Hey, new to the sub and new to greenhouses. Just bought a home in the northeast US that came with this greenhouse and I intend on not letting it go to waste. It has (had) a working natural gas furnace inside, sadly, the gas lines were recently damaged from other work and would be costly to repair as they’d have to run new gas line.
Question: is it worth it to replace the lines? I could also convert it from natural gas to propane for cheaper but not sure if there’s a downside to that? Am I making much-ado about nothing and will never use the furnace much?
by VerityZ
4 Comments
Who broke the gas line? Was it someone you hired to do work? If so then they are responsible to fix it.
Assuming the natural gas is connected to your main line/house?
If so, in the long run, fixing it will be the better option. Propane tanks will need refilled, either by you or a company. That means either your labor to take the tank somewhere or your dollars to have someone else come out and do it.
I’d say there is peace of mind knowing you have unlimited supply of natural gas, won’t run out in the middle of a blizzard when everyone else is stocking up on propane, etc.
As far as usage, that’s up to you. If you want to just use the greenhouse as a season extender, you might not use it at all. If you want to grow some hardy crops and plants and just keep it above freezing, you’ll use it lightly, but often. If you want to grow tropicals, you’ll be using it heavily.
As someone who wishes SO badly to have a natural gas furnace in their greenhouse, please fix it. 😊
I have natural gas (Modine hotDawg) heater. It is dependable and I don’t have to think about refilling a propane tank.
If you live in a colder area where your propane could run out at an inconvenient time you would be better served to go with natural gas.
Also, you need to either replace the current furnace or have it converted to propane. My last furnace replacement (2020) cost me about $2,500. The greenhouse is a harsh environment with the humidity so mechanical stuff has a shortened life.
You might also want to compare the cost of propane vs natural gas. I believe that propane is significantly more expensive but once again if you are in a warmer area it might not be a significant cost.
Do you have any cost estimate on the replacement of the gas line?
I have a natural gas furnace attached to my greenhouse.
Pros:
I grow year round. Just started another round of tomatoes/peppers.
It’s a dreamy place to spend time in during Canadian winters. Warm and “sunny”.
I get home grown fresh fruit and veg year round.
Cons
I grow year round and never get a breather – sometimes I consider shutting it down for a month or 2 but I never have.
It gets too dry for the plants and I had to add a humidifier.
Year round growing makes my hydro bill insane. It’s supplemented with big lights since there’s not enough sunlight in the winter.
Climate change is real and it doesn’t get anywhere near as cold/snowy as it did during my earlier gardening years. The greenhouse is only 4 or 5 years old but in my mind we still get 6 feet of snow and -20. Reality – that hasn’t happened in at least 10 years. Maybe 15.
Spring and then mid summer to fall with the greenhouse and my outside gardens is a lot of work.