Finding the right warehouse unit heaters is critical to anyone operating in the cold winter months. We all know it is not suitable for your health to stay in the cold for too long. Even your machinery will not appreciate being operated in the cold. They often jam and shut off unexpectedly, which can be detrimental to your business. Technology has played a critical role in manufacturing by offering solutions that shield workers from the elements such as cold and over-heating. Industrial unit heaters have evolved for generations since the onset of the industrial revolution hundreds of years ago.
You can avoid all of this by installing a supplemental warehouse heater in your space. It will keep your equipment running smoothly, and your employees will be safe from temperature-related illnesses. However, installing a unit heater is not as easy as going to the shop and bringing one home. It will involve that; however, before then, you have to answer two questions.
• Why do you think it is time to buy a warehouse heater?
If your warehouse is experiencing either of the problems below, then it is probably the time to install a unit heater in your space.
Your workers are slower and less efficient: Workers can come to work in a mood or just sleepy if they did not have a good night’s sleep. However, if your workers become consistently inefficient and slow, you might want to consider their working conditions. People tend to be much slower in extreme temperatures. They can also be exhausted from wearing oversized coats during the winter. Get an expert to tell you the recommendable temperatures in your working space, and then find the right unit heater.
Your product is of lower quality due to your region’s extreme temperatures: If your products or machinery are only damaged occasionally, it might not be wise to invest a lot of money in a warehouse heater. However, if the problem keeps recurring, it might chase away customers due to poor quality or lead to losses if your products do not meet the quality requirements. To avoid this scenario, you might want to consider installing a unit heater to keep your products at the right temperature.
After taking a look to evaluate if your space requires an upgrade, it is time to move on to deciding which unit heater will satisfy your heating needs. However, first, there are some factors that you should take into consideration:
Is your warehouse ready for the upgrade?
Preparing your warehouse for an upgrade includes much more than just budgeting correctly and efficiently. To make sure the warehouse heater serves you best, you must adequately insulate and fix any problem areas, especially those with seepage. You should also remember to check in with your insurance provider to make sure you are complying with their rules and regulations before purchasing the system.
Secondly, do you have help from heating professionals? No one machine can fix all situations when it comes to heating solutions. Most unit heaters have to be custom fit according to the client’s needs and space. Reznor HVAC has the best products, but it is often necessary to hire a professional to install the unit. There are, however, some details you should be prepared to offer your professional if you choose to employ one.
The dimensions of the space you want to be heated. Are there specific parts of your warehouse that you need to heat, or is it the entire space? You need to measure the length, width, and height of the area you need heated, so it is easy to calculate the size or type of heater required.
The dimensions of energy loss areas such as doors, roof lights, and windows.
The difference in the temperatures outside your warehouse and inside your warehouse. It will help the professional determine the energy loss and hence, the correct solution.
The cooling pattern used in the warehouse, that is, weekly/monthly/seasonal cooling patterns.
The layout of your warehouse. If you have any dense furniture or equipment, you will need a warehouse heater that dispenses heat evenly despite the presence of barriers.
• How do you know the right system to install?
Reznor HVAC has no shortage of options to heat your warehouse. It is essential to narrow down to fundamentals of the heating system to know which one best fits your space. Fortunately, we are here to help. Reznorhvac.com will help you understand the differences between the various types of warehouse heaters available in the market.
There are two primary types of heating:
Warm Air Heating
Warm air heating uses a straightforward principle. The unit heater warms the air of a given area. It draws in the air, heats it, and then expels it using its fan mechanism to distribute the warmth in the room. Warm air heaters are available in all sizes, shapes, and types. These include direct and indirect fired heaters as well as electric heaters.
The major hassle with warm air heating is the distribution of heat throughout the room. Usually, users have to install additional fans to encourage better circulation of heat. Though it is possible to distribute the heat with a well-designed system and the assistance of a specialist, you might experience slight temperature variations from time to time.
Warm air heaters have an extensive catalog to choose from. It makes it difficult for customers to identify the right one for their space. The decision often comes down to personal preference, size, floor plan, and available space. There are various positives and negatives to warm Air heating listed below.
Pros:
They are easily customizable
They are typically better at the distribution of heat.
Cons:
There is the potential of cold spots
They may require additional equipment such as fans to ensure that the heat is dispersed evenly throughout the warehouse.
Radiant Heating
Unlike the former, radiant heaters gradually warm up surfaces, which in turn emit infrared radiation to warm the equipment and people. These heaters often come in the form of suspended tubes, though you can also purchase them as suspended or wall-mounted plaques.
To benefit from the warmth from radiant heaters, there must be no obstructions in the space between the heaters and your employees. This puts houses with tall shelves and dense structures at a disadvantage since they will have an uneven distribution of heat. The good news is that most of the heating issues experienced while using warehouse heaters can be solved by the use of fans or door curtains. Listed are the positives and negatives of radiant heating.
Pros:
Functions best in areas that are exposed to the outside air.
More efficient at controlling room temperature in a given area
Cons:
They must be in direct line of sight.
It is likely to have some cold spots.
Reznor HVAC, your global leader in HVAC technology, has you covered whether you are looking for a warm air heater or a radiant heater. There are various types of heaters available as well, including electric heaters, direct-fired unit heaters, or indirect-fired heaters.
Direct and indirect heaters can use gas or oil as fuel. The three have the following pros and cons.
Electric heaters, as the name suggests, are powered by electricity. There are three types of electrical heaters: convection, radiant, and forced air heaters. Here are the pros and cons of installing electric heaters.
Pros:
Lower cost of installation
Radiant heaters require low-maintenance costs
Ideal for small warehouses
Cons:
Radiant heaters pose an explosion risk since they emit flammable vapor
Higher operation costs
Direct fired heaters are generally used for large rooms like warehouses. They need proper ventilation to function efficiently. Let us look at the advantages and disadvantages of installing direct fired heaters.
Pros:
Low costs of operation.
They have a wide variety of options, including re-circulation and radiant.
They are the most efficient for massive warehouses.
Infrared heaters have low gas consumption levels.
Cons:
They often require a lot of ventilation
They have high costs of installation
Indirect fired heaters are also ideal for large spaces. The indirect fired heaters are preferred for their ability to maintain the relative humidity of the room hence reducing the need for a lot of ventilation. Here are the merits and cons of the indirect fired heater.
Pros:
They have low operating costs
They come in a wide variety of sizes.
They are efficient in larger and medium-sized warehouses.
Cons:
High installation costs
Whichever option you choose, you might want to add fans to enable air circulation. Fans will only cost you as little as a dollar in a day. A fan can go a long way in relieving the strain on your system to regulate airflow. This could save you some extra money in the long run.
Now that we have a more profound knowledge of the different types of heaters Reznor HVAC offers, let’s take a look at some of the critical factors you must consider when purchasing your warehouse heater.
1. Type of heater
As discussed earlier in the article, there are different types of warehouse heaters offered by Reznor HVAC. Convection heaters generally provide an even and whole-room heating while radiant heaters provide spot heating in smaller spaces. Fan-forced heaters have an internal fan that disperses heat, and micathermic heaters deliver fast heat to a widespread space. Selecting the best fit for your space is one of the critical steps in finding an effective heater. We have you covered in a multitude of styles, models, and sizes.
You may want to consider purchasing heaters that can be suspended or hung on walls to avoid obstructing furniture and equipment. These are common in rooms with limited space, bathrooms, and hotels. They are often hard-wired to the construction and provide a powerful yet quiet option for customers.
2. Heating capacity
You are likely looking for equipment that can heat your warehouse but do not want to spend too much. Reznor HVAC has competitively priced options for any budget. Its wattage rating determines the space a warehouse heater can warm. In layman terms, it is the heating power of the system. A typical room heater uses about 10 watts on each square foot of your room. A 1,500-watt heater can, therefore, warm average-sized rooms measuring up to 150 square feet. That is, however, a general rule of thumb that is not applicable in all models.
Depending on your heating technology, the additional equipment available, and your indoor environment, you may consider using portable heaters to cover more space.
3. Safety features
Portable heaters are especially vulnerable to fire hazards if not properly managed. It is, therefore, essential to consider safety before purchasing your next unit heater. Most manufacturers try to reduce the risk of fires and burns by covering the heater’s surface with cool-to-the-touch surfaces and more advanced features.
Some manufacturers have placed an internal switch in their heaters to automatically switch them off in case they are knocked down or tipped over. The most popular safety function in a warehouse heater is over-heat protection. It is an invaluable feature to ensure that the heater does not reach unsafe temperatures.
4. Noise Level
Warehouse heaters, like most other electronic equipment, emit some noise while in operation. Some models have been manufactured with a soundproof surface. They emit less sound than the rest. Radiant unit heaters work excellent as silent heaters since they use electricity.
For silent operations, consider servicing your warehouse heater regularly. Check for loose parts and screw in loose bolts. They can make the machine much noisier.
5. Energy efficiency
If you have energy consumption concerns, you might want to consider modern devices that are built to conserve energy and lower heating costs. Heater operating costs can be easily calculated using a simple formula. You must choose the right energy-efficient warehouse heater for the size of your space.
Additionally, modern heaters come with features such as adjustable thermostats, energy-saving modes, programmable timers, and low wattage to help you minimize your energy costs and conserve the environment.
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are plenty of factors that go into choosing the appropriate heating system for your space. The article has outlined the most critical options, but seeking the opinion of a professional is always a better option. If you are looking to do the installation on your own, the information in this article will guide your way to finding the most efficient unit heater for your needs. More often than not, it is best to hire a professional to install your Reznor HVAC heating system.
Consider your options carefully, keeping in mind to check for safety measures. Have a vivid image of what you expect from a machine and budget effectively. Also, make sure you do in-depth research before investing in a heating system. The decision to heat your warehouse is a big one. It might use up quite a sum of money, especially to those operating on a limited budget. Take precautions in each step, and with a little bit of luck, you and your people will be warm in no time.
