How Indirect Heater Benefits You to Keep Your Commercial Area Warm

Maintaining proper heating of commercial workplaces is critically important for the safety, health, comfort and productivity of employees sharing the space. In new commercial properties or construction sites, central heating may not be possible and supplemental heating apparatus may need to be installed. These temporary heating solutions are available in two options: direct-fired heaters and indirect-fired heaters.

Direct-Fired vs. Indirect-Fired Heat

Direct-fired and indirect-fired heaters differ in how air is heated within the unit. In a direct-fired heater, air is exposed directly to the hot flame and combustion that heats it before it is pumped out of the blower. 

Indirect-fired heaters add a heat exchanger for the burner to fire into, creating a barrier between the combustion and the air that is blown out. Similar to the operation of residential gas or oil furnaces, cool air moves over and around the heat exchanger to warm it before being pumped out of the blower. Combustion byproducts are removed from the exchanger through a flue, as opposed to combining with the product air that gets pumped into the occupied space.

Because the product air is exposed directly to the combustion occurring within the heater, direct-fired heaters produce warm air more efficiently. For large areas like warehouses and sites with poor insulation, direct-fired heaters are a less expensive and more energy-efficient option. Since the open flame makes direct contact with the product air, nearly 100 percent of the burned fuel contributes to the output. They are effective in extremely low temperatures and offer excellent control in managing the heat output.

Despite the benefits of direct-fired heaters, many common commercial spaces can actually get better use out of an indirect heater. Here we will discuss the reasons for choosing an indirect heater and appropriate settings for this type of temporary temperature control.

Benefits of Indirect Heaters in Commercial Areas

To begin, the size and layout of the commercial workspace can determine whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of both types of heaters. Certain spaces may be better serviced by direct-fired heaters while others may get the most use out of indirect heaters.

Indirect-fired heaters are placed outside of the building, using ducts to channel the warm air into the workspace. An exhaust ventilation tube connects to the chamber to dispense fumes and combustion byproducts from the heat exchanger outside.

For many commercial setups and certain industries, this heating arrangement yields important benefits:

• The air being introduced to the work environment is 100 percent clean and dry, free from any combustion byproducts.
• The system recirculates air, saving on fuel and offsetting the lower efficiency compared to direct-fired heating options.
• Built-in thermostats offer adjustable heating.
• Indirect-fired heaters do not release carbon dioxide into space, making it both safer and able to be applied to existing ductwork for better circulation throughout the space.
• Heaters can operate in tighter, confined spaces.
• There is a lower potential for sparking a fire.
• Indirect heaters are useful for protecting against frost.
• Indirect-fired heaters produce much drier air than direct-fired models. This creates less humidity, which can improve overall comfort and reduce the risk of harmful mold development. Plus, the dry air can also speed up drying and curing processes.

Despite their relatively high use and maintenance costs and inherent transportation difficulty, indirect heaters are a non-negotiable necessity for certain spaces. 

The biggest advantage of these units is the cleaner, safer air they provide, free from harmful byproducts and gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Hundreds of individuals throughout the country lose their lives and countless more are hospitalized due to carbon monoxide inhalation every year. Improper ventilation combined with the use of direct-heating apparatus, similar to grills, for instance, is a major cause of these health issues.

Outside of large, airy warehouses and open construction sites, indirect-fired heaters are the best solution.

They are particularly useful in enclosed areas and establishments that require high levels of cleanliness, including:

• Hospitals and health care facilities.
• Restaurants and food preparation sites.
• Tight office spaces.
• Schools and universities.
• Chemical handling and production facilities.
• Retail spaces.

Additionally, indirect-heaters can be useful even in construction sites where a direct heater may seem like the best option. When pouring cement, for example, the dry air from indirect heating units is preferable in expediting the curing process.

Choosing Indirect Heaters

Indirect heaters are a great temporary solution for enclosed spaces and rentals are a great option to keep your heating cost-effective. Carefully investigate the most appropriate setup for your space and consider how you plan to install the unit and circulate the air. Keep in mind that indirect-fired heaters are often much larger than direct-fired heaters, making their setup less versatile in certain spaces and more difficult to transport.

The ability for many indirect heaters to recirculate warm air helps reduce energy consumption costs so taking advantage of that feature can be significantly beneficial.

The higher rental, purchase and maintenance costs of these units is an important factor to consider with regard to indirect heating. Plan your budget accordingly and explore smaller electric space heaters if the costs are prohibitive.

Indirect Heater Options from Preferred Climate Solutions

Temperature and climate-controlled environments can make a difference in the health and productivity of workers. Choosing the right heating option for your space is absolutely essential to promote efficiency in your operations. 

At Preferred Climate Solutions, we carry a comprehensive catalog of portable and temporary heating solutions to fit the production and budgetary needs of customers in all industries. Our Campo Blaze Turbo indirect-fired heaters offer up 588,000 BTUs of heat blowing at 2,500 CFM. These efficient and reliable machines produce higher quality heat in less time. We offer these units to customers across Texas, backing our solutions with convenient 24/7 service availability. 

We believe that heating and cooling solutions should be made a cost-effective priority and we work diligently to offer the highest value to our customers. Contact our team today for more information on available rental heating units for your commercial space.