Insulating and heating a pre-existing barn

[BK6756]

@atr

I’m in Northern Utah. Our winters last for 5-6months, which makes a big difference as to what is sufferable. We have a heated barn and arena. We keep it just above freezing, so it’s not exactly toasty, but it is bearable for staff and boarders alike. The roof and walls of the indoor are insulated from within with an insulating blanket that attaches directly to the metal walls. The barn has an insulated ceiling and the walls are insulated above the concrete foundation wall. It’s a bit of an odd situation because the barn is a lean-to like structure off one side of an ice rink, but that’s a whole different story…

We have the big propane shop heaters up by the ceilings in both spaces. We get them serviced annually and keep them clean. It’s a pretty standard way of doing it around here. It is very expensive to run, however, I think if I were starting rom scratch up here, I’d try for some solar component.

And to add, we keep the place very clean, it’s ventilated out every day. Our horses are clipped, blanketed well and turned out every day unless there’s sheet ice or a blizzard. We don’t have health problems associated with keeping our horses this way, but we are a group that is pretty religious about keeping our horses appropriately exercised and well cared for.

Thanks, that sounds like a reasonable option for heating. Will definitely look into solar options. Some people seem to think by “heated barn” I mean 70 degrees, but like you said, it’s more about keeping it bearable, not WARM.

[BK6756]

@mydogs

I rode at a barn that had insulated the walls and ceilings with padded insulation. Not sure what it was made out of but I would imagine the insulation was inside a “covering” and then rolled up during travel.

The barn and indoor was huge. But with it insulated, I was able to ride in an under armor cold gear shirt and a vest comfortably. When I left the barn, I had to bundle up to get to my car. The barn had heaters but the insulation was more than enough to keep us comfortable during a major snow storm.

@mmeqcenter

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio - the only barn I boarded at that was heated was awful, I hated it. They kept it heated to around 50°F through the whole winter, but just the barn, not the indoor arena. That place reeked so bad of ammonia in the winter it burned your eyes. They had no ventilation system and the owner FLIPPED out if anyone left a door open just an inch for longer than a second. I didn’t stay there for a second winter. Moral of the story - if you must heat it, make sure you also install an excellent ventilation system.

As a fellow cold-hater (hence my move to Florida), I suggest insulating the walls and wait and see how you handle it the first year before jumping in and adding heating. Even in non-insulated barns, it was almost always 10-20°F warmer in the barn than outside, so insulated barns were (of course) even better.

I can see how it could get ammonia smelling at a crowded barn, but with only 3 horses and keeping them out almost all day, I don’t think that will be a big problem for me but I will definitely keep ventilation in mind.

I think just sticking to insulation the first winter is a great idea ( and better to budget out the costs over time) and just see how bad it gets.

[cutter99]

I spent 46 winters in the mountains of PA, and would NOT insulate a barn for the following reason. If you heat a barn, you need to insulate it and close it up tight to avoid losing heat and money. Every barn I have ever been in (and as a professional in the equine industry for 15 years I saw many) that was closed up tight had a plethora of horses with either upper respiratory infections throughout winter or other lung issues like heaves. Horses just do better with fresh air.

The sercret, like G mentioned above, is investing in the right clothing for the human. Base layers, insulated turtle necks, quality outerwear and socks, insulated boots. Gloves and hats are essential. I am amazed at how well some of the winter gloves keep hands warm.

I was sometimes outside for 18 hours a day in weather that never got above 20* for weeks at a time. It is very doable with the right clothing.

[vxf111]

I’ve never been in a heated barn that didn’t smell like hot urine soup. Heated tack room, feed room, etc. is a different ball of wax

[brody]

My barn is not heated. My horses are out all day in winter. Once the horses come in it rarely gets below zero C (32 F?) we do keep the tack room/ feedroom at 5-10 and the water tank box much warmer ( so if there is a power failure the water won’t freeze)

[mydogs]

@BK6756

I can see how it could get ammonia smelling at a crowded barn, but with only 3 horses and keeping them out almost all day, I don’t think that will be a big problem for me but I will definitely keep ventilation in mind.

Agreed. The barn was huge (20+ stalls) and so was the indoor, but there were maybe 7 horses at the barn so we never had a problem with the ammonia smell. If horses were kept inside all day, stalls were cleaned out at least twice a day, if not more.

This barn also had a large exhaust system so if necessary, we could flip the two exhaust fans on and it would help circulate the air. I think it was similar to what cattle barns may have.

Crazy what loads of money can buy.

[MsM]

I have not thought to even wish for overall heat in the barn where I board! What I have dreamed of is some spot heat - maybe infrared aimed at the crosstie area. I would love to be able to tack up without freezing before I even get on. Once I am riding, it is not as much of a problem.

[clanter]

@BK6756

OK, I should have clarified. I am not AT ALL concerned about the horses getting too cold; the heat would be for my comfort

It’s northern Ohio, so not like it’s Alaska, .

all it takes is once for me… 1985, Akron, Ohio, and Knoxville, Tenn., each reported the coldest temperature in the nation with 24 below zero

http://articles.latimes.com/1985-01-…67_1_cold-wave

OP might want to purchase bit warmer as those chunks of steel get frosty

[BK6756]

@MsM

I have not thought to even wish for overall heat in the barn where I board! What I have dreamed of is some spot heat - maybe infrared aimed at the crosstie area. I would love to be able to tack up without freezing before I even get on. Once I am riding, it is not as much of a problem.

I wouldn’t have known it was a thing until I leased a horse at one (it was a QH barn) and it was SO nice! Like you, I’m usually ok once I’m riding because the exertion keeps me warm, but I always hated tacking up in the cold because my hands would hurt so bad, even with gloves.

[jawa]

Insulating the roof and walls, while keeping the space ventilated might be enough to keep things comfortable. Add some sort of radiant heat for the wash stall / tacking up area and you may find you are ok.

This would most likely make the space bearable for most of the winter. You may still have a day or three that are JUST TOO COLD, but the days would be fewer than non insulated.