How to size a greenhouse heating system

Properly sizing a greenhouse heating system is crucial for maintaining the perfect temperatures year-round. An efficient heater delivers consistently uniform heat to the plant canopy, promoting strong, rapid plant growth. Sizing a heating system for a greenhouse only requires taking some measurements and making a few calculations. Once the numbers are crunched, growers can rest assured they are well on their way to efficiently heating their operation.

Efficiency ratings are of utmost importance when outfitting a greenhouse with a heater. Heating manufacturers have even put special emphasis on heating efficiency in recent years, so that growers can more easily find a high-efficiency unit. GrowSpan offers the Modine Effinity 93 Condensing Unit Heater, which is 93 percent efficient, making it one of the most energy-efficient heaters available. High-efficiency models like this enable growers to save considerably on heating costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

Heaters are measured by their output in BTUH (British Thermal Units per Hour) as opposed to their physical size. A heater that is larger in size does not automatically mean more heat output. BTUH reflects the size of an area that a heater can keep warm each hour.

To find the right size heater, follow this step by step guide to calculate the amount of BTUH the heater needs to generate for the greenhouse.