Greenhouse Heating Systems, Greenhouse Solar Heaters & Solar Greenhouses

With 4-5 hours of sunlight on average per day your Growing Dome® Classic Kit with the 5-wall polycarbonate glazing panels will typically stay 30 degrees F above the outside temperature over night. What this means is that on very cold nights (below zero) and/or after a series of cloudy cold days you may need to supplement with some form of additional heat.

There are a number of options for heating your Growing Dome including some net-zero options. We'll start with the most conventional here and go to the more eco-friendly options:

1. PROPANE HEATER: We do not sell heaters, but recommend a Southern Burner Heater which is specifically designed for greenhouse use. Another option is a Mr. Heater top burner attached to a propane tank. We recommend placing the heater next to the water tank because this heats the water and allows it to radiate the heat throughout the Growing Dome over time. We also recommend that you install the propane tank outside of the greenhouse and run and line in to the heater for safety reasons.
2. FLOATING POND HEATER: This is an electric heater that floats on the surface of the water tank. It must be plugged in to the grid and is very power hungry, so we don't recommend this option for that reason. It is more efficient, although, than an electric space heater because the water stores and releases the heat more efficiently than the air in the greenhouse.
3. WOODBURNING STOVE: This would be a custom installation of the owner's choice and it is up to the owner to make sure that the stovepipe and placement of the stove don't pose a fire hazard to the structure or others near it. It may be necessary to check with your local building department before installing the stove.
4. SOLAR WATER HEATER (pictured here): A food-grade antifreeze called "propylene glycol" is heated in the panels pictured here and then pumped thru a copper coil placed in the water tank. The anitfreeze is moved by a circulating pump which is solar powered. The pressure of the system does need to be regulated, so we recommend consulting with and/or hiring an expert to help you get this system operating properly. This method has proven incredibly successful in augmenting solar gain by raising the temperature of the water tank significantly. The warmer water then releases more heat into the Growing Dome at night.
5. FLOATING ROW COVERS AND CLOCHES: Neither of these are heaters, but rather an added layer of frost protection to keep your plants from freezing when/if the Growing Dome dips below 30 degrees F. Many owners avoid heating altogether by using these methods instead. You can buy Agribon brand floating row cover from a company such as GrowOrganic.com. Watch our video to learn more about cloches.


6. OTHER OPTIONS: Other folks have been very creative and added systems such as geothermal heaters, climate batteries, and in-floor radiant heating. If you have a system you're designing for your Growing Dome and are interested in knowing our experience with such a system, we'd be delighted to talk with you further. Just give us a call at 800-753-9333, give us the name on your customer file and we'll put you in touch with our technical department.

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