Conservatory, best way to heat?

T_T_2

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

You can get a cheap 2kW electric heater in B & Q for about £15 - try one.

Cheap to buy...not so cheap to run effectively.

fluffymuffy

The cheapest way to heat a conservatory is with an Air Source Heat Pump.

- aka a split air con unit run in heating mode. They produce up to 4 times as much heat as the energy put in. We have a 1kW unit that produces 3.5kW of heat. The electric just drives the pump and the big fan in the outside unit and the little one in the inside unit.

The cheapest units I've seen are from Vyair.

Look at the backs of the buildings in your town centre - you'll see all these square air con boxes on the backs of old & grotty buildings - they're not for cooling - they're for heating. And since last year you no longer need Planning Permission to have one at home.

fluffymuffy

It is not legal to extend the domestic heating system into a conservatory or porch.

cyclonebri1

Heating a conservatory in winter will be a total drain on your finances.

BUT, they can be a real advantage at say Christmas and new year.

What I'm saying is you need the means to heat the area when you actually need it, forget heating through the winter.

Under floor heating? I don't think so, there's likely to simply be a freezing void under there.

I'd simply have a few oil filled electric rads, halogen heaters etc to bang on when the occasion dictates.

I would add that although I don't know if its illegal or not, but if it is a simple operation to extend the existing CH system into the conservatory, then go ahead. But bear in mind you will be robbing heat from elsewhere.;);)

Gloomendoom

fluffymuffy wrote: »

It is not legal to extend the domestic heating system into a conservatory or porch.

Are you sure about that? As far as the conservatory goes, I thought it was, as long as the radiators have thermostatic valves.

At least, I believe that is the case in England and Wales.

I'm planning a conservatory at the moment and I'm considering a wet underfloor heating system fed from the main boiler.

Edit: You could be correct. The Planning Portal states that to avoid building regs approval...

There should be an independent heating system with separate temperature and on/off controls.

Owain_Moneysaver

Independent means 'able to be operated independently' not 'completely separate'.

A separate zone with zone valve and programmable thermostat for the conservatory will satisfy the regs.

southcoastrgi

fluffymuffy wrote: »

It is not legal to extend the domestic heating system into a conservatory or porch.

I've never heard of this before & don't think you are correct but as i have been getting abit of grief lately could you please tell us where you got this info from.

keystone

Its not illegal. Thats abject nonsense. However:

1. Extending the heating system into a conservatory means that Building Regulations - specifically Part L will now apply.

2. Extending the heating system into a conservatory means that it becomes habitable accommodation and therefore becomes subject to planning and will eat into your permitted development allowance for the future.

Cheers

fluffymuffy

southcoastrgi wrote: »

I've never heard of this before & don't think you are correct.

Yes I am correct. And very familiar with the Building Regulations.

See Part L - http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/AD_L1B_wm.pdf

Right after the title page.
Where it says "Main Changes in the 2010 Edition"
Point 2.

..."and where the heating system of the building is not extended"..

fluffymuffy

keystone wrote: »

2. Extending the heating system into a conservatory means that it becomes habitable accommodation and therefore becomes subject to planning and will eat into your permitted development allowance for the future.

Whether an extension is habitable or not has nothing at all to do with whether it needs planning permission.