Greenhouse Heating

Greenhouse Heating

Greenhouse heating, along with irrigation and ventilation, is a vital variable for a properly functioning greenhouse. As well as maintaining the optimum temperature, greenhouse heating ensures the right level of humidity for your plants.

Several factors inform the type and size of greenhouse heating system required. These include: the temperature you want to maintain; the lowest temperature you expect the weather to drop to; the size of the greenhouse; and what it is built from – as well as issues such as double glazing. Alitex works in partnership with greenhouse heating experts Harrier Heating to advise on and install the ideal system for your requirements.

For most greenhouses the best heating system would be hot-water pipes running from a boiler. These create a steady temperature and a moist environment. Although the initial installation costs are higher than, say, an electric greenhouse heating system, in the long run they are more economical.

Electric greenhouse heating systems are generally low maintenance and cheap to install, but they do have significant drawbacks. Fan heaters, radiators, immersion heaters and convection heaters are all electric greenhouse heating options, but choosing the right system is not always straightforward. For example, fan heaters are adequate small greenhouse heating systems; convection heaters need to be tailored to the physical dimensions of the greenhouse itself. Any electric greenhouse heating system can be expensive to run in the cold winter months, and even the best electric systems can create dry heat and ‘hot spots’ which can damage your stock.