There is no such thing as THE optimal solution for heating a greenhouse in winter. The local conditions and not least the type of planting in the house are always decisive. There are several systems to choose from for installation, which vary greatly in terms of cost.

Underfloor heating is the most economical heating method for a greenhouse

Depending on which plants are to be grown when it gets cooler, there is almost always the question of how hobby gardeners can heat their greenhouse in winter. We have already described in another one how the heat requirement that the plants have under glass during the frosty months is calculated. But what about the technical implementation?

The types of heating briefly explained

First let the different Divide systems into three categories, which differ in the type of heat radiation.

  • Underfloor heating: heat source is 20 to 30 cm deep in the ground and works similar to underfloor heating in residential buildings;
  • Vegetation heating: direct heat emission at plant height; warm water (around 40 °C) is channeled directly past the greenhouse crops in plastic pipes; however, the energy consumption of these systems is quite high;
  • Space heating: the entire interior is fully heated; disadvantageous are relatively high heat losses due to the heated air rising upwards;

Greenhouse heaters for the winter - the systems

Which system you ultimately choose depends heavily on the local conditions, but also with the desired type of use. How you heat your greenhouse in winter is beside the point too a major cost issue, which must be considered. In general, the following systems are available for greenhouse heating:

  • Hot water heating: Here, if economically justifiable, integration into the heat supply of the residential building is an option;
  • Oil stove: operated with heating oil and set up separately in the house; provides only selective heating; Exhaust gases must be routed separately to the outside; relatively high fuel requirements;
  • Petroleum heating: similar functional principle as oil stove, but smaller in design; Standing alone helps only for heating smaller areas;
  • Propane gas heating: Does not require a separate exhaust gas discharge and can be better regulated in terms of temperature; very high efficiency (between 90 and 98 percent);
  • Electric heaters: very easy installation via the house electricity network; no exhaust emissions; comparatively expensive in terms of running costs;

Heat a greenhouse in winter with solar power?

At comparatively high acquisition costs Solar power panels score especially well because they cause hardly any operating costs, which can definitely pay off over the years. However, the permanent dependency on the available sunlight has a disadvantage and the space required for the collectors on the roof is not insignificant. The solar power supply is cheaper for the greenhouses attached to residential buildings. If used as a conservatory at the same time, this sustainable method of energy supply as part of energy-efficient building refurbishment could even be partly financed with KfW funding.

tips

When choosing a greenhouse heater for the winter, be sure to also consider the technical implementation for optimal ventilation. Especially in the case of larger greenhouses for which air conditioning is planned, professional advice from a heating specialist should not be dispensed with.

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Garden design