For creation of optimum microclimate in the greenhouse it is necessary to organize heating services. It will allow to grow up vegetables, berries and flowers during the whole year. The choice of heating devices depends on the size of the greenhouse, climatic zone, use season.
Heating for the greenhouse: advantages and features
The heating services is necessary not only for industrial, but also for normal home greenhouses. With its help it is possible to achieve earlier harvest, significantly having reduced vegetation terms. The greenhouse with heating is necessary in regions with whimsical climate, frequent frosts, in the short and cold summer. Correctly organized heating gives the chance to use hotbed not only in the summer, but also in off-season and even in the winter. In such greenhouse it is possible to grow up successfully even very whimsical cultures needing special microclimate.
Among the most widespread options of heating:
- oven;
- water;
- electric (convectors or infrared lamps);
- by means of gas guns.
Also heating of the soil by means of water pipes or the electric cable laid under layer of earth is possible. Many gardeners use the combined methods. For example, organizing hot-water heating, install industrial ovens or electric heaters for emergencies.
The choice of heating system depends on weather conditions, plants which are supposed to be grown up of the owner's opportunities. At selection of heating coils it is necessary to consider terms of their payback, cost of mounting and service, availability of fuel, possibility of manual or automatic regulation. Important and time when the greenhouse is used. Winter cultivation requires hot-water heating, infrared heaters or fixed furnaces. Small electric heaters or heat guns will be suitable for summer hotbeds.
Industrial furnaces in the greenhouse
One of the most convenient options of heating – the furnace. It is the simplest to buy ready design from metal and to independently establish it. Such ovens are very mobile, they can be put in any corner of the greenhouse, to transfer, interchange the position. If desired the product can be connected to water contour, having provided year-round warming up of the soil. Besides such furnace does not demand construction skill, even the person who is not able to do brickwork will be able to install it. The only minus of metal solid fuel stove – air overdrying. To support optimum moisture content, in the greenhouse place tanks with water.
For heating of small hotbed there is enough 1 5-6 kW furnace. It is desirable to choose models with protection covers on each side. They do not allow overheating of plants and exclude accidents. Ovens with the flat top panel on which it is possible to warm up water for watering of plants or moistening of air are convenient.
Installation of the metal furnace
It is the best of all to put heating element in the center of the greenhouse, so hot air will be evenly distributed. It is important to sustain safe distance from walls and not to put the oven near exit. Fire-prevention instructions are available in the passport of each specific model.
On the chosen place the site from paving slabs or refractory brick gives all the best. The basis keeps within on sandy substrate and is carefully stamped. If in the greenhouse there is capital wall, the furnace is installed to it by back surface. The form of flue depends on furnace model. For increase in warming up the pipe for exit of smoke can be extended and carried out across. Metal parts are fastened with collars, attach pipe to wall brackets.
The flue is connected to smoke branch pipe by means of heat-resistant sealant. It is impossible to narrow flue, it completely will break functioning of system. In the lower part the condensate collector is mounted. To bake it is possible to connect to the system of hot-water heating. It is necessary to regulate temperature manually.
Self-made brick furnace: stationary option
In greenhouses of year-round use construct the fixed furnaces using solid fuel more often. Thanks to high thermal capacity they create standard temperature condition even in severe frosts. The most economic and durable option is the furnace put from refractory brick. Such ovens long give heat and do not overdry air that is important for hygrophilous plants. For creation of the heating device it is required:
- shamotny brick;
- ceramic brick;
- concrete for filling of the base;
- masonry mortar on the basis of clay;
- masonry clay grog mortar;
- sheets of roofing material;
- reinforcing rods;
- construction sand.
For the equipment of the furnace it is necessary to buy finished pig-iron products: grid iron, smoke latch, podduvalny, furnace and prochistny doors. Also tools will be necessary: wooden meter, level, palettes, flat-nose pliers, mall. The exact sizes of the furnace depend on greenhouse parameters. In big hotbeds establish 2 heating elements in the opposite ends, but it is not too close to exit.
Work begins with laying of the foundation. Remove the turf on depth to 40 cm from the area of 70 by 100 cm. Coarse-grained sand with layer 20 cm thick is fallen asleep for bottom, leveled and stamped. On perimeter of hole the timbering from boards is established. On bottom reinforcing rods in the form of grid keep within. From above concrete solution pours out. The basis for the furnace is dried within 3 weeks, from time to time the surface needs to be humidified.
When the base dries out, it is possible to start laying. The first 4 rows from red corpulent brick are fastened with clay mortar. The opening for ashpit gives all the best and it is closed by the pig-iron door strengthened by means of wire. Since the 5th row the laying on fire-resistant solution is conducted by shamotny brick. On the 5th row the grid iron gives all the best, on 6-8 row the furnace door is designated. Ranks with 9 on 12 form the furnace arch.
Since the 16th row, pass to red brick again. In the 22nd row the first is established, and in 29 – the second smoke valve. After 32 rows the pipe on 4 bricks gives all the best. The similar design provides vertical smoke channels, but for low mini-greenhouses it is possible to equip the furnace with level canals. Such furnace have on the center of the greenhouse.
Hot-water heating
Very effective option for winter greenhouses – the organization of hot-water heating. The pipe system passes under floor, providing the optimum temperature of the soil. Such approach guarantees the microclimate suitable for the majority of cultures. Air does not dry up, its temperature is comfortable for work.
It is possible to organize hot-water heating connection to the general system serving the house or by installation of the independent boiler. Connection of heating of greenhouses to all-house boiler is carried out by separate contour. It allows to disconnect and drain water, without lowering temperature in premises.
For separate greenhouses is more practical to organize autonomous heating services. In hotbed the boiler, is installed by the complemented branched pipe system. The boiler is chosen depending on fuel type. It can be
- electric;
- gas;
- solid-fuel;
The most economic and convenient option in service – gas boiler. Among its advantages there are affordable price, possibility of automatic support of the set temperature condition. Gas boilers are equipped with the coaxial flue removing combustion products out of borders of the greenhouse.
Solid propellant boilers are not less popular. Depending on model they can burn coal, fuel briquettes, firewood. The maintenance of the unit manages cheap, but the design requires constant attention and manual temperature monitoring.
For industrial and farmer greenhouses electric boilers are quite often used. They guarantee the high level of automation, optimum temperature is maintained at any time. However such designs have essential minus – the high price of electrical energy.
The choice of boiler depends on cultures which are supposed to be grown up and also from opportunities of specific economy. If the territory is not installed gas, it is worth preferring the solid propellant unit. It will be ideal for the greenhouse about 50 sq.m in size, costs of installation and heating will pay off in 2-3 years.
In mini-greenhouses it is more reasonable to install the electric boiler. It does not demand mounting of flue, takes not enough place. At rather modest sizes of expense for the electric power will not burden the budget.
Electric heaters
The small greenhouse can be warmed by means of infrared heaters. They help to maintain soil temperature, protect plants from frosts. Such type of heating is suitable for the hotbeds and greenhouses which are used in off-season. However for winter of their power it is not enough. Those who wants to grow up plants during the whole year should think of other options of heating.
To create necessary microclimate, it is necessary to count the number of heaters in advance. On each 10 sq.m it is necessary for 1 kW of the power uniformly distributed between devices. Optimal variant – the infrared heaters strengthened on greenhouse ceiling. They are rather economic, work with good return, provide not only heat, but also the illumination necessary for normal development of plants.
Infrared lamps fix to metal or timber frame construction of the greenhouse by means of brackets, and then connect them to the power supply network. For convenience the system can be added with the temperature recorders suspended at the height of 90-100 cm. Sensors place away from lamps, otherwise errors in measurements are possible. To automate care for plants, the system of lighting and heating can be added with design for watering and airing.