|
|
Discussion on Any Ideas to keep stuff from freezing?
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
erika
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 3:01 pm:
Now that I just finished my new barn interior, I had to reconfigure some spaces. The only area that works for feed, grooming supplies, and first aid kits is now in an unheated part of the barn. It does freeze hard in there.
Does anyone have any tips for keeping things like medicines, grooming solutions and other liquids from being ruined? For instance, heat tape, mini-fridge/heaters, anything like that?
I used to keep everything in the pump room which doen't freeze, but it is really inconvenient to do that now since I would have to go through three different doors and rooms to get there.
I have steel cabinets that I keep the stuff in, but it is open to the stalls through the bars. The cabinets are not insulated, but I wondered if I put heat tape under one shelf to hold liquids if that would stay a steady temp, or would I just be throwing money into the frozen night?
Looking for ideas on how the rest of the frozen world copes.
Thanks,
Erika
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 4:10 pm:
Erika,
We have a small wall heater that is ventless run by LP bottle gas. Just asked Brian, he said vented would have been better as this does put a small amout of moisture in the room; not good for leather. For the most part, we just have the pilot light on, and only when it's really cold, like below zero, do we turn it on the lowest setting which heats the room up to 50 or 60. Also we turn it up to warm cold hands from doing chores!
I also keep one of those oil filled electric radiators on wheels in there, just in case the bottle runs empty and it's during a cold spell. That probably costs more to run, but also does the trick.
And we have heat trace on the water lines also.
You might try a "grow mat" from a greenhouse supply company if you only want to keep one shelf warm. Hmmmm...in fact I have one of those, maybe I will rearrange my supplies and see if I can save on the other heat sources. Just wonder where the heck it is? If you used that, and put like a foam cooler over it...good idea here!
|
Member:
erika
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 4:38 pm:
Oh Angie, what a great idea! Love the gro-mat and cooler!
Problem with the space heater is that this isn't an enclosed room, but as you can see in the photo, it's just extra space at the end of the row of stalls. You can see the stall bars to the left. So any heat would not be contained and since my barn is 50' x 100', it would take one powerful heater!
My tack and office rooms are heated, but I am trying to keep stuff near the cross-tie area for convenience sake.
I think I could even get a heating pad set on low, with a small cooler over it. I could put that right in one of the big lockers there and I think it would be perfect.
You're a genius!
Erika
|
Member:
scooter
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 4:38 pm:
Erika. my neighbor uses a fridge, it kills 2 birds with one stone...don't freeze in winter, stays cool in the summer works great. I keep mine in the house!
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 7:48 pm:
Not a genius, but thanks!
Another idea, left over from my green thumb days, is hanging a light bulb in anything you want to keep from freezing will actually generate a lot of heat. One 60W light bulb, in a cold frame with plywood back and sides, old glass windows on top, and old quilts thrown over it all, kept my plants toasty in pretty darn cold weather.
Whatever you decide works, you might want to take anything really important into the heated parts when it's below zero for a spell...just in case ya know!
|
Member:
wing
|
Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 - 9:14 pm:
Erika...
Being in the appliance repair business...You could take a small deep freezer thats not working and put your grow mat or what ever heat source you come up with in it...Most of the time these freezers are cheaper to buy than fix...people send them to the curb all the time...I also use them to keep feed in...Good luck...
|
Member:
erika
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 24, 2008 - 1:31 pm:
Sounds like a good idea, Bob. Rat proof! But do you have any trouble with moldiness since it's airtight? I always notice that a fridge that is unplugged always grows mold in it!
Erika
|
Member:
wing
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 24, 2008 - 5:59 pm:
As far as putting feed in it ,Ours is in the basement (temp controled).We only put a bag of feed in at a time.....But for meds and such drill a few small holes up around the top with a holesaw ...Then put your heat source in....
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Oct 24, 2008 - 7:46 pm:
You should always put a few holes in any discarded fridge or freezer in case a child were to accidently get trapped in one.
|
|
|
