You can build a barn for a variety of different reasons. However, the weather outside can still impact the barn or the interiors of the barn. While you might have taken a lot of effort to insulate the barn roof but it is not entirely insulated from the weather outside.
This brings us to the crucial question, how to heat a barn in the winter?
Whether you’re building a barn for self-use or for keeping livestock, it is necessary to heat the barn to the right temperature in the winter.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to do so. I will today share with you multiple ways to heat a barn in winter.
How to heat a barn in winter?
You can heat a barn in winter using methods like using infrared gas heaters, using forced heaters, using wooden pellets stones, installing a furnace, or using tube heaters.
I will go into hese methods below. Once you go through the processes below, it is easy to determine which one is compatible with your barn. After going through these 5 options, it becomes easy for you to choose the heating mechanism which is perfect for your barn.
1. Infrared Gas Heater:
There are numerous types of heaters that you can use in your barn. However, one of the most efficient heaters is the infrared heater.
It is so efficient because it does not blow the heated air in the barn. It consistently warms the air in the barn. That is why it does not eliminate the moisture in the barn. Consequently, suffocation will not occur.
The radiation of the heat ensures that the current air in the barn is consistently heated. Due to the same, it becomes easier for you to attain proper temperature in the barn.
Among other advantages of infrared heaters are lightweight design, extreme portability, and uniform heating. Due to the same, it becomes easier for you to get the temperature you want in the barn.
Besides other reasons, gas is also more affordable as compared to other forms of fuels. It means that if you’re using such infrared gas heaters throughout the winter, you will not have to worry about high expenses.
Thus, if you’re looking for an easy-to-heat mechanism to regulate the temperature in your barn, infrared gas heaters are the perfect solution.
2. Forced Air Heaters:
You might be surprised by this choice. However, forced air heaters are makeshift the solution when it comes to heating the barn.
If you have a barn with large ceilings, these can undoubtedly circulate whatever heat is generated in the barn due to higher temperatures.
To use these heaters, you need excellent roof insulation. Only, in that case, the air inside will be slightly warm compared to the temperature outside.
When that is the case, circulating this air inside the high ceiled barn will help you warm the entire barn rather than a portion of it.
3. Wood and Pellet Stoves:
Another option which you have to heat your barn in the winter is the wood and pellet stove. It is especially suitable for barns in the countryside. The reason for the same is that finding wood or pellets for the same is undoubtedly easy.
If you attempt to buy wood or pellets in urban cities, the cost is high. However, in rural areas, it is easy to procure these at an affordable cost. Consequently, such a stove will become more affordable than gas and electricity heaters.
However, if you’re using wood or pellets consistently, you need some filtration mechanism. Only then, the air inside your barn will remain clean.
Nevertheless, depending on the wood and pellet stove size, it is possible to heat the entire barn.
You have to consider the volume of the air inside and after that buy the compatible wood and pellet stove.
Another factor is the availability of a mechanism to feed wood and pellet in your stove consistently. If you do not do so, the fire will eventually stifle. In that case, your barn will not remain warm.
Fortunately, most wood and pellet stoves these days come with such an automatic feeding mechanism. You have to store enough wood or pellets. After that, it will feed the wood or pellets slowly on its own.
However, if not installed properly, these stoves are a fire hazard. Hire a professional to install them properly.
Nevertheless, if you install them properly, they can undoubtedly heat a barn in winter.
4. Furnace:
Want a permanent heating solution?
If so, you need to install a furnace in your barn. The good news is that you can install a furnace powered by natural gas, propane, or electricity.
You have to go with the fuel system, which is most affordable. However, once you install a particular type of furnace, changing it or installing a new one is expensive.
To avoid the same, you have to choose the furnace pretty carefully.
The furnace can efficiently distribute the heated air through ducts or a forced distribution system. You have to contact the furnace manufacturer regarding the most efficient way to spread the heat in your barn.
Only when you have all this information handy can you choose the suitable barn furnace as well as the distribution system.
5. Tube heaters:
Another option which you have is tube heaters. You have to install these tubes along the length and the breath of the barn. You have to install them in such a way that nobody living can come in contact with them. For the same, you can install them at a height.
You have to ensure that there is a reflector on the upper side of the tube.
The tube network is connected with the burner box. When the burner box heats up, it will shoot a flame into the tube. The flame will heat the tube. The reflector on one side ensures that all the heat is radiated towards the floor area.
Due to the reflector, heat is radiated in the downward direction.
You have to install the tube at such a height that the heat gets dispersed till it reaches human or livestock level.
This is another permanent heating mechanism that you can opt for. However, it requires professional installation.
Thus, to heat a barn in the winter, these are the 5 ways in which you can do so. Once you take care of heating, it is time to look at other accessories for your barn.
My post on solar barn light, remote-controlled outdoor floodlights will help you buy such accessories. My post here and here, respectively, will help you purchase these accessories.