Your essential guide to heating farming sheds and barns in winter

Winter is the most difficult season for the agricultural sector. Days are shorter, nights are longer, and cold temperatures make it harder to maintain warmth in farm buildings, sheds, and barns.

Consistent heat is essential for many reasons. It protects animal welfare, preserves stored crops, and maintains equipment performance. Without the right agricultural heating in place, the repercussions on your livestock, people and produce can be devastating.

However, heating large farm buildings is not easy. Many sheds and barns have poor insulation and are prone to drafts, which can make heating expensive and inefficient.

This guide examines the challenges of maintaining warmth, and how Dantherm Group's energy-saving heaters can protect your people, livestock, and equipment throughout winter.

Why heating farm sheds and barns is essential in winter

Portable farm heating solutions deliver a wide range of benefits across your operations:

Improves livestock care and welfare

Portable heaters protect your livestock by helping them regulate their body temperatures. Cold weather negatively affects their health and productivity:

• Newborn chicks need warmth to survive – without it, they may experience stunted growth or higher mortality rates

• Young piglets are vulnerable to low temperatures, which can cause hypothermia and reduce survival rates

• Dairy cows exposed to cold for long periods may develop weaker immune systems, increased stress, and lower milk yields

• Horses in unheated stables may develop respiratory issues due to damp conditions or struggle to maintain body weight

Inadequate heating may also increase veterinary costs and reduce productivity, affecting your financial performance.

Protects crops and animal feed

Cold and damp conditions can spoil stored crops and animal feed, leading to financial losses. Proper heating helps prevent mould and rot from damaging your grain, silage and hay.

Preserves equipment performance

Frost damage during the winter can severely damage your farm machinery and equipment. Tractors and milking machines may seize, while planters or ventilation systems can operate less efficiently.

Equipment failures can delay time-sensitive work and increase costs. Using portable heaters helps prevent breakdowns and maintain long-term equipment performance even at the coldest times of year.

Increases worker safety and productivity

When you and your staff are working through the winter, excessively cold climates can reduce their productivity and focus. Supporting them with adjacent air heaters goes a long way to reducing the risk of injury and minimising the risk of cold-borne illnesses, such as hypothermia.

Secures infrastructure

Finally, the structural integrity of your farm buildings can also be compromised by freezing weather. With excessive moisture and frost having the potential to weaken walls, doors and roofing materials, capable heating systems can limit long-term damage and reduce the number of disruptive, expensive repairs.

Why it's hard to heat farming buildings, sheds and barns

With cold weather a threat to your livestock’s welfare, the quality of your produce and your workers’ productivity, keeping your farming sheds and buildings heated is non-negotiable. But this is challenging for several reasons:

• Large farming sheds and barns with high ceilings make heat distribution challenging

• Many farm buildings lack proper insulation, causing heat loss and inefficiency

• Different farm animals require different temperatures for optimal health and productivity

• Heating systems must be safe to operate around people, animals and flammable materials

• The scale and openness of farm buildings can make heating expensive due to the energy demand

Faced with the above challenges, a central heating system for your farming sheds and barns is often impractical and costly. Portable heating solutions provide a more efficient and flexible option.

Deliver energy-efficient barn heating with portable air heaters

Portable air heaters offer a reliable, efficient way to keep farm buildings warm during winter:

• They provide targeted spot heating, reducing energy waste and compensating for poor insulation

• They are mobile and can be moved to different locations as needed for your livestock, crops or equipment

• They do not require ductwork, piping, or extensive electrical installations

• They are quick and easy to deploy, which is useful during unexpected cold snaps

Rather than counteract the problems associated with poor barn insulation or expansive farm buildings, portable heaters deliver warmth where it’s needed in a cost-effective manner.

What portable heating systems are available for heating farm buildings?

Direct-fired heaters

Direct-fired heaters burn fuel, such as gas or oil, to generate heat. They use an open flame to warm incoming air, providing a high heat output.

Since combustion byproducts, such as CO2 and humidity, mix with the air, these heaters are suitable only for well-ventilated, semi-open spaces. This makes them highly efficient and powerful option for heating large barns that store equipment.

Indirect-fired heaters

Indirect-fired heaters enclose their flame in a sealed combustion chamber. A heat exchanger transfers warmth to passing air, producing clean, fume-free heat.

This makes indirect heaters safe for use around people and animals in cattle sheds, pig sties, and horse stables. In addition, many models from Dantherm Group include PVC flex tubes, allowing you distribute heat to multiple locations from a single heater.

Electric heaters

Electric fan heaters are most suitable for small, enclosed spaces. Since they produce no emissions, electric heaters can be used in areas where combustion-based heaters pose safety risks, such as hay-filled barns or around sensitive equipment.

As electric heaters are also compact and easy to deploy, they may also be used as livestock heating systems for newborn animals, such as chicks and piglets, ensuring healthy development.

Infrared heaters

Unlike other heaters, infrared heaters emit radiant heat that warms specific objects and areas without disturbing the air. This makes these units effective in open, draughty farming facilities, where other heaters may be less efficient.

Furthermore, since many barns and sheds are dusty, infrared heaters help maintain air quality by not stirring dust particles. They also operate quietly, minimising stress of your livestock.

Choosing the right portable heater for your farming shed or barn

Selecting the right type of heater for your farm buildings depends on several factors:

• The size and insulation of the farm building

• The type of livestock or crops being housed

• The number of people and animals inside

• Ventilation and fresh air requirements

• The presence of flammable materials

• Available energy sources

• The need for localized heating

Dantherm Group is the European expert in agricultural climate control technology. Our experts help identify the best heating system and tailor them based on your specific needs, ensuring efficient temperature management throughout the winter.

What safety precautions should I take when using portable heaters in barns?

To ensure the safety of your people, livestock and farm buildings when using portable heaters, we recommend following these guidelines:

• Choose heaters with built-in safety features, such as automatic shut-off and overheat protection

• Keep heaters away from flammable materials, including hay and bedding

• Use direct-fired heaters only in well-ventilated areas

• Inspect heaters regularly for damage or performance issues

Always follow the heater manufacturer's guidelines for placement, ventilation and clearance to ensure safe operation.

Ensure optimal, efficient heating year-round with Dantherm Group

We hope this guide has made you aware of the importance of heating your farming sheds, barns and buildings during the winter, and demonstrated why portable heaters are your most effective, efficient solution.

But not just any portable heater can support your farm buildings, animals and produce. At Dantherm Group, our diverse range of heating systems are trusted by the global farming industry.

Highly regarded for outstanding heat output, impressive energy efficiency and robust durability, you can always rely on our portable heaters all winter long.

• A wide range of heating technologies, including direct-fired, indirect-fired, electric and infrared heaters

• Portable systems that can be easily positioned wherever needed

• Durable construction that withstands dust, chemicals and other agricultural materials

• Energy-saving features and components that lower operational costs

• Customised solutions tailored to your specific farm buildings and requirements

For reliable heating in the coldest climates, trust the European-leading range of fuel-efficient heaters. Talk to our experts today to learn how we can support your farm.