Heating polytunnels

[brooklynodog]

Having given up the idea of an electric heater in my p/tunnel due to safety issues, I wonder if using paraffin heaters in it is OK. Its not going to harm the plastic (melt it) is it? Sorry if this seems a daft question.

[SimonCole]

You can have problems with monoxide if they're not burning properly. I prefer small electric radiators for the plastic greenhouse. I set them on a timer so that they only come on at night and thus do not have problems if i spill the watering can. Extension leads can connect to the household plug and they make the greenhouse bone dry, so no moisture gets into the electrics.

[kentvegplot]

I used paraffin in a small, curtained off area (curtains of thick bubble). Worked well in such a small space, so I suppose it depends on how big your tunnel is.

Hopefully the weather is about to improve enough that we won't need heating soon

[nick the grief]

The only problems you'll have is if you don't trim the wick properly and then it will soot up and also if it's a big tunnel you won't really be able to get a heater that will cope with the volume (the Big parafin heaters only run for 16 hours or so where as my standby heater will run for a couple of days on a gallon of parafin) If you can't have electric then I think the best option would be a propane heater as these have a thermostat on them so won't come on if the weather is warm anyway.

[Norm]

I had 2 big parafin heaters running in my polytunnel last year and they kept the chill off.
Don't worry about carbon monoxide, it's heavier than air and unless you have an airtight polytunnel, it won't be a problem

[SarzWix]

I've just invested in a 4kw gas heater for my lottie greenhouse (no leccy down there!) It cost £99.00, plus £30 (deposit) for gas bottle & £20 to fill it. It should then cost less to run than the paraffin heater & be cleaner, with less fumes. I hope It reckons to heat a 20'x10' space, so should cope fine with my 6'x12' greenhouse!

[cala99]

Hi there This is my first year gardening and i'm now planning to put up polytunnels to protect my plants for a few more months...is it definitely possible to use a heater in a polytunnel? and which is the best?

[SarzWix]

Yes, it's definately possible
And I'd recommend gas (propane) if you can afford it - you have a thermostat on it then, so it only comes on when the temp drops below a certain point.
This is where I got mine, the 'Eden Green' one.
Towler and Staines - Greenhouse Heaters

[The Invalid]

Having given up the idea of an electric heater in my p/tunnel due to safety issues, I wonder if using paraffin heaters in it is OK. Its not going to harm the plastic (melt it) is it? Sorry if this seems a daft question.

Dont forget, its not just a matter of heating a Polytunnel. If there is insufficient Sunlight or UV you wont grow much.

Saying that, We've used a paraffin heater in our Polytunnel for years without problems. It wont melt the plastic in a normal height tunnel.