Choosing the right heating system for your workshop

As the temperature drops, trying to operate your business’s machinery or work with tools while your hands and feet are cold is not only uncomfortable, but it can be dangerous because dexterity drops along with the temperature. Here are a few things to consider as you try to create an optimal work environment in your business’s workshop.

Make your shop a Goldilocks zone

You want it neither too hot nor too cold, but just right. How you arrive at that happy state will depend largely on how your space is configured and the heating system you invest in.

There are four main heating systems to consider:

Radiant hydronic heating systems heat water in a boiler, which is then distributed throughout a facility via plastic pipes located under or embedded in a concrete floor. These pipes radiate the water’s heat into the space above them. Using this system, you can set up varying comfort zones — one temperature in the office space, for instance, and another in a machine space — by easily controlling the temperature of the water running through the pipes. These systems are significantly more energy-efficient than other types of environmental controls, and because the heat comes from the floor rather than being blown through vents, it’s quieter and doesn’t spread dust, allergens, or viruses. Radiant heating systems are pricey when compared to other systems, though — prohibitively so if you have to demolish an existing floor to install one. It might be a better choice if you’re building your shop space new.
Forced air heating systems are probably what most people think of when they think of heating an industrial space or a home. They use ductwork to carry heated air from the heat source, usually a gas or oil-fired furnace, throughout your facility. Advances in technology have made forced air systems much more efficient than in the past, and they involve fewer up-front costs — about half what you’d pay for a radiant hydronic system — but there’s still a fair amount of heat loss associated with such a system, particularly if your shop isn’t well insulated.
Radiant tube (infrared) heating units are gas-fired and are usually suspended unvented from a shop ceiling. Rather than heating your entire shop, radiant tube heaters are usually meant to provide heat to a particular spot, making them less useful if your goal is to maintain your entire shop space at a comfortable temperature. Having this kind of decentralized system can be an advantage, though: If one unit fails, the entire shop needn’t go cold. These heaters can also be effective in open spaces, wet environments, and spaces where there are airborne contaminants.
Geothermal heating systems take advantage of the earth’s constant temperature 30 feet beneath the surface, using heat exchangers to circulate fluid through deeply buried lines in a closed-loop design. Because it uses the heat that’s already in the earth, it can be effective in any climatic zone, involves much less carbon emission, and, once in operation, is extremely cost-effective. Geothermal systems are very durable, but typically have very high up-front costs. If you take the long view, because they’re so efficient, enabling savings of from 50–60 percent over traditional forced-air systems, they will eventually pay back the initial investment.

What fuel are you using?

If you don’t opt to install a geothermal system, the fuel for your shop’s heating system is another important consideration. Natural or liquified propane gas is commonly used to fire a boiler, produce radiant heat, or forced air heat. You could also elect to go with a pellet stove, a wood-fired furnace, or even a system that burns corn. Each has advantages and disadvantages you should weigh before you make your decision. For more specific information about these types of heat sources, you can check out our bulletin on solid fuel-burning furnaces, boilers, and stoves.

Whatever heating system you ultimately settle on for your business’s shop, whether you’re building it from scratch or installing a new heat source in an existing space, be sure to follow local codes and manufacturers’ requirements.

Sources: Successful farming; energy.gov

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11/2024