Best Conservatory Heating Solutions

With summer coming, we are all inclined to spend more time in our conservatories.

We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into our conservatories: they require maintenance and cleaning every spring and yet we let that go to waste every time the winter comes and we stop spending time in it.

Why do we stop? Because it’s too cold.

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in sunny Spain, there’s one answer to avoiding those cold spells: don’t let it get too cold.

Come rain or shine, you can make the most of your conservatory with the introduction of a bit of heating.

But what are your conservatory heating options?

Panel / Electric Conservatory Heaters

These are generally a great and flexible option and quickly becoming the most popular.

Heating a conservatory with panel heaters is an excellent choice because they provide sleek and stylish heating without the need for digging up your home’s foundations or pipework nor does it involve the installation of extra-large appliances.

Electric heaters, as the name suggests, can be wired into the mains and you’re good to go.

Due to its limited size, the panel heater can radiate a localised heat and in large conservatories, it may not be the best option.

Saying that, these conservatory heaters can come in such a range of sizes and shapes, it doesn’t really matter what your conservatory is like, you’ll find something that fits.

Depending on the brand you pick, some panel heaters can be incredibly smart, both in looks and the technology it has: with multiple options and controls. Aesthetically, advanced models can be incredibly slim and flush with the wall.

Free-Standing Conservatory Heaters

The most unsightly conservatory heating option is a free-standing heater.

It can be a bit expensive to refill oiler heaters and they aren’t always the most efficient, however, they do provide flexibility in regards to how they can be moved around the room and heat all areas or a localised area if an individual is sitting in one area.

We wouldn’t recommend this as a long-term solution.

Trench Heating for Conservatories

One variety of heating that is installed underground is trench heating.

Simply put, this involves digging a hole under the floor, which can house a radiator. This is then covered with a grill, which allows the heat to disperse and the hot air to rise.

If wall space is limited, this is an excellent option – however, its more sophisticated cousin, underfloor heating (next option), is usually the preferred option when considering underground solutions.

Conservatory Underfloor Heating

As mentioned above, conservatory underfloor heating is usually the preferred option, especially in an underground context.

It provides one of the most complete solutions – reaching every corner of the room and with absolutely no impact on the aesthetics of your conservatory.

Installing underfloor heating in a conservatory doesn’t require or take up any floor, wall or ceiling space and the solution is essentially invisible. The only aesthetic it can affect is what you lay over the top.

Not every flooring cover is compatible with underfloor heating, so make sure you find a tile or laminate that you’re happy with and that it isn’t going to suffer over the constant heat (warping like wood) or prevent you feeling the benefits of your new system (like carpet).

For those new to the concept, underfloor heating is an intricate and carefully designed map of pipes that run beneath the floor of your conservatory (or entire house). Each pipe is delivered a steady flood of water, nicely heating everything above it as the hot air rises.

Recommended reading: Underfloor Heating Cost

Despite being efficient, it is not going to be cheap. If your floor has already been laid, the disruption and cost of pulling it up to install heating may simply outweigh the benefits. If you’re building a new conservatory, heating should definitely be considered now.

Other downsides can be the length at which the room takes to warm up when using underfloor heating. It isn’t like a standalone radiator which can be turned on and felt immediately – patience is key here.

This means if you want to use the area you need to prepare in advance, or you’ll have to have the heating on low but constantly in winter if you wish to be coming in and out all day.

Of course, it’s important to remember to do the same when you wish the room to cool down. Turn that heating off pre-emptively to avoid wastage and inefficiency.

Air-Conditioning for Conservatories

The final option some like to consider is an air conditioning unit.

While we associate this with keeping cool in the warm months, actually, these units can provide heat when it is cold as well.

This duality can provide really effective results and gives the benefit of heating and cooling in one go.

The warmer your general environment is, the more likely the sun will do most of the work for you and your AC can keep up a nice temperature – not to mention it saves you money by doing two jobs!

Traditional Radiators for Conservatories

Nothing does getting heat into a room, quickly and efficiently, like a good old fashioned radiator.

However, despite the power they have to heat up a conservatory, they do pose some problems. Consequently, the aforementioned panel heater can be a good afterthought for an existing conservatory.

Here are the reasons why:

Panel heaters can plug into your electricity, meanwhile traditional radiators that are worked into existing pipework incur extra costs and disruption.

Building a new conservatory could warrant the extension of your central heating, but on an existing conservatory, the cost and hassle would probably outweigh the benefits of having a radiator installed.

Other problems you can face with this solution, is building regulations! Did you know extending your central heating (even if the conservatory doesn’t require them) will require you to consider building regs?

It is preferred for your conservatory heating to be standalone from the rest of your central heating system. Consequently, you can get a bit stuck here knowing what is best to do next.

Best Heating for Conservatory

That was it – the top six (6) most effective ways to heat a conservatory in winter.

If you’re building or planning to build a brand new conservatory, one thing is clear. Consider your heating solution now. Not after.

You want a conservatory that can be used all year round, so why wouldn’t you think of conservatory heating ideas to ensure it is kept warm.

The second thing we can recommend is to speak to a professional – regarding old or new builds.

We can help you find the best conservatory heating solution for you and recommend a piece of equipment or appliances that are the best on the market, with the best reviews and showcase exceptional workmanship in the parts.

Get in touch today and we can help you in your decision making and potentially help you take the next steps to a warmer conservatory.