How to Keep a Conservatory Warm – 7 of the Best Methods

Choosing the right conservatory to match the aesthetic of your home can add considerable value to your property. Whether you opt for more of a modern look or prefer something more traditional, ensuring there aren’t any clashing aesthetics will make it endlessly more pleasing to the eye. 

Not all conservatories come equipped with a regulated temperature to match their welcoming front, and older builds can suffer the most in the winter. 

From cost-effective fixes, like installing warmer decor to more intense solutions like replacing the roof, there are several ways to keep a conservatory warm that are suitable to a range of budgets. 

Eliminate Any Draughts

Before investing in ways to warm up your conservatory, it’s a good idea to locate any areas where cold air may be seeping in. 

Rather than sticking the heating on and having that warmth vanish within a matter of minutes, we recommend making sure all of your windows close fully and that there are no gaps in the sealant of your windows. 

By lighting a candle and searching for areas around the room which cause the flame to flicker, you can detect the draught which can be sealed with low-cost draught excluders. 

Focus on Flooring

Your floor is one of the biggest surfaces in your conservatory and, depending on your choice of flooring material, it can quickly feel cold in the winter. 

By putting down a large cosy rug, not only can you make this space significantly chicer, but you can keep your feet warm and trap in some extra heat in a relatively inexpensive way.  

Invest in Double Glazing

Depending on the age of your conservatory, it may be fitted with single-glazed windows which contribute massively to the loss of heat in your conservatory. 

If you’re feeling the chill and the single glazing is to blame, investing in double or triple-glazed windows will significantly improve how heat efficient this room is.

Double glazing is designed with two panes of glass – trapping air and gas between the layers which creates an effective barrier between your conservatory and the outside. Not only does this gas layer provide additional insulation to the room, but it also acts as an effective barrier against noise. 

Find out what makes double-glazed windows so good at keeping a room warm.

Get Rid of the Damp

Damp is a guaranteed way of driving down the temperature of any room, and this is typically caused by a lack of effective ventilation. 

Due to the freezing temperatures, it is unlikely you’ll want to open the windows and doors to improve circulation, however, a dehumidifier is an effective tool for controlling the amount of moisture in the air. 

This not only makes the room warmer but also prevents spores in the air from turning into harmful and unsightly black mould. 

Install Quality Blinds and Curtains

Another relatively cost-effective method of keeping a conservatory warm is by installing good quality curtains or blinds. 

Blinds tend to be the preferred choice for conservatories, however, this is purely down to taste and a good set of thick and high-quality curtains offers fantastic insulating properties. 

Take Advantage of Various Heating Options

There’s a wide range of heating options available which can raise the heat within your conservatory and make it feel that much cosier. These include:

Radiators

Much of a conservatory’s heat is lost through the windows – especially if you have single glazing. Because of this, it is essential to have a permanent source of quality heat to combat the cold in this room, and a radiator could be the perfect solution. 

As they are connected to your central heating system, radiators are considered one of the most efficient ways of warming a room quickly and thoroughly. 

Although the installation of radiators can require Building Regulations approval, the long-term benefits are certainly worth the investment. 

Portable Electric Heaters

A quick and effective way of injecting heat into a cold room, portable electric heaters are a good addition to any conservatory. 

Even if you already have radiators or underfloor heating installed, a quick blast from your fan heater, oil-filled radiator, or radiant heater will give you everything you need until your main heating system kicks in. 

Unfortunately, these can be quite expensive to run for a long period, so it can mean buying an energy-efficient option so you don’t see a large increase in your monthly bill. 

Underfloor Heating

As one of the best methods for heating any room, underfloor heating delivers heat which starts from the floor and travels up – heating you and your furniture to make the room incredibly cosy. 

Underfloor heating can also be easily retrofitted, meaning there is minimal disruption to your home.

This kind of heating system is available in wet and dry options, wet meaning there is hot water circulating beneath your feet, and dry, meaning pads of filaments are heated using electricity to provide warmth. 

Whatever system you opt for, underfloor heating is a highly energy-efficient way of heating a cold conservatory. 

Replace Your Roof

While this may seem like a drastic measure, conservatory roofs are notorious for allowing heat to escape. Especially those which were built over 10 years ago. 

Older conservatories tend to be too cold to use in the winter due to the use of a polycarbonate roof or double-glazed glass roof which has few insulating properties.

Recent advances in roofing and glazing technology mean that it is easier than ever to prevent heat from escaping from your roof – reducing the cost of your energy bills significantly. 

Tiled Conservatory Roofs

Modern tiled roofs have fantastic thermal performance, meaning your conservatory will be made significantly warmer in the winter. They’re also great at regulating temperature, which means they’ll even help to keep the room cool on the hottest of summer days. 

They can seamlessly blend in with the roofing style of the rest of your home, however, they are manufactured from significantly lighter materials and can be added to any conservatory with a frame strong enough to support it. 

This transformation is a relatively quick process, often only taking a week to complete; and is often touted as one of the most cost-effective ways of keeping a conservatory warm.

Hybrid Roofs

If you’d prefer a conservatory which is flooded with natural light, a hybrid roof may be the best option for you. 

With a combination of powder-coated aluminium vaulted roof panels and glass panels with enhanced insulation, hybrid roofs still let in plenty of sunlight, just like traditional glass roofs, but are fantastic at keeping the heat in. 

This option is completely bespoke to your property and is able to replace any existing glass or polycarbonate roof. Additionally, you can expect to use your conservatory relatively quickly, as installation takes just a matter of days.