Stumped on Pole Building Heat....

I have a well insulated 32x30 Morton Building... and as a test this past month, I plugged in my 110 electric space heater to see how it would affect my electic bill (continuous. Well it did, by 100 bucks. I dont have nat gas available, its either electric or propane. Believe it or not, that 110 plug in will keep this building comfortable (did I say its well insulated?), about 60 when its in the upper 20s to low 30s, and I figure about 45 to 50 when its in the single digits.
Im fine with the temp I am keeping it at, but if I can do the same thing with propane for less... and not give First Energy a dime, I am all for it.

 

Do you know what your kw/hr rate is and heater kw-hr rating?
At 15 cents- somewhat average
$100/.15/30days/24hrs=.93kw/hr
Depending on propane costs in you area we can run the calculations to see if it would better serve you

 

I have a pole barn and heat it with propane, but only turn it on when needed. It's pretty well insulated also and stays roughly 20- 30 degrees warmer inside than outside, most likely due to it being on a slab and well insulated.

A 110 electric heater at 1500 watts produces 5,000 BTU's per hour.

I have inferred radiant heating tubes that use 125,000 BTU's per hour. It heats things (mass) and no so much the air, so you feel warm really quickly (10 minutes) when using the garage. If I use the garage a lot in the winter it adds about $50.00/ month to the propane bill, but it's really warm when doing so.

I guess it comes down to how often you need it heated up. I would guess propane might be your most economical choice, unless you want a woodstove?

Here's a pic...

 

I keep my truck, some of my toys, and a machine/fab shop in there. I'd rather keep it at temp at all times, even if its on 55 degrees or so.

 

Thank you kind sir. It's a 1000w/1250w/1500w that I normally run on 1000w.

EDIT* 5.21 cents per kwh.

 

That’s a perfect application for a heat pump. Here’s a calculator you can put your local figures into for cost comparison purposes. Residential Heating System Cost Calculator | Efficiency Maine
Around here propane is the most expensive option by far with electric baseboard pretty close by. Wood is the least with heat pumps a close second.

 

Only because this is FHC. Is a pellet stove an option.. If not agree with Maina above..

 

Mini-split?

 

Ductless mini are in link. With his low cost of electric about $435 a year assuming heat only not AC.

 

Well, that's what I get for not going to the link.

 

That's some cheap electric - don't complain to much about the electric company sticking it to you

So if it was truly all $100 increase just to the shop - we may be guessing here unless it has its own meter base?

$100/.0521$/kWhr/30days/24hrs = 2.72kw/hr
Either the heater is able to pull in excess of its designed max 1500w(1.5kwhr) or we have some other usage contributing to the increase - lighting tools and what not due to the warmer temps allowing a better work environment.
To reverse just to the heater cost:
run Max 1500w for 30days: 1.5x24x30x.0521=$56.28 for a month

1kW is 3412btu
Assume 1.5kW-hr is decent input heat as you've stated
1.5x3412btu = 5118btu
Propane has 91,600btu/gal - equates to 17.9 hrs/gal, None of this would equate to real world application as you'd likely oversize to a 10kbtu or 30k for your shop size (not 5.1k)
But apples to apples with propane running ~$2.40/gal

30daysX24hrs/17.9hrs/gal X $2.40/gal = $95.53/month

You're net cheaper to run the electric space heater - we can revisit the capital costs of a heat pump which will more efficiently use the electricity...
-time for a beer

 

You are over the top, thank you Basod! I didnt factor in peak charges, thats probably why its a little "off". Its not on its own meter, I suspect the house could have had some variance over last month as well.

 

No problem- I do heat balance stuff for a living.
My younger brother sells propane, Affectionately refer to him as Hank Hill.

 

And propane accessories?
I loved that show...

 

I take it a wood stove is out? Would still need to run the electric heat to even out the low spots I suppose...but the stove could do most of the heavy lifting. If you can't have or don't want a stove in there, how about one of those outdoor forced air wood furnaces?

 

$56 or $100
That's cheap heat for a building that size!
I'd stick with the electric. No condensation, no worries about reordering or running out, no regulator freeze ups, no worries about line or tank leaks, etc . Set it and forget it .

 

Holy cow that's cheap. Mine is .11 to .15 cents kwh

 

I store gas in there , and work on/service plenty of small engines in there as well. Id never even consider it an option (even as much as I love wood heat). I do however go through 7 cords a year in the house lol.

 

He deals in bulk industrial accounts juggles a bunch of commercial accounts including construction where they need temporary heat for completing indoor spaces.

 

Electricity here is cheap too. 11¢/kWh.
Of course delivery is 19¢/kWh. Plus $7.00 a month for the privilege of being connected.


mini splits and solar panels sound good to me for sticking it to the electric consortium.