As the seasons change, so will the temperature in an orangery or conservatory. If you don’t have effective insulation or a powerful heating source, enjoying your space in winter can be challenging.
Aside from the time of year, other factors affect your conservatory’s temperature, including:
The Conservatory position
South-facing conservatories have more natural light in the late afternoon and early evening, whereas north-facing conservatories get most of their light during the morning. East and west-facing constructions receive more sunlight early in the day, so they tend to be chillier at night.
Conservatory insulation
A well-insulated conservatory roof, and pillar insulation can help to keep a conservatory comfortable. You can employ multiple ways to protect your space to help combat cold temperatures, including using blinds and sealing draughts.
Glazing
Your conservatory glazing can impact the temperature. Energy-efficient window glazing can help maintain a comfortable temperature during the summer and winter months.
In the UK climate, most conservatories will need a little support to remain at a comfortable temperature during the chillier months. Building regulations limit how you heat your conservatory, so you cannot use radiators connected to the home’s central heating. So how can you heat the space? Which is the best way to warm your conservatory without raising your energy bills or carbon footprint?
So, you can use your orangery or conservatory all year round, here are the most useful ways to heat your conservatory.
Electric wall-mounted radiators
Though more costly than gas heating, an electric radiator is far easier to install and manage. Radiators are sold in a wide range of colours and models to suit any interior design. Placing an electric radiator in the space, allows you to heat your conservatory efficiently. Use it when needed, rather than setting it to a timer so that warmth isn’t wasted.
Finding space for installation can be near impossible if your conservatory walls are made only of glass, so you may need to investigate other options.
Underfloor electric heating
Underfloor electric heating is excellent if you do not have adequate wall space for an electric radiator. As with wall-mounted heaters, underfloor heating should be turned off when not needed rather than set to an automatic timer to avoid high utility bills.
Portable heaters
With less expensive upfront costs, and the capacity to move the heater close to where you are sitting, a portable plugin heater could be the best and most energy-efficient option. Appliances like freestanding electric stoves can provide plenty of heat in the winter and are perfect for conservatory climates.
Help the space retain heat
One of the optimal ways to heat your conservatory is to improve the insulation of the space to help it retain heat. Small ways to improve the heat retention of the area include adding curtains, window blinds, and rugs, as these create insular layers.
Larger changes include:
- Upgrading to better double or triple glazing.
- Installing underfloor insulation.
- Adding a solid roof to replace an old glass roof.
- A solid roof will help prevent heat from escaping and will allow for roof insulation to be added.
