An ineffective warehouse heating system can mean that warehouse employees become uncomfortable in the cold winter months. Warehouses, especially those with large square footage, are prone to difficulties in ambient temperature and if care isn’t taken then employees could be left to cope with less than desirable working conditions. The cold months can leave warehouse workers operating at lower productivity and complaining about the chill.
Here at Atmostherm Ltd our commercial heating engineers are experts in warehouse heating systems.
Below we list out some winning tactics to keep a warehouse warm in winter and avoid your employees complaining about the cold.
How to keep your warehouse warm in winter
- Speed Up the External Doors
Large warehouse doors can often be opening and closing many times a day which can mean a huge loss of heat, energy, and expense in the colder months. The best solution to this is to keep the doors closed as much as possible, but if you need to keep the doors open for the day to day operation of your warehouse, you can check their fit, speed, and maintenance instead, which will ensure that they are operating as efficiently as possible.One solution to the problem of heat loss via circulation of cold air is High Volume, Low Speed (HVLS) fans. HVLS fans can act as a barrier between external and internal air circulation. Working with radiant heat, HVLS fans can move a column of air upwards from the fan, mixing the warmer air at the ceiling with the cooler air near the floor and de-stratifying the space; leaving a more comfortable temperature throughout.Even if you need to have have your bay doors open, HVLS fans can still prevent the escape of heat. Using HVLS fans to control air flow in a warehouse can mean that your employees are kept warm even when it is freezing cold outside, meaning that heat loss is reduced and the business saves money on heating costs. - Check the Floor
A wet warehouse floor can be a revealing sign of evaporation problems within a warehouse, also known as ‘Sweating Slab Syndrome’. When this happens, warehouse employees – often wearing bulky, protective clothing – are at high risk of injury on the slippery floors. Health and safety training will help employees avoid the risk of slip and falls, but wet spots should still be avoided. A wet warehouse floor can indicate a problem with the air flow. When the weather is warm and humid during the day and cooler at night, concrete floors are often much cooler than the air inside of the building. Once warm air comes into the building and meets the cool floors, the air deposits moisture as it cools down to match the temperature of the slab. - Check the Ceiling
Warm air naturally rises and, combined with warmth from the sun on the roof and lighting that gives off heat, meaning that while the temperatures at the floor may be cold there could be warm air up at the ceiling. Through the use of HVLS fans, warehouses can re-distribute the warm air and push it down to satisfy climate needs at ground level. When HVLS fans are integrated with an existing HVAC system, it can ease the strain on the system, saving you money on electric bills and increasing the lifespan of your HVAC unit. Fans can be used to manage the temperatures in facilities over 30,000-square feet and with ceilings exceeding heights of 30-feet. - Review the Design
Many warehouses have no heating at all. Retrofitting them with HVAC systems may seem cost prohibitive, but here at Atmostherm Ltd we will work with you to find a solution that fits your budget. Layout of racking can affect heat flow – take advantage of our free site survey to consult one of our engineers on the layout and structure of your warehouse, and the various heating systems available to it.
When working with you to find a warehouse heating solution, there are several financial components to consider:
- Upfront price of the solution
- Running costs of the heating system
- Service & maintenance costs for the system
- ROI of the solution
The return on investment comes your equipment working more efficiently and your energy costs reducing. An added return comes from your employees being warm and comfortable.
Atmostherm Ltd are established HVAC contractors in Manchester and are experienced at planning, design and installation of warehouse heating systems for all types of businesses across the North West.