Best way to heat a 60x81x16

Canam800 · Jun 11, 2012

I'm currently building a pole building 60x81x16 with r19 walls and the celing will be blown in r30. The shop will be used for automotive work and paint. Looking to keep it around 70 in the winter. I'm in northern il and only have propane or electric available no natural gas. What would be the most cost efficient way to keep it heated? Radiant heat? Forced air? Electric? Propane? Thanks in advance

Brandon

Highbeam · Jun 11, 2012

Have you poured the slab yet? Do you have a requirement/preference about forced air, open flames, or radiant heat?

What are your costs per kwh of electric and per gallon of propane? This is critical to determining which is cheaper to operate. Heating a building of that size will require large amounts of energy so the installation cost is only a small part of the equation.

Shop Specialties · Jun 11, 2012

In floor heat with a waste oil boiler would be my first choice. Waste oil forced air second choice.
Federal Tax Credit of up $ 1.80 per square foot for going waste oil.

Highbeam · Jun 11, 2012

I assume you mean conventional fuel sources? It would be nice to have an unlimited supply of waste oil. Our local repair shops are buying it by trading propane.

Sureshot · Jun 11, 2012

Infloor with solar.

Ron Lombardo · Jun 11, 2012

radiant with solar panels

Shop Specialties · Jun 11, 2012

I tell my customers if they can generate at least 500 gallons a year then it is justifiable.

We are lucky here in Montana because the recyclers sell the waste oil for 1/2 the price of Natural Gas or cheaper delivered and put in your tank. They filter it and guarantee it is good.

theoldwizard1 · Jun 11, 2012

This is a "money is no option" solution.

Geothermal heat pump to in floor radiant heat. The interesting thing is that with the correct plumbing (both water and air) you can actually do in floor radiant heat AND air conditioning.

You could save a lot of money by doing just heat pump to forced air/air conditioning, but will loose that comfortable warm floor.

Installation costs will be high, but operation costs will probably be lower than any other option.

Depending on what you are using the space for, more than one heat pump might be a better solution.

Canam800 · Jun 11, 2012

I wouldnt be able to do the waste oil I would never have enough oil. Seems like alot recommend in floor heat. I'm just starting the building so there is no floor yet. If I did the in floor radiant heat would it be better to go propane or electric? How much would you think for all the tubing foam board and the heating unit ect.?How many winters do you think it would take to make up the difference in price versus using hanging propane furnaces? Also I will be using a paint booth so fans will be sucking the air out while I'm painting which isn't everyday but I would wonder about recovery.
Thanks

JimL · Jun 11, 2012

If you go with in floor, something that size, I would look into Triangle Tube boilers. They are fairly expensive, but are very nice, modulating stainless steel boilers. Very efficient if installed correctly.

theoldwizard1 · Jun 11, 2012

Canam800 said:
I wouldnt be able to do the waste oil I would never have enough oil. Seems like alot recommend in floor heat. I'm just starting the building so there is no floor yet.

The big advantage of radiant in floor heating is the comfort factor. If your feet are warm, you will feel warm.

If I did the in floor radiant heat would it be better to go propane or electric?

You will have to get a expert to answer that question. The biggest issue the going to be the variability in cost of electricity versus propane in the future. Geothermal heat pump(s) will be cheaper to operate than either of these.

How many winters do you think it would take to make up the difference in price versus using hanging propane furnaces?

S.W.A.G. - more than 5 years.

Shop Specialties · Jun 11, 2012

With in floor you only need about 1/3 of the BTU as compared to forced air. You are heating objects not the air so it would work great with the paint booth.

Canam800 · Jun 11, 2012

How many btu's would it take for in floor radiant heat with a building this size? Thanks

Shop Specialties · Jun 12, 2012

You need to have a heat load analysis done to determine BTU.

Best way to heat a 60x81x16

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