Heating Showroom & Retail Spaces Efficiently

Showrooms are frequently used to showcase new products and invite prospective clients for a closer look at how an organisation works. Visually pleasing spaces are key to making a great first impression. Another important aspect is maintaining comfortable temperatures. But heating large retail showroom spaces so can be difficult, especially in the winter months.

Poor heat distribution can result in cold pockets of air. Inefficient heating systems can also inflate operating costs and increase carbon footprint. Taking all of these factors together to heat a large space while also maintaining a comfortable working environment can be challenging.

There are two showroom heating solutions – warm air heating and radiant heating. Here we’ll provide an overview of how both are used to keep large spaces heated.

Warm Air Heating for Retails Showrooms

Warm air heating is one of the most popular ways to heat large open spaces like showrooms, warehouses, and factories. These heaters work by heating the surrounding air, which in turn keeps the environment and its inhabitants warm.

Heating works by passing air through heat exchange to increase its temperature. The warm air is then circulated throughout an open area using a fan. The even distribution of warm air prevents cold spots from forming. Warm air heaters are available in different types – gas, electric, and oil-based.

These systems can be suspended from the roof, mounted on a wall, or placed on the floor. Which type you ultimately opt for largely depends on the layout of space and floor area available. If floor space is at a premium, suspended or wall-mounted heaters will likely be preferred. Warm air heaters need to be placed correctly to ensure the entire area is heated. You may also need to install additional units depending on how large the retail showroom is.

Radiant Heating for Showroom Spaces

Radiant heating is provided by suspended radiant tubes or plaque heaters, which are wall-mounted or suspended from the ceiling. Both types work by emitting infrared radiation from the surface. Unlike warm air heaters, which work by warming the air, radiant heaters work by heating nearby objects and people.

One of the limitations of radiant heating is that people need to be in its line of sight to be warmed. Radiant heating may not be practical for certain floor layouts as objects like shelving could block the warmth. However, this type of heating works great for areas that lead outside, such as loading bays.

Destratification

For large retail showrooms that have high ceilings, some of the warm air will rise to the top. This leads to wasted energy, which could end up costing more in the long term. The solution is to combine warm air heating and suspend destratification fans from the ceiling to recirculate the warm air to the occupied space at the bottom. This helps to improve the efficiency of the main heating systems and keep heating costs down.

Whether you opt for warm air heating or radiant heating for a large retail showroom, these systems should be installed by experienced professionals for optimal performance. To find out more about how to heat large retail showrooms or to request a quote for your project, contact Winrow today.