Heating Options for Pole Barns

Space Heating

• Because pole barns are generally not designed for winter comfort and because they often don't require around-the-clock heat, many owners employ space heaters designed to warm people or livestock in one place. Heating the entire interior of a pole barn can be a frustrating, expensive proposition. Gas-powered space heaters, electric space heaters, line heaters and infrared heaters are all viable options for directing heat at the bodies of people and contained livestock. Kerosene heaters are not recommended, because the fumes are unpleasant and unhealthy.

Steam

• One durable, easily-maintained system for general heating of pole barn structures is steam. If steam heat is already in use for other buildings, the same boiler can be attached to an inline floor system of steam heat. This system is built into the floor, and releases warm, moist air that rises through the building. One advantage of steam heat is that it humidifies and cold winters typically create problems with overly dry air. A disadvantage of steam heat is that it cools quickly as it rises toward high ceilings, so the upper portions of the pole barn structure may remain chilly.

Forced Air

• If your structure has been compartmentalized into a house and provided with an interior finish that includes good quality insulation, forced air heat may be the best option. This is the most common residential heat source in North America, consisting of a central furnace attached to an air handler, which sends heated air through the house via a network of metal ducts. Warm air is then distributed into individual rooms by vents which can be opened or closed as needed.

Compost Heat

• If the pole barn structure is being used as a hunting cabin or a place where people can nip brandy and play cards without disturbing the rest of the family, then wood stoves are one option to create a heated area big enough for a few people to sit around. There are two main types of EPA-approved wood stove: catalytic and non-catalytic. Catalytic wood stoves burn combustion gases inside the stove itself, and non-catalytic stoves use a longer exhaust to burn the gases as they are carried away from the stove. In a tall structure, which pole barns typically are, the cheaper, non-catalytic stoves have plenty of chimney-length, though the catalytic stoves create more floor-level heat.