lamp in a barn

PILOON · Nov 3, 2014

There are also small ceramic heaters that use a computer style muffin fan that I find extremely efficient.
Generally rated at 1000 watts, have built in thermostat and hi/lo fan setting.
Most have a tilt switch in case they get knocked over.
I once heated a 25 foot trailer with only that in very cold conditions.
That combination of fan and ceramic is very efficient and safe. Generally in the $25-$30 range, don't let the small size fool you.They work!

oosik · Nov 4, 2014

Several options available. I use a propane fired radiant heater - but I NEVER leave it running unattended. I think the general idea is do not heat with anything using an open flame.

kellyann · Nov 4, 2014

Thanks for all the great advice. We purchased a DeLoungi Oil filled radiant heater at Lowes. Taking your advice I got the one with the "old school" knob rather than the digital model. It was half the cost but the same specs? 1500/900W, 5120BTUs, all the safety features we wanted. The ambiant temp at 7pm was 10C in the tack room. After an hour with the heater set on max setting 5 out of 6, the temperature rose to 13C. That was in a semi-insulated room in the barn. We are pretty pleased. We will insulate a lot more. Our model $79.99CND
Sadly, our barn cat Sam did not return from the vet. He had to be euthanized last evening so only his sister Rosie will enjoy it's benefits. We were preparing to find a way to bring him inside the house but there are other critters. Hence the additional heat out there for him.
As always tractorbynet members give the best advice to help us out. Thanks for the speedy replies!