Below you will find a short comparison of popular solutions for heating the work area when working with resins (epoxy, PU, polyester, polyaspartic). No jargon — only what affects your wallet and quality.
Sample assumptions for calculations (you can replace them with your own):
• electricity: 1.20 PLN/kWh • diesel: 7.00 PLN/l • diesel energy value: ~10 kWh/l • indirect heater efficiency: 90%
Quick comparison — how much does it cost per hour?
| Solution | Device power | Approximate cost / h | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convector / oil heater (electric) | 2 kW | ~2.40 PLN/h (2 kW × 1.20) | Stable heating for epoxies/polyaspartics, no airflow |
| Fan heater / electric heater | 9 kW | ~10.80 PLN/h (9 × 1.20) | Fast air temperature rise, substrate preparation |
| Indirect oil heater (with chimney) | 30 kW (heat) | ~23–24 PLN/h (consumption approx. 3.3 l/h × 7 PLN) | Large spaces, "tent" in the warehouse, dry heat without exhaust gases |
| Infrared (IR) heater | 2 kW | ~2.40 PLN/h | Heating the plate (concrete/form) for epoxy/polyaspartic |
| Heating mats / cables (local) | 0.5–2 kW/zone | ~0.60–2.40 PLN/h | Cold zones: at the gate, corners, under the pour |
| Condensation dryer (supplementary) | 0.5–0.8 kW | ~0.60–0.96 PLN/h | Humidity control (RH ≤ 60–65%), better gloss and adhesion |
Note: gas/oil units operating without exhaust gas extraction add water vapor and CO₂ — this ruins the conditions for epoxies and polyaspartics (matting, "fish scales").
Sample purchase prices (PLN)
- Convector/oil heater (electric): ~200–700 PLN
- Fan heater / electric heater 3–9 kW: ~300–1,000 PLN
- Indirect oil heater 20–40 kW: ~3,000–6,000 PLN (+ hose/chimney 300–800 PLN)
- IR heater 1.5–2 kW (on a stand): ~400–1,500 PLN
- Heating mats/cables (local): ~200–600 PLN per zone
- Condensation dryer 30–70 l/d: ~1,200–4,000 PLN
The simplest rules of economy (without calculation):
- Heat locally what you are curing: an IR heater or mat raises the temperature of the plate more cheaply than heating the entire warehouse.
- Reduce the volume: a "tent" in the warehouse usually cuts energy costs by dozens of percent.
- Keep humidity under control: a dryer costs pennies/h and often saves quality and time.
- After application, without drafts: a stable 20–22 °C (epoxy) is cheaper than temperature "spikes".
Which set to choose for resins?
- Epoxy / Polyaspartic: convector/oil heater (stable air) + IR/mats (plate) + dryer.
- Polyurethane: convector or electric heater + heating the plate (IR/mats).
- Polyester: fan heater (fast heating) + ventilation; locally mat/IR.
Want to calculate more precisely?
Multiply device power [kW] × time [h] × energy price. For an indirect oil heater, cost/h = (power kW ÷ (10 kWh/l × 0.9)) × diesel price.
