Pole Barn Heating Options This Winter

[GPintheMitten]

I would try to close in a small area in a corner for winter workshop with ceiling and insulate that room ceiling and walls. Then maybe by next winter you can put in a ceiling with insulation.

I don't think it's practical to do what you are planning.

And cats don't need insulation or heat
Just a a place to get out of the wind and maybe a 2 to 4 bales of straw or hay to hide on.

 

[KennyG]

Youæ±*e saying that when cold air hits the heated metal siding, itç—´ not going to sweat? Ever slept in a tent when itç—´ cold out? (I know its not the same, just using it as an example).

If you sleep in a tent when it's cold, you are breathing and giving off moisture in a small space, raising the humidity. When that air comes in contact with the tent, it can condense. In a pole barn in the winter, you start with air at say 25 deg F that may be at 100% humidity. Heat it up to 60 degrees and the humidity is going to be 20 or 30%. The only way it can condense is if it comes in contact with something colder than the outside air temperature. Breathing won't make a difference. The only time I've heard of condensation inside a building in the winter is if you have a humidifier or are using a ventless heater.

 

[BoylermanCT]

As many others have said, heating the barn without full insulation on the walls and ceiling will be a lost cause. For the cats, get some heated pet beds. They cost penny's to run and are cat magnets! My barn cats love them.

 

[prichard]

If you sleep in a tent when it's cold, you are breathing and giving off moisture in a small space, raising the humidity. When that air comes in contact with the tent, it can condense. In a pole barn in the winter, you start with air at say 25 deg F that may be at 100% humidity. Heat it up to 60 degrees and the humidity is going to be 20 or 30%. The only way it can condense is if it comes in contact with something colder than the outside air temperature. Breathing won't make a difference. The only time I've heard of condensation inside a building in the winter is if you have a humidifier or are using a ventless heater.

I don't understand that. Isn't one of the reasons for vapor barrier because warmer air hitting a colder surface causing condensation. Also what happens when The inside or outside humidity changes or when the temp outside goes below the starting 25 degree point?

 

[MMagis]

If you sleep in a tent when it's cold, you are breathing and giving off moisture in a small space, raising the humidity. When that air comes in contact with the tent, it can condense. In a pole barn in the winter, you start with air at say 25 deg F that may be at 100% humidity. Heat it up to 60 degrees and the humidity is going to be 20 or 30%. The only way it can condense is if it comes in contact with something colder than the outside air temperature. Breathing won't make a difference. The only time I've heard of condensation inside a building in the winter is if you have a humidifier or are using a ventless heater.

Sorry, that's simply not true. When cold meats warm ,you get condensation. I just did a quick search to come up with one example, but there are plenty more out there for anyone interested. And this may not be the perfect example, just the first one I copied.
Help Fix my Condensation Problem in Pole Building - The Garage Journal Board

 

[KennyG]

Hold on guys. The cases you are talking about is when there is a moisture source inside the building. You get condensation only if you are introducing moisture. If you are heating the inside, filled essentially with outside air, it can't get cold enough by contacting the walls to condense unless you are humidifying it somehow. I've heard of this happening with a well sealed building and a vent free gas heater and I guess it could happen if you used a torpedo heater without much outside air (which is not recommended - I never saw it happen before I insulated and added a wood stove in my pole barn).

The garage journal case appears to be extreme - Seattle, constant rain, running unvented propane heaters in a closed building with new (still drying) concrete.

 

[MMagis]

You make a good point, there does have to be moisture. But I thought we were talking about a torpedo heater, which does introduce moisture into the air. And there’s always going to be some moisture in the air.

 

[Garycw]

Re: moisture my barn is dirt floor except for tack room. Some moisture naturally raised from dirt, rain run off that sometimes comes in, plus one end is open. This is for the horses and neighbors cows ( another story) to come in. There breath and manure crest slot of moisture too. OP senario may be much different, but I don't really have a problem with condensation because we used the tool out shinny carport barrier under roof metal.

 

[ovrszd]

waste of time....in Ohio you will not be able to heat that building without complete insulation walls and ceiling and a big heater and a big fuel bill
I assume you have a dirt or gravel floor? Best you can hope for is heat from a heater while directly in front of it . I live right down the road in Greene county been there

I agree. Without completely insulating the structure you are trying to heat a pop can. Pointless. With the thermostat set at 50 it will never turn off once the temps go below freezing. Your fuel supplier will like you though.