What type of heating for a conservatory?
When choosing a heating system for your conservatory, you need to take into account the conservatory's insulation. Like any living space, a conservatory needs a heating system for the winter. To make the right choice, follow our advice.
Insulation and orientation in the choice of heating for a conservatory
The very nature of a conservatory means that it is mainly made up of glazed surfaces. To heat the conservatory, it is therefore essential to take the following parameters into account when choosing glazing:
U-value or thermal transmittance, which indicates heat loss from the inside to the outside. The lower it is, the better the thermal performance.
The solar energy transmitted through the glazing (solar factor SF or g). The lower the solar factor, the lower the solar gain.
Light transmission (LT), which measures the percentage of light that passes through the glazing. The higher it is, the more effective the glazing is in terms of thermal insulation.
Light reflection (LR), which measures the degree of reflection of a pane of glass. The higher the coefficient, the more reflective the appearance of the glazing.
Depending on the region in which the conservatory is located, these parameters must be adjusted to achieve a thermal balance and heat the conservatory in winter. In the case of an aluminium conservatory, the profiles should have a total thermal break, such as those designed by AKENA. In addition, a conservatory fitted with integrated roller shutters will also allow you to modulate the thermal performance.
How do you heat a conservatory or extension?
To heat a conservatory or extension, make sure it is optimally insulated. Then it's time to choose the best conservatory air conditioning/heating system. There are several possible solutions.

Heating solutions
- Extension of the house's central heating circuit which, although practical, requires a boiler of sufficient capacity
- Underfloor heating, which is economical and compatible with many heating systems
- Solar energy, although this may not be enough and you may need a back-up system during periods of extreme cold.
- A heat pump that draws energy from the ground, the water table or the air.




How can you heat a conservatory without breaking the bank?

If you want to heat your conservatory more cheaply, you need to opt for solutions that are easy to install. The less work you need to do, the more economical your heating will be.
The way you heat your conservatory will depend mainly on how it will be used. If it's a room you'll be using occasionally, like a second living room for entertaining, for example, you'll only heat it occasionally when you know you'll be spending time there. Another energy-saving solution is to heat the conservatory only during the day. By combining the degrees gained from the sun and those provided by your heating system, you can quickly achieve a comfortable temperature at a lower cost.
If you want a conservatory that's warm in winter, without the sun or heating, you need to focus on insulating your conservatory. This must be absolutely optimal to avoid having a room that's too cool. However, it's not a good idea not to include a heating system in your conservatory.
You should also consider installing solar panels to help reduce your energy consumption.
What heating capacity for the conservatory?
Generally speaking, as for the rest of the house, you first need to calculate the volume of your room to be heated. This is calculated by multiplying the floor area by the ceiling height.
For a standard height of 2.5 m, the average required to heat an interior room is 100 w per m² (for electric radiators). If your conservatory is older or has less-than-optimal insulation, this is the bare minimum on which to base your calculations. These measures also apply to wood-burning stoves.
You should also take into account the region in which you live. If your climate is mild or cold, you will have different heating requirements. For example, with poor insulation, 40 W/m³ will be enough in the most temperate areas, whereas 60 W/m³ will be needed in cooler areas.

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