Temporary Heating during build

[mike2016]

I've a portable gas heater in storage and I was wondering with all the frost if I could use it in the self build. Everything is sealed in the house but I believe gas is a wet heat and I don't want excessive moisture build up as there is no ventilation working yet. Just would take the edge off the cold at the weekends. Has anyone done this / got any advice? Thanks! 

[JohnMo]

Electric panel heater.

 

Gas heater no ventilation sounds like carbon monoxide poisoning, if your not careful.

 

Or just work harder.

[Redbeard]

Roughly 1 litre of water given off for each litre of gas burned. Even if you don't succumb to the CO poisoning you won't help the moisture situation. +1 to elec.

[Oz07]

Oil filled rads pretty effective just make sure the extension leads or temp power boards are up to the job

[Conor]

We used three cheap dehumidifiers. Dried the air and warmed it. COP of 1.5-2. Had a couple blow heaters for when it was very cold.

[SteamyTea]

I am with @Conor, use a dehumidifier.

Best if you can get it to drain the condensate outside.

Edited November 18, 2024 by SteamyTea

[Kelvin]

I used dehumidifiers mostly and some oil filled rads set to the lowest setting on the coldest nights as they were on extension leads. 

[mike2016]

Thanks All. I used to have an old oil free radiator, will have a look to see if it's still in storage, good idea.

 

Didn't think about humidity - it's up around 80% currently......looks like dessicant models work best at the temps I'm at but are pricey @ €200+.

 

Only have a 2kW battery on site when I'm not there, no temporary mains as yet. 

[ProDave]

I have a cheap plug in dehumidifier BUT if fails to work when very cold as moisture freezes on the condenser and it has no defrost function, so it just stops.

 

Does your new build have a chimney?  If so get a temporary WBS in there.

[mike2016]

No Chimney! That's another good option though. I think the condenser humidifiers have issues < 10oC. 

[saveasteading]

Your best friend for reducing the wetness of recent wet trades (concrete and plaster) is airflow.

Even on a damp day this will remove the damp until it is at outdoors levels. 

It is just a matter of opening doors and windows, especially at  opposite faces. 

Only after that is it worth using a dehumidifier, with those openings kept shut.

Then try heating the air along with the dehumidifier.

 

Agreed re not using gas. It does work on heating the space, but also makes all that water.

 

How about just a very powerful dehumidifier, turning lots of electricity into heat as a byproduct.

 

BTW I have always found the  requirements to dry slabs for a day per mm or whatever they say, to be excessive if you can keep the water out and the air moving.

 

[mike2016]

The slab is over 8 months old at this point and no wet trades due for some time. It's just a bit cold working there but I can wrap up more. Was curious what heating options would work best but humidity isn't a concern just yet. Maybe I do need to air the place a bit more though despite the cold if 80% is a bit too high? 

[saveasteading]

5 minutes ago, mike2016 said:

but I can wrap up more. 

Sorted. 

 

If outdoors is 85% today,  airing won't help much today.