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Thad in AR. 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
Points: 9455
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 Topic: Well house heat
Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 7:38am |
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We just drilled a new well. I built the pump house in a corner in my shop. It’s 5’ x6’ x 8’ tall insulated with R19 and Drywaller with 1/2”.
I put a light in the ceiling using a porcelain fixture (not one with a chain switch) . Can I put a heat lamp in that fixture or should I get one of those clamp on shielded plug-in fixtures?
Any other ideas welcome.
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 31067
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 7:40am |
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Good luck finding a Conventional Lamp Bulb, we used 100w incandescent lamps to keep my Grandfather's well house warm, only took One, set six inches from floor. LEDs do not make heat, not sure fluorescents.
Edited by DMiller - 26 Nov 2021 at 7:40am
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
Points: 22458
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 8:01am |
random thoughts.. I'd put the light fixture at floor level as heat rises....... would have used 2by6 or 2by8 studs,insulate R30-40...... insulate the inside of the door,2-3" styrofoam
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Lars(wi)
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 8:17am |
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Install a wall outlet, then plug in a portable space heater set a lowest heat setting. As long as the room stay above freezing is all you need.
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 8:21am |
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your insulation and walls are fine for your location.. A small heater like Lars said would work fine. Get a 500- 600 watt unit or a larger one that has a low setting.. At 1200 watts and 120 volts you are pulling 10 amps... You light socket would be fine for that , if you dont want a wall socket.....You should be in good shape.... Like Lars said, you only need 35- 40 degrees in the building.
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Gary (sw Wis.)
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: S.W. Wis.
Points: 206
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 8:29am |
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The short answer. Yes you can put a heatlamp in your fixture. We keep small rooms from freezing with heatlamps here in Wisconsin often, but what i do get a "Y" fixture to put 2 heat lamps in so if one burns out you don't freeze things up. Than I hook them trough a 110 line voltage thermostst to save electicity.
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Hubert (Ga)engine7
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 9:36am |
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I use the heat lamps in both of my pump houses and both are outside. I also have an inline thermostat that cuts them off when the temperature is well above freezing.
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Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God.
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Thad in AR.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 10:15am |
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I did install a couple outlets as well.
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WF owner
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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 11:13am |
A friend of mine has basically the same thing you are describing, except his is only about 6 feet high. He started out with a heat bulb, but was lucky to check it one day and find out the bulb had burned out. He ended up going with a thermostatically controlled heater. he has now installed a second heater that is set considerably lower, in case the heater would fail for some reason.
Before, when you opened the door, you could feel the heat hit you in the face. Now, it is set at about 55 degrees. It is probably cheaper in the long run to run the heater, which only heats when needed.
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Alberta Phil
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 11:19am |
Mine is set up similar to what you describe. Heat lamp in porcelain ceiling fixture with a small electric backup heater in case the bulb burns out while I'm away. Heater is hooked up with a thermostat control to turn it on if the temp gets too low for any reason. Mine building is well insulated for here in the great white north! I lined the inside totally with silver "bubble pack" type material last year and it made a huge difference in there. All heat is reflected back inside there. Only problem is if the power goes off for an extended period in cold weather like last week. One of the lower pipes started to freeze. Put a small gas powered generator on to keep the heat lamp going and it soon thawed out. In the past, if the power was out, I put an old fashioned kerosene barn lantern in there and that kept it warm enough that it didn't freeze up. Unfortunately, when i tried that last week, the old lantern had rusted out in the bottom of the fuel tank!! (now repaired!)
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dee_veloper
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Joined: 12 Apr 2021
Location: USA
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 1:29pm |
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I too have a heat lamp in my well house. I have it a metal fixture and it is plugged into a thermo-plug which kicks in/out around 35-40 degrees. I have had no problems since I set it up this way. I have the lamp pointed down towards the tank and piping.
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allisbred
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Joined: 28 Mar 2015
Location: Hanover Pa
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 2:28pm |
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Wrong post
Edited by allisbred - 26 Nov 2021 at 2:31pm
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fixer1958
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Location: kansas
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 5:43pm |
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I had 2 dock deicers that had a probe in the water that was set at 32 and turned on a pump 4 foot in the water to pump warmer bottom water up to keep ice from around the dock. Been awhile but I'm sure it was a well house deicer thermostat to turn on a heater or whatever you have.
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DiyDave
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Posted: 26 Nov 2021 at 6:17pm |
A lot of small heaters have a thermostat on them, you just set it, and it keeps the temp anywhere from freezing on up. I have a small one that I bought at an auction(I got 4 for $10, it was a hot day, a coupla years ago, LOL), its a ceramic heater with fan, about a 6 or 8 inch cube, keeps the office from freezing... 
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shameless dude
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Joined: 10 Apr 2017
Location: east NE
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Posted: 28 Nov 2021 at 12:44am |
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i too have a small ceramic heater in my well house. it's outside, about a 5x7 space, 6 in insulation. i had an infrared heater in there one year, the power blinked and it went out and didn't come back on. caught it just in time. the ceramic heater will come back on if it blinks again.
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wjohn
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Joined: 19 Jan 2010
Location: KS
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Posted: 29 Nov 2021 at 6:23pm |
I have a not ideal well house that I haven't had time to fix up with the house I bought. It's cinder block walled and too tall to keep the heat down low, not well insulated or sealed, etc. I wound one string of heat tape around all the pipes and put the foam pipe insulation over that, but my pressure gauge and switch for triggering the pump on/off will freeze up since I didn't get the heat tape all over them. I've used a 100W incandescent bulb under the switch and only had one issue since... When the bulb burnt out overnight during that bad cold snap last year. Putting a small ceramic heater in there will thaw it out fairly quickly. I used to do that but that is way more heat and way more electricity to pay for than you probably need, especially with your insulation and better construction.
I also got one of those $30 indoor/outdoor temp readers and put the outdoor sender in the well house. Even without the heat tape on you can get several degrees below freezing and not have any issues since the temp in the pipes is still above freezing. Kind of interesting to keep an eye on it and nice to know your bulb isn't burned out just by checking the temp of the outdoor sender. Not that much money - just have to change out AA batteries once a year or so.
Someday I hope to make space for the tank in the house, install a pitless adapter and not have to screw with any of it, ha. I sure was spoiled with that setup in the house I grew up in. From the sound of it, I doubt you'll have much trouble keeping your setup above freezing with it being inside the larger shop. A small incandescent would probably be plenty if it's sealed well at the ceiling. Again, the temp sender is nice to know you're okay.
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