Heating a construction site may seem cut and dry, but if you aren’t informed about proper methods, it’s easy to make mistakes that will waste money and resources. In order to get the most bang for your buck, you need to read up on the most effective temporary heating methods and the most efficient ways to heat your construction site.
One of the most efficient methods for heating a building is to heat the building structure itself, which allows the structure to act as a radiator. Heating the structure takes time, but once it has been heated it is easier to maintain the air temperature.
Choosing the Best Heater for Your Site
Before you get started, you need to consider the specifics of your construction site so you can determine what type of heater will be best for the job. Your building materials, required temperature, time frame, building shape, and size all play a part in the heater that is right for you. In order to make an informed decision regarding your heater, you should ask yourself:
- Is the goal of the construction site heating to make the air comfortable for workers, or just to make it warm enough for materials to cure or dry?
- How long will the project last?
- What material is the structure of the building made out of?
- What materials require heat? Materials may include painting, tiling, adhesives, and finish work, like molding, trim, door jams, and cabinets.
- What is the size of the space that requires heat? Determine the total cubic feet, not just square feet. You need to know more than just a basic floor plan, as you’ll need to have an understanding of the height and clearance levels.
- What is the ideal temperature? Once you have the project details set, you’ll need to decide on the best temperature level to maintain a comfortable job site that won’t negatively impact any of the materials being used.
- Where will heat escape? Once you figure out how much you need to raise the temperature, you must determine how you can maintain that temperature. Will the structure hold warmth like a radiant heat system or will it be lost?
- What is your preferred fuel source? Don’t forget to specify what type of fuel source you’ll be using, whether it be electric, propane, NG, or diesel/heating oil. Some job sites have easy access to certain types of fuel.
All of these questions are important when determining the proper heating solution for a construction site.
How Do You Heat a Construction Site?
Typically, contractors will turn to an indirect or direct fired heater solution to heat their job site.
Direct fired heater rentals are powerful, open flame portable heating units that are used during the winter months. Usually, these units are recommended for use on supervised sites where there is plenty of space. Due to their open flame design, these units are not found in enclosed spaces or within structures that are highly flammable.
Indirect fired heater rentals are a great alternative for contractors who are working in confined spaces and require a contained heat source. Because the unit’s heat takes place in a burn chamber within the unit, these temporary heaters are perfectly safe to operate in enclosed areas without much supervision.
Both indirect and direct units offer safety features to ensure the unit operates safely. Learn more about the difference between direct and indirect fired units.
Rent a Construction Heater
Priority Rental offers construction heater rentals and consulting. You may also want to check out our main temporary heater page for up to date information on our selection of heater rentals.
We recommend an on-site evaluation to assess the job site’s needs and make a recommendation for a heating solution. Priority Rental also offers emergency delivery of heating equipment and great pricing on construction heater rentals. To get started on the rental process, contact us today.