If you’re in the spray foam business, then you know what it means to work in cold weather. In fact, the essence of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is to provide insulation against the cold. However, when spray foam is first applied, it needs to be warm to have the proper consistency, chemical reaction, and adhesion. If the application surface is too cold, it will suck the heat from the chemical reaction, and the foam won’t bond to the surface. If the actual spray is too cold, it won’t spray with the proper consistency, but will become sort of gooey. Using a spray foam box heater for your products can solve this problem, keeping you working year round, no matter how cold it gets.
The Nature of Spray Foam
To put it simply, spray foam just doesn’t work in cold weather. Polyurethane foam is very sensitive to temperature in its liquid state. The preferable temperature of application is between 60-80° F. However, construction doesn’t stop when the thermometer drops well below 60º.
The cold-weather dilemma is nothing new to the world of spray foam. Winter application has been a challenge for as long as SPF has been around. In fact, in the past, some professionals tried using band heaters on their totes in order to keep the foam warm enough for application. However, this caused more problems than it solved. Band heaters give off patchy warmth, leaving lumpy, unevenly heated spray foam.
Ba(n)d Heaters
Some professionals have tried using band heaters to keep their spray foam warm during cold-weather application. The problem is that band heaters offer inconsistent and unregulated heat, causing burning and charring of the product.
Band heaters aren’t very durable to start with, and they create unreliable, unregulated heat levels. Even if you find a band heater that has a thermostat, you’ll discover it doesn’t reliably control the temperature of your product. This is because they only provide a thin stripe of heat around the container or product. This means it can’t deliver even heat distribution. In the case of spray foam, this leads to burnt product—product that flakes and clogs up equipment, pumps, and hoses.
Insulated Heating Blankets
Insulated blankets offer a solution that is much more efficient and safe than band heaters. They provide even heat distribution over the entire container. The temperature is completely regulated, especially if you get an external remote, keeping your spray foam at the ideal temperature for cold weather application. You don’t have to worry about burnt product, uneven heating, or damage to equipment. Powerblanket’s spray foam heaters were designed with spray-foam application in mind, making them the perfect answer to your wintertime woes.
Stand Out Feature of Powerblanket Spray Foam Heaters
- Evenly heats spray foam from all sides for a consistent performance
- Consistent and regulated heat distribution protects against burning and scorching
- Well-insulated unit keeps the heat from leaking out
- Safety certifications, including a UL listing (in the U.S.) and CSA (in Canada).
Keep your business running smoothly through the cold winter months with Powerblanket spray foam heaters.
