Warehouse heating?

[party_pete]

I'm looking for recommendations for Warehouse Heating?

The office is catered for with Skirting-Board Heating so it's just the warehouse area, approx. 2000sq ft

Currently there is a ceiling mounted Horizon Heat-Rad but no way of testing it's working order unless I get the gas meter refittted (previous tenants had it disconnected - bills unpaid)

Do I go for something brand new, perhaps electric powered, or get the gas connected and 'chance' the existing system or go down the brand new gas installation route.

It's especially important to heat the warehouse area, due to damp, condesation, etc and the products stored.

I also would expect to have some sort of Frost Guard setting as currently when there's a heavy frost overnight, the water pools on the steel ceiling beams and then drips onto the floor via the hanging light fittings - a slight concern

There are not particular areas that require heating, it's really the whole area.

Any thoughts, recommendations, are most welcome.

[wjcampbe]

I'd get the gas reconnected and the existing system serviced.

[jont]

If there is water dripping from the ceiling may be worth hiring some commercial dehumidifiers to suck the water out of the building as heat alone will not do much good.

[wjcampbe]

I read that as an occasional current problem when frost coats the unheated building steelwork, rather than a humidity problem.

[Kultya]

Having used gas when I had a similar problem, you'll find you'll get even more drips of water than you had without it.

You can balance this with a dehumidifier as suggested above or take my advice and go for a dry electric form of heating, if you can get economy seven heating then this will save the funds and allow you to have a constant low blow of heat.

This is the worst time of year, have had to dump a few things myself due to damp recently!

[completerookie]

we have large warehouses, and we always install a (cold blow) fan fairly high in the roofspace, its only purpose is to circulate the air around the space.

when you do this, the heat will be more evenly dispersed and its probably going to save money

[Stereo Steve]

Is the roof insulated? If it's steel sheet or concrete fibre then you will always get frost problems where moisture will condense and freeze on the sheets and then run down and drip where it hits a beam or any kind of fitting. It's a nightmare! One thing you might consider is better insulation first. You can get foam coating that is sprayed onto the underside of roofs like this and it insulates and stops condensation. Next time you go to an older supermarket, look up at the ceiling as they may use it there.

As for damp, heating it up will not help unless you can vent it out. You need to either force damp air out or stop it getting in too much, the latter being cheaper in the long run. Most stock will happily put up with cold but damp is a killer. Depends on your stock really.

[Sean Williams]

If money wasn't a problem, I'd go for insulating the roof as described in #7.
And an air blower as in #6 and a form of dry heat like radiators.
A dehumidifier would be ideal, but they cost a lot to run.
If you have gas, you can fit a gas boiler and a couple of large rads pretty cheaply.
I'd avoid that gas heater in situ as it will make the condensation worse.