Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: corynsboy on December 15, 2008, 23:23

Title: Paraffin heaters for the greenhouse on my plot
Post by: corynsboy on December 15, 2008, 23:23

I'm looking for couple of paraffin heaters for my GH.  

I figure that if I pour in a pint of paraffin in each burner and measure how much paraffin is burned in one hour I can estimate a timed burn to raise the temperature in the GH for frosty nights.  

Here's my problem.  My GH is on my plot a mile or so from where I live.  I can't help thinking that it would be dumb to leave an unattended paraffin heater on in my greenhouse.  Even with only two hours of fuel on board it still has the whiff of potential disaster.  Obviously I'll keep the paraffin in the shed and remove anything lose or combustible... but still.

Does anyone have a safer solution?

Title: Paraffin heaters for the greenhouse on my plot
Post by: loam ranger on December 16, 2008, 20:06

Hi, I also have an allotment 1 mile from my home, for the last 8 years I have been using a propane gas heater which has a thermostat, gas is not cheap but I have found that up to now it has been safe. one 47 kilo cylinder of gas will keep a 8+ 6 insulated green house frost free for about six to eight weeks also it does not stink like paraffin. PS you may be able to pick up a second hand gas heater cheapish.
Cheers
Geoff :)

Title: Paraffin heaters for the greenhouse on my plot
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 16, 2008, 20:43

Why would it be a problem? my GH is about half a mile from my house and my heater has been left on 24hrs a day. As long as the heater is on a solid base, there should be no problems leaving it unattended.
Is it a secure allotment, or a shared allotment? if it is shared then a lock in the GH door should be fitted to deter any unwanted visitors.

Title: Paraffin heaters for the greenhouse on my plot
Post by: Ice on December 16, 2008, 21:05

Hi.  I have a cheap double wick paraffin heater in my greenhouse.  It said it would run for two weeks on a 4 litre fill and it actually does.  That's about £3.30 per week at paraffin prices round here.  I was very nervous about leaving it alight all night but that disappeared after a few nights without burning down the shed. :wink:

Title: Paraffin heaters for the greenhouse on my plot
Post by: Aidy on December 17, 2008, 13:42

Quote from: "Ice"

Hi.  I have a cheap double wick paraffin heater in my greenhouse.  It said it would run for two weeks on a 4 litre fill and it actually does.  That's about £3.30 per week at paraffin prices round here.  I was very nervous about leaving it alight all night but that disappeared after a few nights without burning down the shed. :wink:

 :shock:  so thats around 52-65 squids for the winter period. Thats quite a chunk on top of seeds, rent etc. I would question what is so important in the greenhouse to warrant that cost.