2050 County 41 NW, Backus, Minnesota
Construction in northern Minnesota does not stop for winter, but winter decides which crews stay productive. From November through March, the projects that hold schedule are the ones with a heat plan: thawed ground on dig day, slabs that cure instead of freeze, and buildings warm enough for finish trades to work. BCI Rentals in Backus carries one of the deepest temporary heat fleets in the Brainerd Lakes and Bemidji area, and this guide lays out how the pieces fit together.
| System | What it does | Reach for it when |
|---|---|---|
| Hydronic ground heaters | Circulate heated glycol through hose to thaw frost and cure concrete from below | Excavation in frozen ground, winter pours, frost prevention on prepared subgrade |
| Indirect and forced air heaters | Deliver heated air through ducting to warm enclosed spaces | Finish schedules, occupied buildings, enclosures, crew productivity |
| Curing blankets and accessories | Hold heat in place and complete either system | Every winter pour, and on their own for milder conditions |
Our Wacker Neuson hydronic fleet covers 2,500 sq ft (E1250), 6,000 sq ft (E3000, in three configurations including lift bail and extended service generator options), and 10,000 sq ft (E5000). Laid out under insulated blankets, these units thaw frost ahead of excavation and hold fresh pours at curing temperature without open flame or fumes. The supporting cast matters as much as the heater: 50 percent propylene glycol from pails to 270 gallon totes, PEX line kits, prime and flush kits, an HX200 heat exchanger for adding forced air output, and a 550 gallon fuel tank for long unattended runs. The full sizing walkthrough is in our ground heater rental guide.
The forced air side runs from a 200K BTU diesel indirect heater for houses and small interiors up to a 1M BTU towable unit for warehouse shells, with 400K, 500K, and 600K BTU steps between in diesel and LP/NG. Indirect fired units deliver clean, dry, ducted heat that is safe for occupied spaces and finish schedules. Make-up air units at 550K and 1.5M BTU keep tempered fresh air moving through sealed buildings, and a 250-400K BTU direct fired unit covers open, ventilated spaces efficiently. How to choose between them, and how to size BTUs, duct, and gas line, is covered in the indirect heater rental guide.
The fleet is based in Backus and maintained in our own shop, with flexible delivery and pickup options that put equipment exactly where you need it across the region: Brainerd and Baxter, Bemidji, Walker, Park Rapids, and Grand Rapids. Winter demand concentrates hard around cold snaps and pour windows, so the crews that reserve heat when the forecast firms up are the ones that get first pick of the fleet.
Building a winter heat plan? Browse ground heaters and forced air heaters with live availability, or contact our team and we will size the package for your project.
When should I reserve winter heat equipment?
As soon as your pour date or dig date firms up. Ground heaters and big indirect units book fastest during hard freezes, and reserving ahead costs nothing extra.
Ground heater or forced air heater for a concrete pour?
They solve different halves of the problem. The ground heater protects the slab itself; forced air heat protects the crew and the air above it. Enclosed winter pours often run both.
Can one setup heat the ground and the building?
The HX200 heat exchanger lets a hydronic ground heater also push warm air into an enclosure, which can cover smaller combined jobs with one unit.
Do you rent to individuals as well as contractors?
Yes. Whether you are a contractor running a season-long project or an individual pouring a building pad, our rental terms flex to fit the job.