If you have spent the time, effort and money building a conservatory – or bought a house that already has one – it’s only right that you benefit from being able to use it all year round.
Of course, during the balmier summer months it takes care of itself – it’s practically a greenhouse tacked on to the back of your house, so it should retain a fair bit of heat when the sun’s been shining.
But in winter – and on cooler evenings during summer and autumn – all too many conservatories sit empty for long periods and are really just a waste of space.
In this blog I’m going to give you some tips on how you can enjoy the summer evenings in your glass-walled oasis, help you to prepare for winter and really make the most of your conservatory.
Conservatories have unique heating requirements. Thanks to their glass structure, large number of exterior walls and high ceilings, heat can quickly escape and disappear.
In fact, heat is thought to escape eight times faster through double glazed conservatory windows than it does through a conventional cavity wall.
That means choosing an energy efficient conservatory heating solution is arguably more important in this room than any other in the house.
Following a few simple steps to trap the heat from the sun – like ensuring conservatory windows and vents are closed before dusk, as well as using window blinds – can all aid your energy efficiency.
But let’s take a look at the conservatory heating options that will keep you warm and cosy on those cooler, rainy days (which the British Summer Time is always filled with) and allow you to enjoy the surroundings of your conservatory for as long as possible.
Electric radiators for the conservatory
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A steady BOOM has rumbled away in the electric radiator market in the last few years and as heaters for conservatories go, it’s pretty easy to see why.
– Electric radiators are a quick, easy and fuss-free option as conservatory heaters. They are a convenient choice as the existing heating pipework does not have to be extended or re-laid, so in essence you can just plug in and heat up.
– They’re available in a range of shapes, sizes and styles, including low-level and compact models to take up minimal wall and floor space; ideal for heating a conservatory.
– Electric radiators and electric wall heaters warm up and cool down quite rapidly too, and convert all of their electrical energy into heat, making them a more efficient and cost effective conservatory heater than many alternatives.
Trench heating
– As its name suggests, trench heating is an underground heating method in which a radiator is placed in a ‘trench’ below floor-level and covered by a grill which allows the hot air to rise up and permeate the room.
– Although relatively rare as a conservatory heating option, trench heating is convenient as it doesn’t take up valuable wall space.
– Trench heating can also take some time to warm up a room, making it less efficient than a radiator alternative and installation costs can vary greatly – making the outlay and running costs often quite expensive.
Underfloor heating
– Underfloor heating is a good choice for heating a conservatory as it’s discreet and will provide a steady flow of heat around the room.
There are, however, a number of downsides to choosing this option as your choice of conservatory heating. Although efficient once it’s got going, underfloor heating can take a long time to warm up, so it will need to be switched on prior to using the room, limiting spontaneous use of the space.
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– Similarly, if the underfloor heating has been in use for a while, it will take a long time for the conservatory to cool down, which may lead to an uncomfortably hot temperature, leading to opening windows in order to cool the space down, meaning more energy inefficiency.
– You may also find that some underfloor heating can only be installed during the building of your conservatory, so if your floor has already been laid you may find this option too costly, time-consuming and disruptive to entertain.
– Underfloor heating can only be laid under certain floor coverings, which limits the design choices available to you. Tiles and laminate are perfect for use with these systems, but avoid solid wood floors (which may warp over time) and carpets, which will stop the heat from rising altogether.
Air-conditioning
– Usually associated with the summer and keeping us cool, air conditioning can in fact use the same technology to keep us warm in winter.
– The heat pump within the unit can take warm air from outside and direct it inside the conservatory, although this does depend on there being some warm air outside in the first place.
– With its dual-purpose functionality, air-con is a good heating and cooling solution for the conservatory, but it lacks the high heat outputs of other methods and extra heating power is required from a radiator or fan-heater.
As conservatories can get quite hot naturally – thanks to the flaming ball of gas in the sky – air-con may not be such a bad choice.
Standard radiators and gas central heating
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– While it may be temporarily disruptive, extending your existing central heating pipework and adding a radiator or two is a highly effective way of heating a conservatory.
– Many modern designer radiators have enormous heat outputs, with enough power to quickly and efficiently heat the room and maintain a comfortable temperature for many hours.
– There are some great looking radiators out there in a range of styles and finishes to suit your conservatory – whether it is ultra-modern or very traditional, there’s likely to be a conservatory heating solution available, and don’t worry about wall fixings either, as many modern radiators have a range of feet available (see above) to allow them to stand loud and proud in your conservatory.
So there you have it – time to get it done.
If you are heating a conservatory or wondering what the best heating solution for your conservatory, orangery or whatever you may want to call it may be, these tips should go a long way to helping you decide and benefit from a nice and cosy space whatever the weather and time of year.
Don’t forget, to get a really accurate reading of the BTU output you’ll need to heat your conservatory, visit our BTU Calculator and be sure to have a read of our very latest Radiator Buying Guide for the latest hints and tips on getting your choice right.
Good luck heating your conservatory, why not tell us how you got on in the comments below?
Stay safe and happy heating.