Conservatories in Brighton may only be used for part of the year because they are always too cold to sit inside & too expensive to heat.
Last winter was a cold one for in the city, with temperatures plunging below freezing and the Met Office declaring a level 3 cold weather alert for the area. Gritters were out on Lewes and Preston Road, covering Brighton and Hove.
Not So Nowadays
The advent of modern glass technology now means that the use of 4Seasons glass units in the windows and doors, and specialist glass units in the roof help to keep your conservatory cool when it’s hot and hot when it’s not, so the minimum of heating at the coldest times will keep your conservatory toasty and warm, and quite often you won’t even need to turn the heating on.
Draught proofing – budget solutions?
We’ll be rating these solutions from low to high in terms of the quantity of draughts they account for.
Plug sockets or old vents:
To stop heat being lost through plug sockets, run some silicone sealant around them and fill in any gaps. If you have any old unused vents, block them with a vent cover to stop heat escaping.
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Windows:
Cold air can enter in through cracks on the side of conservatory windows. Install weather stripping as an inexpensive short-term solution. Or re-caulk the cracks along the window trim and the siding to ensure that no cold air gets in.
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Other solution:
If you can stretch your budget, fitting roof and side blinds are a good option for insulating your conservatory, or changing the glass sealed units for more efficient units can improve performance.
Conservatory doors, inside & outside:
Install a door sweep for internal doors, connecting the conservatory to your home. Cover up any cracks on the external conservatory door edges with silicone sealant.
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❗Some drafts are important❗
Maintaining a good circulation of airflow through conservatory roof vents is essential while you heat up your conservatory. This will reduce condensation and moisture from forming and producing mould.
Heating a cold conservatory: Types of heaters
In this section, we’ll discuss more expensive yet long-term methods to insulate a conservatory. We’ll be rating these solutions 1-4 in terms of time to implement them and the effectiveness of heating.
Wall-mounted thermostatically controlled electric heater:
These types of electric radiators can come with in-built digital thermostats, programmed to heat a conservatory at the coldest point in the day and maximise efficiency. They’re not the cheapest to install, but more important because it’s independently controllable it generally costs less to run.
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Infrared Heater:
Infrared heaters are another quick source of heating which are cheap to purchase and easy to install. But to note, the air in a room is not actually warmed, therefore the room temperature will drop very quickly when it is switched off.
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Gas Radiator:
Another common solution we see is adding central heating pipework into the conservatory. However, do bear in mind that quite often the boiler isn’t powerful enough, and this can occasionally adversely affect the heating system.
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Electric under-floor heating:
This can be incorporated into the floor on all new conservatories, acting as a discreet heating option. However, this is quite expensive to install, and not cheap to run.
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❗One thing to remember❗
Regular maintenance: When a conservatory isn’t looked after, making it warm can be an even harder job. Therefore it’s key to regularly maintain your conservatory and repair it if needs be.
How to keep heat in – long-term investments
The best way to keep your conservatory warm is not just about finding a good heat source but also about keeping the heat.
Roof insulation (Ceiling):
The majority of heat is lost from the roof, therefore insulating a conservatory roof could be the best way to keep heat in.Aluminium foil or thermal wadding can be placed between the rafters to increase insulation. Be aware of some companies who may not account for damp caused by condensation forming on the underside of the roof. This can drip onto the new insulation and de-grade it.
Replacing your conservatory roof:
Older conservatories built with thinner polycarbonate roofs fail to perform effectively with heat retention. There are two options which can be recommended as better alternatives which will improve heat retention drastically.
Tiled Effect Warm Roof:
Tiled effect Warm roofs have better insulating properties than polycarbonate or glass and will enable you to maintain a constant temperature. Several layers of insulation will be fitted with this type of roof, minimising heat loss.
There is also an aesthetic appeal to installing a modern tiled effect roof, which presents a more homely feel.
Glass Roof:
Another alternative could be to install a glass roof which is wonderful for letting lots of light in and also has very good insulating properties. These types of roofs are not as thermally efficient as light weight tiled roofs, but are still very efficient, however they are the cheaper choice.
If you’re looking for conservatories in Brighton at a competitive price and high-quality customer service then South Coast could be a perfect choice for you. Call us now on 0800 389 5957 or email us [email protected].
