| When the greenhouse temperature alarm rings at 2 a.m. on a cold winter night, it’s a good possibility that your heater is not getting fuel. I know growers that have spent many cold nights trying to keep heaters working. There are a few things you can do to get a more peaceful sleep. Fuel oilFuel oil thickens as the temperature drops and may even get sluggish below freezing. This is caused by the congealing of the paraffin. Warm oil will improve atomization and increase efficiency due to smaller droplet size. Outside tanks are subject to weather extremes. Several things can be done.
The cleaner the fuel, the fewer problems that occur from plugged filters and nozzles.
PropaneDue to the availability of high efficiency condensing boilers and unit heaters, propane use for heating greenhouses is increasing. Propane heating units have less maintenance due to cleaner fuel. The following should be considered:
Bartok is a regular contributor to Greenhouse Management and an agricultural engineer and emeritus extension professor at the University of Connecticut. He is an author, consultant and a certified technical service provider doing greenhouse energy audits for USDA grant programs in New England. Have a question? You can write John at jbartok@rcn.com.
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