heating a conservatory cheaply

mrs_moneyspinner

Hi all - I have an oil filled electric radiator in my conservatory and turn it on in the evening when I am out there - I would like to use that lovely room all day but scared it will cost too much to keep the rad on all day!
a. What do you moneysavers think is cheapest way to heat it and
b. do you think it will cost a fortune to keep the heating on out there 24/7? or more expensive to heat from cold every evening???
Can't plumb GCH into that room as it had to be done b4 building not after!
Any advice welcome - thanks

retireby50

Hi Mrs Moneyspinner,

I'm not an expert, but I would say that from experience unfortunately there isn't a cheap way. I would certainly only heat it when needed.

PasturesNew

You'd think I was flogging these ... anyway, I randomly stumbled across these units the other day on t'Internet and if I had a house with a damp or heating problem of your sort I'd definitely be investigating how these work.

They're solar powered and once bought and installed provide free power forever.

http://www.solarventi.co.uk/

I hope they're not !!!!!! and I am making myself look a fool here, but maybe some of the experts here could look and see if they're any good.

Cardew

PasturesNew wrote: »

You'd think I was flogging these ... anyway, I randomly stumbled across these units the other day on t'Internet and if I had a house with a damp or heating problem of your sort I'd definitely be investigating how these work.

They're solar powered and once bought and installed provide free power forever.

http://www.solarventi.co.uk/

I hope they're not !!!!!! and I am making myself look a fool here, but maybe some of the experts here could look and see if they're any good.

Solar electricity to heat is just an expensive joke.

In UK, when you need heat, you will be lucky to get enough electricity to light the very lowest powered bulb you can find - and that is during the day, OP wants heat in the evening whan the sun don't shine!!

Mrs Moneyspinner,

Are you sure you can't extend your gas CH?

It is never cheaper to leave heating on 24/7

The cheapest way to heat a conservatory is to get an Air Source Heat pump, but of course not cheap to install.

paceinternet

My reply is to give you a better understanding of what it is costing and whether a more efficient solution would allow you to make more use and be more comfortable in the conservatory.

Lets say your additional electrical units are costing 12p per kwh. What is your oil filled electrical radiator rated at, maybe 3kw? If so it will be costing 36p per hour, and in the current temparatures, the thermostat (if it has one) may keep it on continuously. You could check it yourself by sample reading the electric meter or there is theory as to what kw would be required for your size of conservatory and construcion.

Anyway, if you were able to heat it from your mains gas central heating it would cost 4-5p per kwh x 3kw heater, so 12p per hour.

What I am leading to is for you to understand the running cost and therefore how long you are prepared to heat it for with different systems.

Since you cannot add a radiator onto your central heating system, I suggest a heat pump / air conditioning unit would give you running costs similar to mains gas.

Now you can decide how many hours a day, week, year you might run the system to allow you to justify spending some money on the heat pump equipment.

btr30

A standard conservatory does not retain heat due to its poor U (insulation) values. Therefore whatever means of heating you use will essentially escape to outside all the time. It is not advisable ( and is in fact a contravention of building standards) to instal a radiator linked to the central heating system, for this reason. It would be like sticking a radiator on your outside wall, and there's a chance this could cause your system to freeze and burst over the winter months ( unless you keep heating on 24/7 to stop it freezing up). Oil fired radiator, when you need it, will be your best option, or stay out until spring.

1carminestocky

In these times of crazy energy prices conservatories are becoming a bit of a joke IMO. We spent way too much money on one when they were 'de rigueur' and regretted it almost immediately. So much so that we have now had it 'converted' into a dining room extension with proper insulation and proper roof. Not exactly the cheapest way of heating your conservatory, granted, but the space is so much cheaper to keep warm and way more practical in use.

mrs_moneyspinner

just wanted to thank you all for your advice - it ws helpful - especially paceinternet.

rando

1carminestocky wrote: »

In these times of crazy energy prices conservatories are becoming a bit of a joke IMO. We spent way too much money on one when they were 'de rigueur' and regretted it almost immediately. So much so that we have now had it 'converted' into a dining room extension with proper insulation and proper roof. Not exactly the cheapest way of heating your conservatory, granted, but the space is so much cheaper to keep warm and way more practical in use.

Can you explain in more detail what you did to convert into a more usable room. I am desperately trying to make our conservatory into a warmer room in the winter months. I am currently looking at getting a glass roof with argon filled pilk k glass but this is expensive. I have enquired about having a proper tiled slate roof but was told it would be too heavy for the dwarf wall foundations. Other than knocking it down and starting again I am running out of ideas so would really appretiate any advice you can give me.

maman

I, too, wish we had gone for a proper extension but we have a conservatory (as many people do) and we're starting from here... I only use mine daily from about March to October, but need it at Christmas for a party space. Up to now we've managed with heaters that blow hot air but they are very noisy. Any other ideas for free standing, electric-powered heaters that will heat the conservatory for a few hours now and then?

anniecave

maman -

why not something like an oil-filled radiator or a convector heater?

just as an example

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4150705/c_1/1%7Ccat_10197552%7CHeaters+and+coolers%7C10197884/Trail/searchtext%3EHEATER.htm