Conservatory Heating

mummyscamp

Hi, I hope this is posted in the right place!

So we have a conservatory, about 5500mm x 4000mm, it has quite a high sloping roof. We bought the house 2 years ago with the conservatory which was fairly newly installed. The problem which we and a million others have is, it's horribly cold in the winter...the condensation is horrendous and it's going mouldy already this winter! We have a downstairs Loo in there, also a utility area, so we need to use the space all year.
I have had a plumber round who suggests two high output radiators. Another plumber said don't bother...a waste of money as the heat will just disappear. My Father says a cheap radiator from B&Q will do the job...plumbed into the heating system...others say plug in heaters (I had an oil filled plug in last year, but over the winter period it clocked up £100's and £100's in electricity! The electric co said it was definitely the heater...and since turning it off we are in credit with them for £500...so must have been! Someone has quoted to have the ceiling lined, insulated and plastered, then we would still have to add radiators but the heat would surely stick around for longer? My husband does not want to loose the glass ceiling though!

I do not know what to do - save from pulling the thing down (I wouldn't recommend them to anyone!). Anyone have any experience or tips?

Many thanks,

Lou.

daveyjp

You need to accept conservatories are not for winter use. That is not a small space and heating it will be an expensive business whatever you choose to do. If glass held heat every house would be made of it!

If you want to use it in winter it needs to be made in to a room meeting current insulation standards.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Insulate....................

Roof
Floor [concrete]

Heat loss regs don't apply to [summer use only] conservatories, most heat will be lost to walls & roof. An in use utility area is going to generate megga quantities of condensation with no escape hence wet & damp issues. A 3kW [thermostat] electric heater of any kind is going to cost 3 times your kW tariff per hour, when the outside temp drops to about 1°C below your 3kW heater is going to work hard to 'stand still'. Short of knocking it down and rebuilding to PartL specifications, there's nothing much you can do other than persevere. For myself I would consider greenhouse bubble wrap built into lightweight framed inserts for the winter, then add a heat source. In the summer remove the framed bubble wrap and stash elsewhere.

Best of luck !

Swipe

I just wouldn't heat it and leave your windows cracked open to reduce the condensation.

Andy_WSM

Mine is heated to 18C using radiators plumbed to the central heating. It's not ludicrously expensive - I know that as my whole bill isn't!

Without them, like the Op, the black mold gets in very quickly so I'd rather pay the few £ a week it's costing to keep it heated than spend all of April scrubbing and bleaching to get the mold out.

Mine has a plastic roof with blinds, so the insulation is minimal at best.

matelodave

A split air-air heatpump would do the job - cheaper to run than an electric heater and probably less than gas as well.


It also has the advantage of keeping the air moving which will reduce condensation and most can be used as an air conditioner for cooling in the summer.
They are very efficient giving a COP of 4-5 (1kw in gives 4-5kw of heat out)
Have a look here, it's American but gives you an idea of how they are installed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7-bmh1GU5s
You can get floor mounted air handlers as well if you haven't got a high outside wall.


Just search Google to see what's around and how much they cost