Heating redux

I asked earlier in the week about a cheap-to-install heating system for a 500 sq ft commercial space. I only got 1 answer, which was useful, saying that a combi-boiler would not be appropriate. Any suggestions? Electric baseboard seems prohibitively expensive for the prospective tenant, although presumably cheap to install, esp since this is part of a renovation.

humboldt

in Lawyers and legal service 12 years and 7 months ago

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humboldt | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks for the useful responses. The space is not divided and I can vent out the back. These are hard times but I intend to do this legally! I did not define “cheap” because I know that this is not inexpensive but I need to find the cheapest safe, legal options. I’m not sure I can afford to install a separate hot water boiler downstairs with new radiators, for such a small space. Not sure what a mini-split is, but will check it out, as well as the modine blower. Any further comments/advice are welcome.

ellenlourie | 12 years and 7 months ago

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lowest i have seen were 17F. but considering you need inceasing output with dropping outdoor temperature and you getting decreased output instead, you will hit 50f inside temperature at pretty high outside temperatures. Sanyo used to do gas fired minisplits, they forgot that fosgen is a product of combustion of a freon and when they got cought, they stoppet it. Electric heaters are added today as complementary for heat pumps but it is pretty expensive in NY.

Erstwhile | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Yes, that used to be the case.  However, many of the newest heat pumps work very well down to an operating range of about 5 deg.  Check out the performance charts on the newest models.  Pretty impressive.

Erstwhile | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Is the space an open room? If so, a great (cheap) option would be a mini split. Reverse cycle (heat pump) mode works great, and you’d benefit from very good COP’s. The heat pumps in the newest models work well in low temps.

eme1million | 12 years and 7 months ago

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You need to define cheap.  If you are redoing the floor you could put in a very simple radiant floor system and run it off an isolated hot water tank and a small circulator.  You could install this over the subfloor and the cost would be less than $5000 – assuming you have a place to put a gas hot water tank – even a small 30 gallon tank would adequately heat a 500 sq ft space.

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 7 months ago

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Hang a modine blower that’s either gas, oil or propane fired in the corner ceiling.   Even cheaper  but noisy is a propane tank fired “salamander” heater that contractors use for short term work area heating.   There are a lot of options like the Modine blowers, just search the internet.  They can even be hooked into an adjacent hot water sysytem and can be set up with their own thermostatic zone.   Great for garages.  I have one