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I need to heat an uninsulated shed. Which heaters are most cost effective? The shed is constructed of plywood with a concrete floor. 3/4 drywall on the inside. I is divided into 2 10' x 10' rooms. I'm in So. Cal. so the temps don't get super cold. Can someone suggest the type, size, and btu's of a heater that would be appropriate? (I know i should insulate the room but that won't happen till next summer) Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

I've had a few friends heat garages and/or outbuildings with oil-filled space heaters. The type that look like an old radiator heater. I've used these myself to heat indoor snake rooms or outdoor rodent houses.

The garages or outbuildings were all insulated, but they were also in climates with severe winters. So I think the comparison is applicable.

BTW, these are the safest way to heat a room outside of a typical furnace. Even safer than baseboard heaters often used in basements.

A tip with these space heaters. Run them off of an auxillary thermostat rated to handle wattages well in excess of the heaters max output. Plug a multi-strip outlet into the thermostat and then plug your heater AND a box fan into the multi-strip. What will happen is the fan will turn on whenever the heater is turned on, distributing the heat around the room. When the thermostat cycles the heater off, the fan will turn off.

Some people just have the fan turned on all the time and don't route it through the thermostat. This if fine but I like to use the sound of the fan as a barometer of how often the heater is cycling on and off.

Another thing I've done is to plug a red or blue light bulb into the multi-strip. On those super cold days where you're worried about your animals you can often just peek out of a window and see the illuminated light through a window on your outbuilding. A nice way to provide peace of mind when you don't feel like trudging through the cold weather to check on everything. Maybe not a problem where you live.

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I need to heat an uninsulated shed. Which heaters are most cost effective? The shed is constructed of plywood with a concrete floor. 3/4 drywall on the inside. I is divided into 2 10' x 10' rooms. I'm in So. Cal. so the temps don't get super cold. Can someone suggest the type, size, and btu's of a heater that would be appropriate? (I know i should insulate the room but that won't happen till next summer) Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

Hey this post really doesn't have much to do with me I just read it for the heck of it.
I can't believe how great your advice is on this thread.
Just thought I would give you props on always giving such good advice.

Rudy
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1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (new)
0.1 Rubber Boa
1.0 Eastern Hognose 2003 super red
0.2 Eastern Hognose Snakes
4.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.1 Womas
Spadefoot
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata

1 Pleco
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

The oil-filled heaters are great, I've kept one for quite a few years in a large bathroom that is completely covered in ceramic tile. It gets COLD in there in the winter when the temps really drop. They are well worth having.

I would use an oil filled eletric heater.You can get these at Wal Mart for 30 to 50 dollars.
>>I need to heat an uninsulated shed. Which heaters are most cost effective? The shed is constructed of plywood with a concrete floor. 3/4 drywall on the inside. I is divided into 2 10' x 10' rooms. I'm in So. Cal. so the temps don't get super cold. Can someone suggest the type, size, and btu's of a heater that would be appropriate? (I know i should insulate the room but that won't happen till next summer) Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>Thanks,
>>Dave
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Thomas Jones
aligatorhunter@earthlink.net

No one is to be trusted