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LB White Heaters: The Classic Forced Air Heater

We're amidst another cold winter this December with plenty of cold still ahead.  Many of us like to wait 'til the last minute, or until we can barely stand the cold, to buy a heater to keep warm during the winter months.  It's okay, don't hesitate any longer, for larger spaces and a variety of heating applications, LB White has got you covered.

In particular, I find a lot of people interested in the LB White Classic units.  Although they are designed for swine heating, many use them for construction sites or warehouse heating applications as well.  With two available fuel options, natural gas and propane, as well as three btu output ratings - 60,000, 115,000, and 170,000 - the LB White Classic Swine Heater gives you ultimate versatility and mobility on your job. 

Just an idea as we're entering the new year and the deepest cold.  I'll be posting a more detailed industrial heating comparison sometime next week, so stay posted.  If you have any specific questions about LB White or any of their heaters, let me know.

The Difference Between Concrete Curing and Concrete Thawing Blankets

Throughout the year, contractors come to us with special needs for concrete pouring.  Many of them need concrete buckets or cutting equipment.  Many of them, especially as we move into the colder months, come to us with a need for  concrete curing blankets and concrete thawing blankets. I hear a lot of questions surrounding these items so I thought I would highlight a few of the options we deal with and how they can be used.

In most small pouring applications in winter months, a concrete thawing/curing blanket combo works best. This means you could either go with a blanket that is capable of thawing ground before your pour and curing after your pour, or you could go with two blankets, one to thaw and one to cure.  In warmer climates, in the southern part of the country, often just a curing blanket is sufficient.

Those of you who may be interested in what a thawing blanket has to offer are most likely pouring in very cold temperatures for a good portion of the year.  Generally, a thawing blanket will be laid down a few hours prior to a pour.  You'll plug the blanket into any 120 volt outlet, lay it over the ground you intend to pour over, and leave it for a few hours.  Pouring on thawed ground will eliminate the chance of uneven pours, early cracking or warping, and allow the concrete to cure much faster.  Once you've thawed the ground, the thawing blanket can be used to cure concrete.  Because thawing blankets have a target temperature range between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can expect amazing results in a fraction of the time. 

Powerblanket, a company who makes a variety of warming products, manufactures two styles thawing blankets, one called the Multi-Duty Heated blanket, and one called the Extra-Hot Heated blanket. While the Multi-Duty is intended for hitting target temperatures of between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the Extra-Hot is capable of reaching temperatures of up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit which means ultra fast thawing!

For curing at cool to warm temperatures, where heating isn't necessary, a simple concrete curing blanket is plenty sufficient. Reef Industries makes a curing blanket called the Transguard 4000 which is made with a polypropylene non-woven fabric with  a white polyethylene coating applied to one side. A thin blanket that gets great results because of its low water permeability and heat reflection properties. The Transguard 4000 comes in large rolls and is reusable for many pours.  Because this blanket is so easy to install, it can save your crew a lot of time and money on large pours.

If you have specific questions or inquiries about theses products' or others capabilities, please post a comment below and I'd be happy to answer.  Otherwise, happy pouring and good luck to all contractors as we enter the colder months!

Tips for Choosing Garage and Shop Heaters : What is a BTU?

October is here and you've just started noticing the cool air. Before you're shivering in your garage while cleaning up or warming your hands with breath in your shop while finishing some woodwork, consider purchasing a heater to warm your work space.  The need for heat is simple, but making the decision about which heater can be confusing, I've put together a few ideas to consider before buying.  If you have something to add or have a question, please feel free to respond through comments below.

What is a BTU rating? Simply put, a heater's BTU rating, or British Thermal Unit rating, refers to the amount of heat it takes to heat one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.  This heat rating transfers to your space with a simple calculation.  Measure the dimensions of the space you'd like to warm.  Height is important here as well, so be as accurate as possible. Multiply your square footage by the height of your ceiling to determine the overall volume of the area.  Multiply that number by 4 if there is poor insulation, 3 for average insulation, and 2 or good insulation.  Although this isn't an exact means of determining the necessary BTU rating, it will give you a very good idea!  Often times, the tendency is to overestimate the necessary BTU output to heat your space; this can price you out of heating your garage or shop as heaters with higher BTU outputs are often much more expensive. Note:  It is a good idea to buy a heater that supplies a BTU output that is a little higher than you need.  This will allow for less energy use and a longer life for the heater you choose.

So you've figured out how much heat this bad boy needs to give off, but what kind of heat? There are a number of heating options for this sort of application.  Generally, the most versatile heating option as far as temperature control and mobility are Forced Air Heaters, some of which come in the Torpedo Heater style. These heaters range in output from 35,000 BTU up to 600,000 BTU.  You can imagine the price difference throughout the range as well.  Generally, an average sized garage or shop will require a heater on the lower end of that output range.

Another very popular heating style for garage and shops is radiant heat. Radiant heaters come in a variety of styles including: Portable Radiant Heaters and Radiant Tube Heaters. Portable versions are easy to move, fairly light weight, smaller in size, and perfect for heating a garage.  Tube heaters need to be mounted on ceilings or hung from rafters which makes them more of a hassle to get started.  Either option can be connected to an existing natural gas line or a propane source. 

The last popular heating source for garages are typically convection heaters. Convection heaters are very quiet and require no electricity, which makes them a great option for rural locations with workshops. These high-end heaters are manufactured by Enerco and LB White. 

Bottom line is, after you determine your BTU output, heater style is mainly preference.  For more information on heating and types of industrial heaters, check out this Heaters Buying Guide.  Over the course of the Fall and Winter months, I will be highlighting specific heaters and posting more information about the different heating types.  If you're heating spaces other than garages or shops, consider taking a look at Construction Heaters, Agricultural Heaters, and Event Heaters.