Need help choosing a heat source for small mechanical closet
I have a small mechanical closet that opens to the exterior for my water heater, plumbing, etc, about 1 1/2′ by 4 1/2′ by 9′ tall. I’m in the pacific northwest where temperatures can get cold in short bursts but are usually moderate, all the years I’ve lived in my home, the small amount of heat given off by the water heater keeps the room warm enough to prevent pipes freezing. Last year we had an extended freeze which was unusual for here and this year they are predicting more of the same. I’d like to install a heat source that would only kick on if the temperature drops too low and would only give off enough heat to keep the room above freezing. Being as this is a small room and there are no clearances, it would have to be something very safe. Is there a product that would meet my needs? A 100W bulb would probably do it but I don’t know how safe that would be.
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Replies
How about heat tape on the pipes? It only goes on if the temp drops below 35 or so.
There's a lot of pipes in there going every which way. Would I need to do them all for it to work? Or would it give off enough heat to keep the room warmer? It's well insulated.
There are space heaters with anti-freeze setting (turns on at 40F). Check your local box store. If you find smaller wattage ones, you can even put an extra one in there as backup.
LH,
If you are sure a 100 watt bulb is en0ugh, it would be entirely safe - just like leaving any other light on.
Another option is a closable vent between the closet and the house allowing it to share heat.
I would use a small electric resistance heater here since it only needs to run occasionally. You can get small heaters that are made for use in places like mechanical rooms. You only need a very small one, maybe a few hundred watts. You can get these at places like grainger. You can use simple “snap” (all mechanical) thermostats with these heaters and keep them set around 50 degrees or so.
Note that I don’t like anti-freeze heaters set at 40 degrees F. That’s too low a temperature to be reliable since there can be colder spots near walls. I’ve had issues like that in the past.
Bill
When I read the instruction for most heaters they require 2 or 3 feet of clearance from other objects. My guess is this closet does not offer that much clear space.
You may want to look at heaters made to go in gun safes the 24 inch models are 38 watts they seem to be made for small spaces where things are likely to be in contact with the heater.
https://www.safeandlockstore.com/blog/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-golden-rods-and-gunsavers/
As always good air sealing is more important than insulation or the heat source.
If you choose a space heater look at the oil filled or ceramic models as they seem safer in such a small space.
Walta
+1 for oil filled heaters being safer in tight spaces.
There are electric heaters specifically made for small spaces such as this one:
https://m.grainger.com/mobile/product/WIEGMANN-Fan-Forced-Enclosure-Heater-487A43?breadcrumbCatId=1000048
Bill
What type of water heater? Gas or electric? What type of heating system do you have in the main house? If you have gas then you have a choice of a small gas heater or go electric like the others have suggested. You could add a small section of baseboard with a small pump and t-stat to work off your hw heater.