Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Outbuilding heater

Dad wants to put a heater in the pole barn. The building has 10' high walls, is 30' x 40' with metal siding, cement floor. I told him to check into what the insurance company will allow. As of right now, the building isn't insulated but it has a plywood sheathed/architectural shingled roof. The plan is to put a ceiling in it, insulate the unused "attic", and insulate/finish the walls.

There IS propane plumbed to the building, but I suggested a large torpedo heater because he could also wheel it across the driveway to heat up the 3 car attached garage if needed. His concern was how loud the torpedo heaters were.

He's not looking at something to be running all the time, just something to take the chill out of the barn if he wants to work out there during the cold winter days.

Thoughts?

We used torpedo heaters in Antarctica. They were loud and occasionally someone would light their pants on fire by walking too close to them. And before anyone posts a photochop of me with my pants on fire be advised that I managed to avoid performing this particular stunt. My experience with them was that although the torpedo heaters were loud they certainly threw a lot of heat. I don't know if they technology has changed but years ago they didn't have any type of thermostat (wasn't an issue on "the ice" but your mileage may vary).

They smell badly in a closed area, from my recollection.

A lot of bang for your buck in a torpedo heater, probably the quickest and least expensive way to add some occasional heat. The fumes can be a problem in an enclosed area, definitely want to burn propane or at most kerosene, diesel will run you outside very quickly.

They are noisy, but I never found it to be excessive or unbearable. And they do have thermostats now, either built in to the unit themselves, or as an add on in the power cord.

Always with the JHAP talk before tax season...

Being an ex-insurance company Loss Control Engineer. I will say that insurance companies wish those heaters didn't exist.

I'll add that to the list that includes wood burning stoves, whitetail deer, ATV's, and 18 year old male driver's in Trans Am's.

As I write this, I have a tractor up on a lift, raised over my head. This a commercially built hydraulic lift, made especially for this line of work. On the back, is a decal which reads " Anything used carelessly can cause an accident, even a rock"

I love that, it should be taught in school, course name: Common sense 101.