Conservatory Heaters Buying Guide: What You Need To Know

Introduction

If you have a conservatory, you’ll know that one of the challenges is keeping it warm during the colder months In this article, we’ll explore the different ways you can heat your conservatory so that you can choose the best option for you.

A conservatory is a lovely addition to any home where you’ll enjoy spending time. When the weather outside is frightful or even just a little miserable, it can be a great place to relax with a book or get some work done. But one of the challenges of owning a conservatory is keeping it warm.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to install a total hot water central heating system for heating a conservatory so that you can use it on cold days. There are plenty of different options when choosing the best conservatory heaters. In this post, we will outline the different options to choose the right conservatory heating system that will be perfect for your needs.

What Is a Conservatory?

A conservatory is a spacious and sunlit room attached to a home on one side of the wall and projects outward from the main house, typically onto a patio or a garden. A conservatory has glass walls and a roof or another transparent material installed from floor-to-ceiling windows.

A conservatory is great for entertaining, relaxing, and sleeping. It is also a great place to read, study, or enjoy the view.

A conservatory is often left cold on cold days, but with a conservatory heater, you can enjoy your space even when the temperature outside is freezing.

How Does Heating a Conservatory Work?

There are various ways to heat a conservatory; some work by creating warm air directly, and some work by heating the floor or furniture with infrared heat. Some conservatory heaters do both. Each has its own set of pros and cons.

If you have properly insulated your conservatory, heating the conservatory will be much more energy efficient, and you will save money on your utility bills. Do not forget to fit a draught excluder to the conservatory doors

Different Options to Heat a Conservatory

There are a few different ways you can heat a conservatory, depending on your needs and budget. The key is ensuring you have the right amount of heat energy output, especially in the winter. If you don’t, it can cause condensation on the windows and other surfaces, damaging them over time.

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters are an excellent choice for conservatories because they can be used as freestanding conservatory heaters or installed as conservatory wall heaters. If freestanding, they can be positioned and moved around the room to suit the weather and your needs. These are ideal if you want to grow plants that need warmth but don’t want to heat your whole house. They’re also good at heating small areas like conservatories because you can precisely control the output and power consumption.

They’re also relatively straightforward to install and safe for any room or building. However, modern electric radiators do have some downsides. They can be expensive to run if you’re not careful, and they can take a while to heat the room.

Another potential downside of electric radiators is that they need to be plugged into an electricity supply. If you have a solarium or sunroom, you may not have an electricity supply, which means electric radiators may not be an option for you.

There are different types of electric heaters – you have the panel variety, oil-filled radiators, and fan heaters. Check out our list of 7 recommended electric conservatory heaters

Solar Heat

Solar heat is an excellent option for heating a conservatory. Solar heat systems are typically easy to install and energy efficient. They’re also very cost-effective, as they don’t use electricity. However, you will need to install them on a south-facing wall or roof for best results.

Solar heat is free. There’s no ongoing need to pay for gas or electricity when using solar energy, so it’s a cost-effective way to keep your conservatory warm.

There are two main types of solar heat systems: active and passive. Active solar heating uses pumps and fans to circulate the air or water through the system. Passive solar heating doesn’t use any mechanical parts; instead, it relies on convection to circulate the air or water.

Both systems are effective, but active solar heating is typically more expensive to install. It’s also important to note that solar heat won’t work in the winter if there’s no sunlight.

Underfloor Heating

Underfloor heating is a great way to heat a conservatory because it’s efficient and evenly distributes heat throughout the room. It also doesn’t take up any space, so it’s ideal for smaller conservatories. It is typically installed in new conservatories during construction.

There are two main types of underfloor heating: electric and wet. Electric underfloor heating uses cables or mats that are installed under the floor. These emit heat that rises and warms the room. Wet underfloor heating uses a network of water pipes that are installed under the floor. These circulate hot water and emit heat that rises and warms the room.

Both types are effective, but wet underfloor heating is typically more expensive to install. It’s also important to note that underfloor heating can take a while to heat the room.

Connecting a wet underfloor heating system to a heat pump may also be possible, thereby increasing your home’s energy efficiency.

Central Heating

Extending your existing central heating system for conservatory heating might be possible. This is typically only an option if your conservatory is attached to your house and there’s easy access to the necessary pipework.

If you extend your gas central heating to your conservatory, it’s important to ensure the system is properly balanced.

It’s also important to ensure that your conservatory is properly insulated. This will help to prevent heat loss and make your central heating system more efficient.

You can use the heated water from your central heating system to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems or trench heaters.

Infrared Heating

Infrared heating is a great option for heating a conservatory because it’s efficient and can be used to target specific areas. Infrared heating emits infrared waves that are absorbed by objects in the room, such as furniture and people. This heats the objects rather than the air, so it’s more efficient than other types of heating.

Infrared heaters only use the energy they need to heat the objects in the room, not the air, so they’re very efficient. They’re also very safe because there’s no risk of burning yourself on the heater.

The downside of infrared heating is that it can be more expensive to install than other types of heating. However, it’s a long-term investment that will save you money on your energy bills.

Trench Heating

The Trench Radiator, often known as Perimeter Heating, is directly linked to your central heating and is more cost-effective than any electric heater. It’s placed below a trench heater grille at floor level and doesn’t take up any precious wall space.

The trench grille comes in different materials (Aluminum, Steel, Wood, etc), as well as colours and finishes to match your design requirements.

The trench heating system may be regulated thermally by way of an inside TRV, much like a conventional wall-mounted radiator. Local control of the temperature can also be provided with a remote control.

Perimeter Heating is ideal for glazed patios, porches, conservatories, and similar spaces since it generates a heat barrier that minimizes condensation or totally prevents it. This heat barrier also keeps the conservatory at a more even temperature, minimizing chilly areas within the space.

Trench Heaters have several advantages over traditional radiators or electric heaters in terms of heating costs, efficiency, targeted heating, discreet heating, condensation reduction, and room temperature difference reduction.

Wood Burner Heating

A wood burner is a great way of heating a conservatory if you’re looking for a more traditional option. Wood burners are available in a range of styles and can be used to heat both the conservatory and the house.

Wood burners are a great heat source, and modern can be very efficient.

If you can source your wood from sustainable sources, then a wood burner can be a very eco-friendly way to heat your conservatory.

The downside of a wood burner is that there are no heat settings and it requires emptying regularly and a lot of maintenance compared to other conservatory heating methods. You’ll need to clean the chimney and the stove regularly, and you’ll need to store wood somewhere dry.

If you have to install the chimney/flue as well, it will add to the cost, although this may be offset by the fact that you’ll be able to use the wood burner to heat your house as well as the conservatory.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Conservatory Heaters

Heating Capacity

When choosing a conservatory heating solution, it’s important to consider its capacity. This is the amount of heat output the heater can produce in a given time period.

If you’re only going to be using the conservatory in the summer, you won’t need a heater with a high heating capacity. However, if you want to use the conservatory all year round, you’ll need a heater with a higher heating capacity.

Heating Method

You also need to consider the heating method. Some heaters, such as infrared heaters, only heat objects in the room, while others, such as wood burners, heat the air as well as objects.

Controllability

Nobody would choose to waste money heating an unused room. You might need to heat it just enough to avoid frost or condensation, but the difference in energy requirements between avoiding frost and being able to sit comfortably in your pyjamas is huge.

Being able to set your heating requirements conveniently is a huge factor to consider.

You should consider whether you need or could have remote controls (handheld or wall mounted) integrated into your main house heating or controlled through home automation.

Safety Features

It’s also important to consider the safety features of the heater. Some heaters have safety features such as overheat protection and Child Lock mode. A wood-burning stove can get very hot to the touch, and there are added dangers such as chimney fires and dealing with hot embers.

Positioning of Heater

When choosing a conservatory heating solution, you need to consider where you will position it. Some heaters can be placed on or within the floor, while others need to be wall-mounted.

Ease Of Use

Ease of use is another important factor to consider. Some heaters are easier to use than others. For example, some heaters have a remote control so you can turn them on and off without getting up.

Price

Of course, price is also an important factor to consider when deciding between heating solutions. Some heaters are more expensive than others, but they may be worth the investment if they’re more efficient or easier to use.

Conclusion

There are a variety of conservatory heaters on the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to consider the heating capacity, heating method, safety features, ease of use, and price when choosing a conservatory heater.