How do you heat your conservatory?

rome1067

Nearly finished and I'm starting to panic that its going to be cold in there!

Still toying with the idea of under floor heating(other post about allbrite) but if we didnt go with that would radiators in kitchen/diner also heat conservatory? Its all open plan, kitchen/diner about 3.5m x 7m long and conservatory is 3m x 3.5m. I thought it would be better left open so the heat could circulate throughout the three areas. We have 2 radiators in kitchen/diner.

I'm interested to see what others have done for heat supply.

Thanks

GlynD

Mine have always just had rads in them. You;re never going to have them as warm as the rest of the house and frankly I think heating them is just a waste of money. On a sunny day you'll not have to worry about heat, no matter whether the wind is ripping the leaves off the trees or not. That's really when they're best - to enjoy the sun.

UncleZen

Mines like a large fridge in winter, at that time of year I mainly use it to keep beer cold.

GlynD

They are an invitation to lose heat. In the coldest weather they are not suitable for family life. After having used one for 10 years in two different houses I would say they are great on spring and autumn mornings for having a coffee in and watching the wildlife in the garden. Great on summer evenings when there's a cool breeze to stop enjoyment on the patio but absolute non-starters in the winter unless there's enough sun to make sitting in them comfortable.

rome1067

GlynD would you say that even when its open plan or do you mean as separate room? As we've got no doors between dining bit and that it is part of the house, do you think we should think about putting doors inbetween?

GlynD

rome1067 wrote: »

GlynD would you say that even when its open plan or do you mean as separate room? As we've got no doors between dining bit and that it is part of the house, do you think we should think about putting doors inbetween?

If you don't have doors between you and the conservatory you're going to get a lot of extra heat in the house when it's warm - and that's a good thing. If it's cold then you'll need more heat.

I'd be inclined towards putting a set of tasteful french doors between the dining room and the conservatory to be opened and closed when required. You'll notice then, when you walk into the conservatory on a cold day, even if you have radiators, that the temperature drops immediately. That's been my experience.

I wish somebody else would post on the subject though because I'd hate you to make decisions on my advice only.

rome1067

I suppose we could see what its like first and then put doors in later if we need to.

The conservatory firm said the glass is all singing all dancing so should stay warmer in winter but we're never going to know for sure until winter is here. If it is cold maybe I'll put the kids in there when they've been naughty;)

GlynD

That sounds like a good idea. If the worst comes to the worst a set of heavy curtains might look better and do the same job as french doors.

Tucker

If you have it open plan, you NEED building regulations approval as you are adversely impacting on the heat loss within the property.

Unless you make severe improvements elsewhere, you are unlikely to get approval and thus will encounter problems should you come to sell. Whoever is doing this work, should have made you aware of that already?

If you don't upgrade your heating it sounds like the whole open plan area is going to be very cold in the winter months as I doubt your existing arrangment will be enought to keep it warm given the amount of glass you are adding.

The solution is to add doors to stay within the regulations and save yourself a fortune in winter fuel bills as all that heat will go straight out through the conservatory.

System

you should have a thermal break, i.e. doors between room and a conservatory, it will draw all the heat out the house in the winter and bake in the summer, if you are going to heat it as part of the house it will just add on a lot of cost

GlynD

Great to see other opinions. A bit bolder than I but then again that's just my power of understatement.