Applications
Unit heaters can be used in nearly any heating type application and facility size. Most common settings include:
Garages & workshops - for professional and occasional mechanics, craftsmen and enthusiasts with interest in motors, wood or metal working, hunting, fishing and other activities.
Warehouses & distribution facilities - where floor plan, ceiling height, loading docks and other factors require a versatile and effective heating solution.
Greenhouses - where maintaining air temperature and circulation are crucial and humidity is present.
And many, many others, including manufacturing, packaging, cargo routing, etc.
Unit heaters vs baseboards, radiators & radiant heat
Unit heaters can be a viable alternative or addition to radiant floor heating, baseboards and duct heating options, offering features which no other method provides. They are practically indispensable in settings where outdated, inappropriate or no current heat source exists.
Pros:
- Compact - since unit heaters are designed to be mounted near the ceiling, away from foot traffic areas, they take virtually no space.
- Ease of installation - it is much easier to install a unit heater in a crowded or already furnished space than to install baseboards & ducts.
- Faster heating - unlike baseboards and radiant heat, which may take a while to heat up, unit heaters are ready to go in a moment’s notice.
- Flexibility – unit heaters can be removed (when moving to a new location) or repositioned as needed with minimal modifications.
Cons:
- Noise - even the most quiet unit heaters produce a lot of noise when compared to the silent operation of radiant heating and baseboard systems.
- Dust in the air - propeller and blower motor fans move the air, inevitably moving dust and other particles.
- Temperature distribution - radiant floor heating systems heat the floor, where occupants spend most of the time, whereas hot air from the unit heaters either has to be circulated continuously or it will naturally rise to the ceiling.
- Operating cost and energy efficiency - on average, radiant systems’ efficiency still outperforms that of the unit heaters.
Gas vs electric vs hot water/steam vs oil heaters
The choice of fuel or energy source primarily depends on the its’ availability, convenience of use or specific indoor environment conditions that must be met.
Gas unit heaters are by far the most common choice and a large variety of options allows to select a proper unit for practically any application.
Electric unit heaters tend to be smaller than the gas ones and are often used for smaller applications or as a backup heat source, where running gas, oil or hot water lines is impractical or cost prohibitive. Since these do not produce combustion gases, there’s no need to install flue pipes, further simplifying installation.
Hot water (hydronic) & steam unit heaters are a cost effective and practical solution where a non-potable hot water source (from a boiler, indirect water heater or similar) already exists, especially where the latter is in close proximity and/or has a high energy efficiency. Similarly to their electric counterparts, they do not require vent pipes and are in general, quicker and easier to install than gas and oil-fired units. Due to inherent design, hydronic unit heaters are better suited for small to medium residential and commercial settings.
Oil-fired unit heaters are the least common of all, reserved mainly for applications where no other fuel/energy source is available.
Why Modine
- Made in the USA
- Established in 1918 - over 100 years of expertise
- Largest selection of unit heaters in the industry
- Top of the line quality
- Long life expectancy of the products and 10 year heat exchanger warranty (gas models)
