Keeping the heat In???

Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
Ok so I'm going to be a dad :-P:-P And my girl wants me to put my grow into the garage as were sure to have some relatives show up from time to time here soon we just cannot keep it in the house. The problem is that minnesota winters are soon to be knocking on the door here any day with temps dropping down to -40 some nights my garage has no heat. Im going to have to build a grow box 3'w 2'd 4'h with 2x2's and plywood for a DWC container and keep it warm and the water from freezing while the light is off for 12/12cycle...Giving +rep points for people with proven solutions.. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is having to deal with this problem soon so I'm asking for advice from people who have had to deal with this before... and for everyone who will have to....
 
CrazyJohn91

CrazyJohn91

Member
Ya i have the same problem, what i do is put the plants in a big box and close it make sure there id no holes for the light to go through and shine a chicken light on the box for the heat
 
N

Nocturn3

Well-Known Member
First off, congratulations on being a dad. :bigjoint:

Now, i should point out that I am neither a hydro grower, nor grow in a cold garage, but I have seen these in my local shop, and I'd imagine they would be what you need:

http://www.hydroteq.co.uk/accessories/reservoirheating.php

It's a uk site, so your product selection may be different in your local area, but I'd guess that this is the kind of thing you would be looking for.
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
Well thats a good start thanks imma sit back wait for some more replys to concider for the finnished box.... prolly won't start building for another week or two but I'll be sure to post the building pix when I get there.....
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
I have a very small 1 Br. ranch style house It just can't be done... my garage is my man cave aside from the no funace issue it's the safest option.....
 
jsteezy1290

jsteezy1290

Well-Known Member
garage is a bad idea , the only way is to use a space heater or some other heater but it would have to be on 24/7
 
svchop889

svchop889

Well-Known Member
well couldnt you insulate the box and not vent the heat from your lights out? theres also a heat sink option say you put a 50gal drum of water or some other medium such as sand that holds heat that way during the time that the lights are on its absorbing warmth and when there off it radiates heat back to the area that is losing heat thus keeping a more stable temperature, you could also get a small space heater...?
 
TCurtiss

TCurtiss

Well-Known Member
Can you connect to your current heating system?

Otherwise heating mats?

Use your lights during the coldest times of the day to keep the heat up

I am using a fridge to grow in
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
A small space heater and insulation is what I was thinking too.... but what about air flow in the box If I cut holes for vents Into it It will freeze up for sure and if I don't cut the vent how will the plant breath? I've seen spit freeze before it hit the ground.....
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
TCurtiss said:
Can you connect to your current heating system?

Otherwise heating mats?

Use your lights during the coldest times of the day to keep the heat up

I am using a fridge to grow in
Click to expand...

Good call on using the light when It's coldest Prolly at night and no the garage is new construction but is separated from the house by about 25 feet...
 
kayuman

kayuman

Member
What type and size of light are you running?
If it's an hps you'll have some available heat to deal with from the lights.

Could you not duct in from the house to the garage and use an in line fan to pull pre-heated/ humid air from the home?

The biggest issue I see is not so much insulating/heating/venting the box, rather the shock of cold air when you open it to look your girls over :!:

Is the garage heated at all?

Kayuman
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
I have a 150w hps and 3 23w cfl's and no heat at all atm I plan to get a decent kerosene heater for it here soon... but it won't be on all the time either...surprising no one has tried to make a warm box all iI see out there Is ways to keep them cool...
 
svchop889

svchop889

Well-Known Member
keeping the root system war is more essential than keeping the rest warm if you can keep your water 70deg and your room 65 it would be ok growth would be slower but they would live. i think someone said something about a aquarium heater for the reservoirs not a bad idea
 
kayuman

kayuman

Member
Thought about this for a while and it's just an idea for you to ponder.

Would it not be possible to do literally a box within a box? Bear with me....

The first box would be for your babies, all lit up, vented etc.

The second box would be much larger to surround the first box and contain the insulatation, heater and a door. You can pre-warm the air in the first box so as to be drawn by the second. For that matter if u vent the light air back into the first it will help to pre-warm the first box air up a little and take the load off the heater. With the addition of thermostats you should be able to keep the first box air pretty decently controlled.

If you build the second box large enough for you to literally enter and close the door behind u (rough 2x4 frame with cheap press board and insulated) this also might stop the shock of freezing cold air entring into the second box when u are inspecting/watering your girls.

Make sure to keep the box is off the floor and insulate the floor of your box, concrete, especially sub zero concrete, will suck heat outta your system all day long.

Also really cold air tends to also be quite dry, plan on some humidity control in the first box.

Hope something there helps,

Kayuman:leaf::leaf::leaf:
 
Bauks

Bauks

Well-Known Member
kayuman said:
Thought about this for a while and it's just an idea for you to ponder.

Would it not be possible to do literally a box within a box? Bear with me....

The first box would be for your babies, all lit up, vented etc.

The second box would be much larger to surround the first box and contain the insulatation, heater and a door. You can pre-warm the air in the first box so as to be drawn by the second. For that matter if u vent the light air back into the first it will help to pre-warm the first box air up a little and take the load off the heater. With the addition of thermostats you should be able to keep the first box air pretty decently controlled.

If you build the second box large enough for you to literally enter and close the door behind u (rough 2x4 frame with cheap press board and insulated) this also might stop the shock of freezing cold air entring into the second box when u are inspecting/watering your girls.

Make sure to keep the box is off the floor and insulate the floor of your box, concrete, especially sub zero concrete, will suck heat outta your system all day long.

Also really cold air tends to also be quite dry, plan on some humidity control in the first box.

Hope something there helps,

Kayuman:leaf::leaf::leaf:
Click to expand...
Indeed that is a pretty good idea... a slightly larger box to fit around the grow box to pre-condition the cold air before it gets to my plants I was thinking a extra wide side where I can tuck a heater so It mixes with the cold air before its allowed into the box like this I hope the pic come out ok

on the right top side air would be drawn in with a muffin fan pushed down past the heater and enter the room by the floor warm then be drawn to the left side top when it can be sucked down and out by another muffin fan
 
sguardians2

sguardians2

Well-Known Member
Nicely thought out, this is why I love RUI! Somebody will always come up with a well thought through answer.

+rep to kayuman for such a well thought out answer!
 
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