Best way to heat a conservatory?

[waynedance]

Building a well insulated conservatory (4x2.8m) will a 1 x wall made from 4x4" with insulation.

House has a combo boiler in the bedroom cupboard will 3 rads upstairs and 2 down. All have thermostats except the double rad in living room. Could I run a pipe from kitchen rad to Conservatory? Would this work if it had a thermostat on it to keep it above freezing?

 

[Dotty]

To comply with part L of the building regulations it will have to be independently zoned.

 

[waynedance]

Ok thanks, what does that mean? What would I need to fit then to keep it above 5 degrees ish? A separate electric heater?

 

[newcastle phill]

It means it must be on a seperate thermostatically controlled zone to the rest of the property.
Some fit sleek electric wall mounted heaters instead of a zoned radiator circuit

 

[newcastle phill]

But also check the definition of a conservatory as opposed to an extension built for lounging about. The devils in the detail.
If its by enlarge a brick built structure with conventional type windows, roof a patio door that would not make it a conservatory.
Just saying as some refer to theirs as a conservatory when clearly is isnt and the rules may not apply

 

[waynedance]

Is a conservatory, 4x4" wood dwarf walls cladded, double glazed with 35mm polycarbonate roof.

 

[REDSAW]

put an electric one in, takes 15 mins to heat all up and cheaper.
got a pot belly stove in mine/electric 3kw

 

[lame plumber]

if it has a po;ycarbonate roof, dont even bother trying to heat it, why waste money?

 

[waynedance]

Got to do something, will go with a rad with thermostat from main heating… yeah I know regs this and regs that.

Got to stop it from freezing… going to have a fridge and freezer in there along with some furniture.

 

[lame plumber]

nothing like a frozen rad in the winter leaking everywhere, yeah I know regs this n that, normally there for a reason though

 

[waynedance]

What about a separate gas supply installed with a gas heater?

All I want is to frost protect.

 

[lame plumber]

your building little more than a garden shed, why bother heating the outside air?

 

[SimonG]

Electric heater.

 

[waynedance]

Bit more than a garden shed, taking me long enough to build £££

 

[lame plumber]

thicker socks and a jumper

 

[Rickster123]

thicker socks and a jumper

Stop being a cantankerous old sausage

 

[lame plumber]

Stop being a cantankerous old sausage

SO sorry, but it makes me see red to try and heat the world, we are to hot already, conservatories are for flowers over winter and arent living accommodation, the sooner the world understands this the better for the world

 

[Rickster123]

SO sorry, but it makes me see red to try and heat the world, we are to hot already, conservatories are for flowers over winter and arent living accommodation, the sooner the world understands this the better for the world

We're already paying 5p for carrier bags it's time to make a stand!

 

[waynedance]

What about a small nuclear reactor?

 

[Rickster123]

What about a small nuclear reactor?

The neighbours will only moan! Stick a rad out there if you want one, far worse things going on in the world.

 

[townfanjon]

Put a small air con unit init , I fitted one for a customer last winter, they love it , they bought it so I have no idea what it cost , i just fitted it .

 

[Dsp]

If your putting a freezer in there you will need it a lot warmer than a few degrees unless you use a cold weather freezer most manufactures recommend 14c upwards iirc my old one in the garage started to self defrost so had to move it into the house to make it freeze again the refrigerant needs to flow and can't if the outside of the freezer is too cold

 

[dancinplumba]

To comply with part L of the building regulations it will have to be independently zoned.

trv ?

 

[Dotty]

trv ?

Only if it's a smart one tied in to a separate control unit.

I'm finding I agree with Lame.

I hate this thread.

 

[newcastle phill]

Most efficient an cost effective way with the fastest warm up times is a good quality turbo electric convector such as a wall mounted dimplex.
A good quality one has a good thermostatic control and also variable power settings along with a programmer.
And make sure you have well insulated doors seperating the structure off from the rest of the house.
Each to thier own but imho a radiator is not the best option alot of the time in these

 

[quality]

Air conditioning is the only way keep a conservatory comfortable as without it they are to hot in the summer and to cold in the winter. I have fitted hundred of heat pumps (as there called by some) with very satisfactory results. But ultimately you are trying to keep a glorified greenhouse heated or cooled which will obviously use energy

 

[waynedance]

Will look into the electric convector, main goal as said is to frost protect and be able to warm up when want to use.

 

[waynedance]

Seen these…

http://www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/4151955.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

http://adax-solaire.com/presta/gb/a...wireless-digital-timer-wall-mounted-adax.html

Like the second one as it has a good timer and thermostat. Thermostat on the first one does not look very accurate just setting 1 2 etc

 

[newcastle phill]

Is advise a turbo (fan assisted) type. Makes a world of difference over convector only

 

[quality]

those heaters are rated at 2.5Kw & 3.0Kw an air conditioner would give you 3.0 Kw of heat with just 800w input

 

[REDSAW]

that dimplex one works very well, i put one of those on my mums con-wall.
it heats the lot in 10 mins.

 

[newcastle phill]

those heaters are rated at 2.5Kw & 3.0Kw an air conditioner would give you 3.0 Kw of heat with just 800w input

How does that work then. Have they rewritten the laws of physics.

800w in = 800w out.

1st law of energy. It can neither be created or destroyed - just transferred.

 

[quality]

How does that work then. Have they rewritten the laws of physics.

800w in = 800w out.

1st law of energy. It can neither be created or destroyed - just transferred.

Its no new since its called a refrigeration system

 

[waynedance]

I take it under floor heating is a no no… does that work on a thermostat is that expensive to run keeping above 5 degrees.

I am looking at the turbo Dimplex rad but misses asking about under floor heating.

 

[rpm]

1st law of energy. It can neither be created or destroyed - just transferred.

Thought that was croppie phil. Neither created nor destroyed.

 

[newcastle phill]

Id forget about underfloor. Easily the most expensive option but I suppose its horses for courses and what you desire.

 

[kris]

Here's a small guide to your part L regs regarding heating your conservatory.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...xqYACg&usg=AFQjCNGlbVufHjtzlvtYjTe9WWWrDaaI_Q

 

[quality]

I take it under floor heating is a no no… does that work on a thermostat is that expensive to run keeping above 5 degrees.

I am looking at the turbo Dimplex rad but misses asking about under floor heating.

Any electric heater will work and will be cheap to buy. Underfloor heating works well but not for short periods i.e. on or off . don't forget about the summer which is when most people use their conservatory that it will be unbearable without air conditioning. don't spend (waste) money having a radiator fitted as it will take far to long to heat unless it is big enough and the heating is on long enough. I am not trying to sell my advice is from my own experience. ps I do not install air conditioning

 

[newcastle phill]

Any electric heater will work but some will work very well compared to others.

For example look at the heat curve of an oil bath heater compared to a fanned convector.
Both could be 3kw. But the oil one wont feel like it.

 

[waynedance]

Ok, mind made up its the Dimplex one. For £70ish it no great loss.

 

[Sparkgap]

How does that work then. Have they rewritten the laws of physics.

800w in = 800w out.

1st law of energy. It can neither be created or destroyed - just transferred.

Typical heat pump, 800W in, 3200W out, COP of 4. Actual performance will depend on temperature differences etc.
My conservatory/sun room/whatever you want to call it at home is an infill between solid brick external wall and kitchen extension with triple skin plastic roof. I've recently put in new tiles to both it and the kitchen with electric heating mat underneath. Works a treat and most times I only need the floor slightly warm to keep me tootsies warm when I'm walking around barefoot!

 

[newcastle phill]

You on about an air source heat pump ?

 

[quality]

air to air heat pump AKA air conditioner

 

[thompsonbrown]

If your still building your conservatory, personally I would think about using electric ufh, and fit with a vinyl floor karndean, Amtico etc. cheap to run and the vinyl floor isn't as cold as tiles when the heating is switched off.

 

[waynedance]

Under floor heating is quite cheap as far as I can see… was just thinking thats a bit late for a reply. But hey I'm still up ha

 

[thompsonbrown]

no probs mate happy to help

 

[stevetheplumber]

Best way to heat a conservatory is run an extenion lead into next doors and run a heater even with pollycarbonate roof it will cost a fortune to heat

 

[Worcester]

Rather than an electric radiator which at best is 1kW in 1kW out
Simplest and cheapest to RUN is an air-air heat pump, will cool in summer also.
AirCube DLX 9000 BTU Air Conditioner Dehumidifier and Heat Pump for rooms up to 25 sqm - AC9000E | Appliances Direct

 

[gmartine]

Make sure your polycarbonate roof is at least 4" thick.

 

[waynedance]

No thermostat on that unit but thanks for suggesting.

 

[waynedance]

http://adax-solaire.com/presta/gb/a...wireless-digital-timer-wall-mounted-adax.html

Think going with this one due to good features and slim wall fit. Just got to decide what power to get.

 

[happyflyer]

A heat pump is another good move, with a 3/1 conversion it makes sense, you get a 3kw heat pump its only going to use 1kw, more expensive to fit, but someone says if you fit a radiator off the house it may well freeze up and you will never be warm in there.

 

[Worcester]

http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o784/solairehp/Adax%20VP11/VP11WirelessTimer.jpg

Think going with this one due to good features and slim wall fit. Just got to decide what power to get.

Bearing in mind the title of your post, after all the advice you've been given, you've probably just chosen the 2nd worse way to heat a conservatory (Number 1 worst would be a parafin or lpg heater)

Cheap to buy expensive to run. Pays ya money makes ya choice.

 

[newcastle phill]

Each to thier own. Simple to fix too and guaranteed results in all weather

 

[brucethegas]

The best way to heat a conservatory is, of course, the sun.

Some ancillary back up may be required if you are proposing to cultivate frost sensitive plants.

A paraffin heater on cold nights is not a bad idea, it increases CO2 and humidity.

Unless of course you are proposing to use the "conservatory" as a kind of living area?