If you like summer and would like to extend it by a month or two for your enclosed plant garden, you need a greenhouse heater. A greenhouse heater helps protect your plants and vegetables from cold weather by maintaining the right temperatures or climatic conditions for their growth.
By minimising moisture or dampness within a greenhouse, you are accelerating the growth of plants, seedlings, and flowers. Kindly note lighting and heating a greenhouse are two different things. Even if the lights installed are bright and warm, they will not generate heat anywhere close to the heat that heaters for greenhouses do.
A greenhouse heater could either warm the entire space or you might need multiples of them to maintain optimal temperatures. The number of lights you might need depends on how large the greenhouse is, the heater capacity, the heating element, etc. For plants that need more heat than normal, you can have a tubular heater placed directly above them.
If you are out in the market looking to buy a greenhouse heater, the following are our recommendations. If you are new to these heating tools and have absolutely no time and energy to do the research, this is the list you need.
Best Greenhouse Heater UK Review
Hylite HHT310
Best Tubular Heater
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Key Features
• Low-cost frost protection and ambient heating
• Built-in safety thermostat for regulating temperatures
• Available in different sizes
• Wall/floor mount
Pros
• Versatile and effective
• Energy-efficient
• IP44 rating
• Comes with heater guards
Cons
• The built-in thermostat isn’t exactly “brilliant”
What stands out?
This unit is a tube-style heater that prevents condensation within compact greenhouse spaces. This greenhouse heater is known for its frost protection, ambient heating, and dampness prevention functions. The greenhouse heater is quite energy-efficient too, which makes it feasible to use it in different kinds of enclosures.
Besides a greenhouse, you may also incorporate the heater in other spaces such as outbuildings, cold frames, garages, sheds, and conservatories. Not to mention, the greenhouse heater comes with a built-in thermostat to regulate temperature. There is also an IP44 rating onboard.
Bio Green Palma Heater
Best Air Circulation Heater
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Key Features
• 1.5kW BTUs heating power
• -50 to 99 degrees Celsius range
• 6.2 ft cable length
• Steel housing construction
Pros
• Sturdy and reliable
• 2000W power
• Wide thermostat range
• IPX4-rated
Cons
• On the pricier side of things
What stands out?
Though a bit on the expensive side, this unit is one you should seriously consider. For the premium price, you get solid build quality, smooth and reliable performance, an efficient built-in thermostat, integrated electric fan, and lots more. The usual problems you encounter in standard electric greenhouse heaters would be a no-show with the Palma heater.
The thermostat, for instance, quickly responds to even the slightest drops in temperature. This leads to accurate reading at all times, and which means no wasting of money due to overheating. You can hang this heater from your ceiling or secure it to the floor. There is a built-in fan for air circulation that you may turn off or on to ensure equal heat distribution.
Sunhouse SHTTH2
Best Low Energy Heater
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Key Features
• 80W tubular heater
• 2 feet length cable
• Built-in thermostat
• Frost protection
Pros
• Works just as advertised
• Solid build quality
• The supplied clamps make mounting easy
• Cost-efficient
Cons
• The thermostat isn’t the most accurate
What stands out?
The Sunhoue SHTTH2 unit is a tubular heater designed to heat a compact electric greenhouse. Though you could set it up in a large space, you would need multiples of it to truly notice any effect in temperature. Within smaller greenhouses, place this heater right over the plants so that there’s enough heat generated to keep frost at bay.
The greenhouse heater unit comes with a thermostat to set optimal temperatures. Its cable runs 1.5 meters, which means you can hang the greenhouse heater from the roof of your mini greenhouse. If the roof is a bit higher than normal, the default cable may not be ideal.
Hausen HA95-2
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No products found.
Best Budget Heater
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Key Features
• Prevents condensation, freezing, and dampness
• 90 and 130 degrees Celsius thermal protectors
• 1.5m cable bundled-in
• Mounting brackets and fixings included
Pros
• Easy to use, and install
• Well-sealed
• Low power consumption
• IP55 waterproof rating
Cons
• A bit on the smaller side
What stands out?
The Hausen HA95-2 unit is a tubular electric greenhouse heater that you may use in greenhouses, sheds, garages, portable buildings, kennels, etc. Hausen is a brand known for its home and leisure products, and the HA95-2 is yet another example of what the company is capable of. You may let this IP55-rated heater run 24 hours a day without any issues.
You can mount this electric greenhouse heater on a wall, hang it from a ceiling, or place it on a wood plank or floor. Before installing it in place, move it around the space to ascertain the right place and position.
CrazyGadget Large Paraffin Heater
Best Paraffin Heater
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Key Features
• Single chimney heater
• 5-litre tank
• Brass-plated burners
• Weighs 20kg
Pros
• Built like a tank
• Long runtime
• Can also work as a flame extinguisher
• Elegant looks
Cons
• Mounting it could be a challenge
What stands out?
Weighing a fairly substantial 20kg, this CrazyGadget paraffin-based heater unit means business. Thanks to the large size that accommodates the five-litre tank, the greenhouse heater can run 80 hours straight without any refilling. And since it’s a paraffin oil heater, you need not worry about rising utility bills.
Not to mention, the build quality is on point. It’s not just sturdy but the heater looks quite elegant too. For the price, the build is truly high-quality. The heater uses threaded chimneys, which are equipped with two brass-plated burners. There are twin burners for each chimney.
Hylite HHT205 Slimline
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Key Features
• 55W tube heater
• Comes with brackets for floor or wall installation
• Safeguard available in the package
• BS EN 60335 and CE certified
Pros
• Simple functionality
• Detachable cable
• Works well within spaces it is intended for
• IP44 rating
Cons
• Wattage information isn’t very clear
What stands out?
The Hylite HHT205 Slimline is, as the name suggests, a slender electric heater with digital thermostat. It’s easy to install and comes with brackets for floor-standing or wall-mounting operation. It also comes with a 1.5m cable and UK style plug that could be disconnected when you’re not using the heater.
The heater comes with a safety guard in the box. You may buy a few extras separately. There is IP44 rating onboard for water resistance. Also, it’s BS EN compliant and fully CE certified. Not to mention, the heater is made of easy-to-clean, high-quality metal tube with a solid white enamel finish.
Tooltime Tubular Heater
Rating: 4.2/5.0
Key Features
• 80W power
• Two feet cable length
• Package includes fixings, wall clips, screws, plug and cable
• White enamel finish
Pros
• Seamless stainless-steel construction
• CE certified
• Low power consumption
• IP55 splash-proof rating
Cons
• Fixing clamps can be redesigned
What stands out?
This Tooltime device is a portable, two-feet electric heater that can be used in greenhouses and a variety of other spaces. It comes packed in with all its wall brackets, which helps with mounting the heater on the wall or affixing it to the floor. It comes with fixings, screws, cable, etc. as well.
The heater is slim and elegant. It not just looks good but works pretty fine too. Heat gets distributed evenly across the thin body, which means low power consumption. Standing two feet long and with 80W power, this heater is hard to mistake for what it is.
Large Parasene Heater
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No products found.
Rating: 4.1/5.0
Key Features
• Stands 19.5cm tall and has a width of 18cm
• 14 days running capacity on a full tank
• Safety tested
• Stainless steel finish
Pros
• Easy to use
• Simple to clean
• Two power settings lend it versatility
• The fan helps with even heat distribution
• IP24 rating
Cons
• Temperature reading isn’t the most accurate
What stands out?
This parasene heater offers instant heating at a couple of power settings – 1000W and 2000W. It comes with a digital thermostat that helps you adjust room temperature based on your requirements.
The built-in fan for air circulation ensures zero humidity odours or fumes. This fan heater also comes with a carry handle that helps with portability. The IP24 rating offers some handy splash resistance. The heater is great for people who are looking for a fairly reliable and powerful fan heater but are also on a budget. In short, it’s best for the money.
Dimplex ECOT2FT
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Key Features
• 80W output
• Reversible right or left-hand cable entry
• 1.5m cable
• Optional interlinking kit
• Grey ends, white body
Pros
• Easy to set up
• Minimal power consumption
• Discreet mounting brackets
• Even heat distribution
Cons
• No timer functionality
What stands out?
The Dimplex ECOT2FT is a tubular heater that works smooth and consumes minimal power. The 80W power delivery ensures evenly distributed heating for greenhouse. The mounting brackets are discreet, which means you’ll not see them when the heater is attached to a floor or mounted on a wall.
The ECOT2FT is ideal for different applications, right from airing greenhouses and shop windows to cupboards. The heater should be installed horizontally for it to function optimally. Like other tubular heating devices on this list, the heat distribution is even across the body.
Bio Green WM-P5
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Key Features
• Single burner
• 600W maximum heating capacity
• Ideal for 16 square feet spaces
• Burns for 3.5 days per filling
Pros
• Simple and functional
• Four burners
• Burns for longer time periods
• Ideal for off-grid living
Cons
• Not for large spaces
What stands out?
The WM-P5 is a heater perfect for spaces spanning five square meters. Thanks to its long wicks, it can burn for 40 percent longer – the four burners help too. Speaking of which, you need not use all the burners simultaneously. This helps with regulating the temperature to a considerable extent. When more burners are at work, the amount of paraffin used goes up.
Despite being affordable, the WM-P5 is solidly built – it feels a lot more premium than it actually is. If an electric heating solution is a no-option for you, this heater would be a perfect alternative. And if you are a big fan of heaters, you would really like the WM-P5.
Best Greenhouse Heater Buying Guide
Greenhouse heaters are basically categorised based on their energy source. There are four different kinds of energy sources for these heaters, which are:
• Paraffin wick: The paraffin wick heater type is commonly used. It’s portable and convenient. It requires manual controlling. These heaters come in different sizes – primarily in smaller sizes. Check paraffin capacity and BTU or kilowatt numbers before buying a paraffin oil heater.
• Natural gas: Compared to a paraffin heater, a natural gas heater boasts better thermostatic control, which means less fuel wastage. Continuous burning could be achieved using a couple of bottles with automatic changeover valves. These valves would spring into action when a bottle gets empty.
• Hot water pipe: One of the primitive greenhouse heating forms, a hot water pipe heater is worth it if the heating space is extremely large. Otherwise, all the installation and running effort and costs would not be worth it.
• Electricity: When used judiciously, an electricity greenhouse heater can offer significant bang for the buck. It is ideal for compact greenhouses. The heater does not release water vapour, which helps during winter months. An electric heater is available as a fan heater, convector, or tubular heater.
Things to Consider When Buying a Greenhouse Heater
The process of picking the right heater for your greenhouse entails a good amount of careful consideration and deliberate thinking.
Types of Crops Grown
You cannot grow different types of plants in the same environment. Tropical crops require a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. These include plants that bear oranges and tomatoes. Anything above 90 degrees means you’ll cause them harm. Winter crops, on the other hand, fancy a temperature range of 45 to 75 degrees – with 60 degrees being optimal.
Gas, Electric, or Paraffin?
As the options would have made it clear, greenhouse heaters can run on gas, electricity, or paraffin. Compared to gas and paraffin, an electric heater is more environment-friendly or its carbon footprint is the smallest. Its running costs could vary based on heater wattage, your greenhouse’s size, and your cost per kWh. If sourcing electricity can be a hassle or you assume your energy costs would shoot through the roof with an electric heater, it’s recommended you opt for a paraffin or gas heater. Though affordable, gas and paraffin heating tools could be a bit tricky to monitor and maintain since everything is manual.
Number of BTUs
The number of BTUs (British thermal unit) you require depends on the size, usage, and insulation levels of your greenhouse. 10,000 BTUs would help cover 400 to 500 square feet of space and 20,000 BTU should be good for 1,000 square feet spaces.
Thermostat
To ensure the heater turns off when it gets extremely warm during the day, it must have a thermostat. Since paraffin and gas heaters are manual in nature, the question of a thermostat just doesn’t arise. But if you’re going the electric heater route, look for a heater that has an efficient built-in thermostat.
FAQ
Q: How safe is a greenhouse heater?
A: A greenhouse heater is pretty safe. It is as safe as the heater in your bathroom; the refrigerator in your kitchen; and the television in your living room. You should only know how to use it properly. And to know how to use the heater as it’s intended to, learn greenhouse heater basics.
If you’re looking for a heater for your for bathroom, see our post here on the Best Bathroom Heater UK here.
Q: How much does it cost to run a greenhouse heater?
A: The cost depends on the power source of the heater, heater power requirements, how long you’ll be keeping the heater on, etc. Gas or paraffin heaters don’t cause any spike in your energy bills. The best electric heaters mentioned above are known for their low energy consumption. Therefore, running and maintaining these heaters should be pretty cost-efficient.
Conclusion
A greenhouse heater is something you do not need. But once you get to know it and become familiar with its functions and capabilities, letting it go becomes pretty much impossible. The best greenhouse heater does not just make your greenhouse feel warm and pleasant during winters, but it also ensures your agricultural yield is not affected by the hostile climate.
When plants grow in the right conditions, they don’t just thrive, but also bear fruits and vegetables to the best of their abilities. If you have a greenhouse and want to maintain the right temperature within the space for your plants, you absolutely need a heater.
If you are not able to zero down on a particular heater from the best greenhouse heaters mentioned above, we would like to recommend you the Bio Green Pal. It’s expensive, but it’s also extremely robust and reliable. Buy it if you have the money and greenhouse heating is something you are looking at for the long term. Other heater models are pretty good too for the money – particularly the CrazyGadget paraffin heater.
