Heating Options for Conservatories

Your conservatory is a glorious place for relaxation and one that can be as good in the winter months as it is in the summer ones, with a little knowhow.

Heating a conservatory can be achieved in a variety of different ways and can turn this bright summer room into a wonderful place to watch the stars on those long winter nights. So, what are the options for heating a conservatory and what are their positives and negatives?

Under Floor Heating
There are a couple of options for under floor heating and both create a luxurious toasty feeling underfoot. The other great thing about the underground heating option is that it doesn’t tend to disrupt the often clean aesthetics of the conservatory, like radiators do.

Electric under floor heating requires a 13 amp socket for power – meaning it is universally available and ideal for most conservatories, as well as other areas of the home.

There is also the hot water under floor heating alternative. This is based loosely on the Roman system of heating from over 2000 years ago. However, it remains dependent on the boiler and its capacity and there are a number of other problems besides this. The layout for this piped water heating can be costly and also may involve the purchasing of an additional higher capacity boiler. The other big issue with it is the fact that if there is a leak or water related issue it may involve the whole floor having to be dug up and is very expensive to fix.

Radiator
The humble radiator is often an option for your conservatory and one that really provides great heat efficiency. However, the downside of this is that they take up space and many people feel that they impact negatively on the area itself, taking away from the windows and cluttering the walls. In the case of radiators, the size of the boiler and its capacity must also be considered and the same problems for under floor boiler based heating may be apparent here too. Of course, many people use electric radiators for temporary heat in conservatories or when they are having heating installed. However, these are best at hire and not as a permanent fixture.

Wood Burning Stoves
Of course, the wood burning stove is also an option and one that has really come to the fore in recent times. The green benefits of burning wood pellets are well renowned and this relatively green form of heating is suitable for a conservatory. However, there are a few things to consider when doing so and there are safety issues and ventilation problems if it is not installed correctly. It may be necessary to install a double insulated flue above the stove and also to add extensive ventilation. However, there is nothing as cosy as one of these stoves in the winter, making them a great alternative to the usual options.

Of course, insulation through blinds, double glazing and insulation within the building materials are all very important and prevent the heat you produce escaping – something very important within a glass conservatory.

Cormac Reynolds writes for UK hire company Best at Hire who provide a wide range of tools and equipment for hire via their site.