Greenhouse Heaters

[Hi_Hoe]

Hi All

Does anyone use one of these tube heaters (or similar) in their greenhouse?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Tube-Heater-for-Greenhouse-2ft-3ft-4ft-/190480149184?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&var&hash=item2c59806ac0&_uhb=1

Theyre low wattge, so should use less energy and cost less to run. My wonder is though, if theyre any good!!

I currently have one of those frost fighters which is more than adequate, but even on low power (1000 w) its gonna cost. Not that im tight or anything!.... Im just more concious of my energy usage these days!!

What heaters do you guys use?

Any thoughts on the tubes would be most welcome!

Thanks, fellow gardenists! x

[Hi_Hoe]

[Chrispy]

I am guessing that a frost fighter has a thermostat, in which case it will do a better job and have a lower running cost than a heater without a theromstat, which the tube geater does not seem to have.

[Hi_Hoe]

I am guessing that a frost fighter has a thermostat, in which case it will do a better job and have a lower running cost than a heater without a theromstat, which the tube geater does not seem to have.

Yep it does have a thermostat, and as far as i can tell, you can get thermostats as an extra item for the tube heaters.

[goodlife]

I haven't personally had them in my GH..but I know somebody who has. They are to keep frost away only and not really for 'heating'. But to get best out of them you do need to insulate GH with bubble wrap and place the tubes under the staging..so rising heat will warm the bottoms of the plants first before disappearing into air. During coldest weather, with bit of fleece on top of plants and some warmth from underneath..even more delicate plants should be comfy enough to survive..

[daveyboi]

Most electric heaters rum at a very high efficiency so you get the heat you pay for. Fan heaters do use a small amount to run the fan but that also has advantages as it gives important air circulation.

As goodlife said they are for frost protection but will not be able to cope with extreme frost as well as the bigger heater.

Having said all the above a lot does depend on situation of the greenhouse and the construction.

Extra insulation and solar heat storage will cut running costs. Also greenhouse within greenhouse and similar options will again cut running costs along with using a good thermostat.

[ed dibbles]

I have a couple of them, a shorter 150w and a longer 300w. I agree with Goodlife they are excellent suspended under the staging giving trays of seedlings or tender plants warmth from below.

The two tubes allow fo a lot of flexibility.

Cover the said plants with fleece/bubble wrap and you have a makeshift propagator or frost protection system.

I find them pretty handy to get certain crops of to a flying start early in the year.

[Chrispy]

How long do you have them on for and do you have a thermostat controlling them?
If you had a  300w heater on for 24 hours, that would eat up 7.2 units of lecky each day thats about £35 a month.

[ed dibbles]

I have them on mostly on cold overnights using the big yellow light bulb in the sky to heat the G/H during the day

[Hi_Hoe]

the big yellow light bulb in the sky 

Thats rarer than rocking horse siht these days!!