Unheated DG Porch sucking heat from house- insulate or segregate?

DougMLancs

We have a porch on the front of our house (2m x 1.5m) with DG windows and UPVC fascia underneath. Floor is a tiled concrete slab and pitched (assumed uninsulated) roof above. Connecting door to main house is a single glazed internal door. Not surprisingly, this unheated space is really cold overnight and no doubt sucking heat from the main house.

We’re thinking of replacing the internal door to something double/triple glazed to help keep the heat in but would adding more insulation to the porch itself help? Don’t really want to heat the space as it only has coats and pushchair etc overnight.

greensalad

My porch is separated with a glass double glazed door and that end of the hallway is one of the warmest spots in the house. Adding a door will definitely help. 

tacpot12

I would look to improve the door between the porch and the house. It will be difficult to improve the porch as much as a better door will improve it. However, you might find that the cost of remediating the porch is a lot less than a new door. 

DougMLancs

Good points- we’re minded to be replacing the door with something anyway as the glass doesn’t meet modern safety standards. Fingers crossed it’ll do the job 🙂

FreeBear

Have a similar porch, all be it smaller. When the sun is shining, it benefits from solar heating and can get darned hot in there during the summer. But only having (had) a basic single glazed door & window separating from the main house, there was a noticeable temperature gradient near the door. Replaced the single glazed door & window with new exterior grade DG units (complete with FENSA certs). It is a bit early to say how much of a difference it has made. Will have to review the data once we have had some cold nights.

DougMLancs

Yeah ours really roasts on a sunny day too! We’ve not been here in summer yet for the full effect. It’s why I wouldn’t have a conservatory!

twopenny

I have a double glazed top to toe porch with sliding door and a double glazed half window exterior door to the house.

No draughts in the house.

The top to bottom double glazed porch does get cold being ne facing but spring and autumn sun makes it nice and cosy enough for a chair to enjoy the extra light in those seasons.

I intend to put a panel heater to enjoy that light in winter. So a mini conservatry in a way. Being small it takes just a short blast of heat to give an exta to the house

markin

Wet and damp coats won't dry if you make it too cold in there and don't heat it, Could even lead to mold.

Bendy_House

DougMLancs said:

We have a porch on the front of our house (2m x 1.5m) with DG windows and UPVC fascia underneath. Floor is a tiled concrete slab and pitched (assumed uninsulated) roof above. Connecting door to main house is a single glazed internal door. Not surprisingly, this unheated space is really cold overnight and no doubt sucking heat from the main house.

We’re thinking of replacing the internal door to something double/triple glazed to help keep the heat in but would adding more insulation to the porch itself help? Don’t really want to heat the space as it only has coats and pushchair etc overnight.

Hi Doug.

I'd suggest that a new door to separate the porch from the house would be the way to go. It's 'only' a door in the scheme of things, tho', so don't expect a transformation - even a cheap internal door there will be largely effective, provided it seals well enough. But, of course, it should be an external type.

Triple-glazed? I wouldn't bother, unless it's a relatively trivial amount extra.

Obviously, when the sun shines, open that door to benefit from the solar gain. But, if you wish to prevent the porch from being damp at other times - cold, dull, overnight, etc - the solution is to leave the porch window(s) cracked open to vent setting. It'll be chilly in there, yes, but also dry.

DougMLancs

Yes we keep the windows vented but will keep an eye out anyway. I’m planning on hiring a Flir One this winter and going round the house to find all the other weak spots. I’m hoping the bottom of the CWI hasn’t got damp from the idiots who put the concrete drive in level with the DPC.

Bendy_House

DougMLancs said:

Yes we keep the windows vented but will keep an eye out anyway. I’m planning on hiring a Flir One this winter and going round the house to find all the other weak spots. I’m hoping the bottom of the CWI hasn’t got damp from the idiots who put the concrete drive in level with the DPC.

That'll be really interesting. Could you come back and show us your results, please - this could be a useful thing for many folk to try?