Tag: Conservatory

5 Types of Conservatory Heating

Conservatory heating in LondonConservatories have become the norm in the UK and many consider them an addition that is essential. It is no surprise as conservatories throughout history have provided a wonderful space to grow and exhibit beautiful, exotic plants and to dwell enjoying the feel of being outdoors when the weather is cold. In the evening or daytime, the conservatory is a favourite room for many, especially as they are adaptable to use for leisure, dining, play and games. The extra day light afforded by a conservatory is a bonus for many people especially in the dark days of winter.

To enjoy a conservatory fully, some form of heating will be essential for chilly evenings and the winter season. Types of conservatory heating are variable UK wide so it is a question of finding the right solution for your own personal space. Because conservatories are glass structures, the potential for heat escape is massive. In fact a double glazed conservatory will lose heat eight times more quickly than through a cavity wall so it is important that cost effective heating is installed at the build or added later.

There are plus and minus points for different methods of heating a conservatory and here we will look at five kinds of conservatory heating UK wide. There are electric heaters for conservatories, oil heaters, underfloor, and air conditioning or heat pump technology which are the ultimate heaters for conservatory use.

Fan Heaters for Conservatories

This method of heating is convenient as portable units are readily available and just need to be plugged in to an electrical socket. Electrical heaters for conservatories like this will not be expensive to buy as they simply pass air over an electrical element to heat the air. They can be quite noisy which disturbs the peace of the conservatory and are also expensive to operate so are only recommended for occasional use when instant heat is required.

Oil Heaters

Another portable kind of heaters for conservatory is the oil filled radiator. These units are larger than fan devices but can usually be integrated discreetly in the conservatory. The distinct advantage is the quietness of operation and it is also a safer option as it is unlikely to be knocked over, plus the surface area is overall a lower operating temperature. Although a safer option, these units are still expensive to run.

Central Heating

Central heating seems a logical way for heating the conservatory and in a brand new build may already be incorporated. If there is the option for thermostatic control and the option to switch the radiator off then it can be a good way to use the heat. The difficulty arises when you only want to heat the conservatory and not the other rooms in the house. Also, the radiator temperature will need to be higher in the conservatory. Normally a backup heat source would be needed so it is not so convenient when this is taken into account, although it can be economical if the whole heating system is in use anyway.

Under-floor Heating

This heating for conservatories is desirable as there is nothing to see in terms of devices and the heated floor means that the usual tiled conservatory floors are warm to walk on. While it is quite a cost efficient method, the installation costs can be high which is not so good for those on a budget

Air Conditioning

This method allows you to heat and cool your conservatory providing the best of all worlds. In summer, you can sit in the cool and come the winter months, the process is reversed. Most units can be remote controlled so you can adjust to suit personal comfort at the touch of a button. The humidity levels in the room; especially if you have plants can be adjusted to the correct ambience. There are many types of air conditioning units that offer style, quality and performance at affordable prices that come backed by a guarantee and back up service.

As can be seen there are many ways you can install heaters for conservatories and the general rule is that the higher cost of installation outweighs the eventual running costs. It is important therefore to consider your conservatory usage and how much of your budget can be spent on running costs and installation. Generally speaking, an hour of heat from a 2KW electrical appliance will cost 24p going down to 9p with more sophisticated options.

We’re here to help so give us a call if you’d like to have a chat and discuss your conservatory heating options.

Air Conditioning Services London

Simply Air Conditioning London installs, services, and repairs air conditioning systems for homes and businesses across London. Contact us for a free quote.

Quote from one of our happy air deflector free trial recipients:

“Our open plan office houses around 100 people. Air distribution and draft was an issue for some of them prior to fitting air deflectors. Since the fitting we’ve not had a single complaint!”

How we got here

Air conditioning is known to have been applied in Ancient Rome: aqueduct water was passed through walls of houses to cool them. In medieval Persia similar techniques involving the use of cisterns and wind towers were used in the hot season to cool buildings.

Modern air conditioning emerged after advances in 19th Century chemistry, and it was Willis Haviland Carrier who invented and first used a large-scale electrical air conditioning system in 1902.

Air Conditioner Definition

An appliance, unit, system, or machine designed to stabilise the temperature and humidity of air within an area (used for both heating as well as cooling). A refrigeration cycle is the most common method of achieving this although sometimes evaporative coolers are used for comfort cooling inside buildings and vehicles.

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What is the Best Heater for a Conservatory?

The internet as we know is a marvellous source of information and there is much to learn from the vast mass of knowledge. Unfortunately, a lot of information can be misleading and we fear many people have been led to the wrong solution for a problem for which they are trying to obtain an answer. Our company of professional heating engineers have a mission to provide first-class accurate information based on years of experience and training. However, many people answering queries on the internet are giving out misleading and sometimes dangerous information.

Take this example we found on Yahoo Answers:

As can be seen a straightforward question was posed by someone wanting to heat a conservatory cheaply and safely as the space was to be used as a children’s playroom and heating was only needed for part of the day. The requirement was that the appliance be energy saving, but they were not sure what would suit them having limited knowledge of heating methods.

We were surprised by the answer that was chosen as the best by voters:

“Best Answer- Chosen by Voters
get your self a halogen heater there cheep and very good”

It is true that halogen heaters are popular and can be simply plugged into a socket. They provide heat and are best suited to supplementing a full heating system. They come in different sizes and vary in style. Rather than electric coils to provide heat, halogen elements are used. They do have a safety cut out mechanism if they are toppled over, but for a conservatory made of glass, a halogen heater would not be powerful enough to provide a constant temperature.

They are ideally suited for a bedroom to take the chill off or as a heat source to keep toes warm under a desk or such like. There is usually a heat setting control and they are readily available from most retail outlets.

Why is a Halogen Heater Not Suited to The Use of This Conservatory?

Safety – Young children will be playing in the conservatory and could easily burn themselves or knock over the heater.

Performance – Because a conservatory is made of glass, the air becomes very cold and requires a decent output of warmth from the chosen heating appliance. Halogen heaters are not sufficient to warm the entire space, as they are more suited to “spot” heating. Heat is lost very quickly from a conservatory so using an appliance that can maintain a constant temperature will be more economic to run and save on energy. Very often cheaper halogen heaters have a short life and break down.

Appearance – Halogen heaters can look obtrusive and if you are after a streamlined integrated appliance, then a stand-alone heater is not the choice for you.

What Kind of Heating Appliance Would Suit This Conservatory?

The ideal choice for a conservatory is a small air conditioning unit. These units are discrete and can fit in the conservatory snugly at floor level, ceiling level or mounted on a wall. Using external air as the fuel source, this quiet appliance will quickly bring the temperature of the conservatory up to the required comfort level and maintain the level of comfort economically and safely.

The heat is instant and the unit can be controlled easily giving out four times as much energy for every unit of electricity you use. There is also the safety factor. An air conditioning unit is fixed in place and its construction mean there are no elements that can be reached by little fingers and no eat source that can burn or injure a child. All you get is all round warmth at the temperature you desire.

Benefits of a Conservatory Air Conditioning Unit

Safety – Children are safe with this form of heating as they cannot touch anything or injure themselves.

Performance – Gain up to four times as much energy from each unit of electricity. Modern air conditioning units are almost 100% energy efficient and yield great savings on the electricity bill. They are easily controlled and not dependent on any other system in the house.

Cooling – Just as it is lovely for children to be able to play in a warm conservatory, it is also a place of refuge during extremely hot summer days, as the children can stay cool when they are not bouncing around in a paddling pool as the small conservatory air conditioning units also cool the conservatory in the hot weather.

The dual purpose nature of a conservatory air conditioning unit combined with safety, long manufacturers warranty and guaranteed installation work means you will have peace of mind for many years to come and be able to take full advantage of your conservatory without worrying the children may trip over a floor standing heater or burn themselves.

When you are considering a conservatory heater, look to the internet but make sure you seek advice from the website of a professional air conditioning engineer.

Quote from one of our happy air deflector free trial recipients:

“Our open plan office houses around 100 people. Air distribution and draft was an issue for some of them prior to fitting air deflectors. Since the fitting we’ve not had a single complaint!”

How we got here

Air conditioning is known to have been applied in Ancient Rome: aqueduct water was passed through walls of houses to cool them. In medieval Persia similar techniques involving the use of cisterns and wind towers were used in the hot season to cool buildings.

Modern air conditioning emerged after advances in 19th Century chemistry, and it was Willis Haviland Carrier who invented and first used a large-scale electrical air conditioning system in 1902.

Air Conditioner Definition

An appliance, unit, system, or machine designed to stabilise the temperature and humidity of air within an area (used for both heating as well as cooling). A refrigeration cycle is the most common method of achieving this although sometimes evaporative coolers are used for comfort cooling inside buildings and vehicles.

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Conservatory Air Conditioning London

Conservatory air conditioning in London

Whether you call it a conservatory or an orangery, it is one thing to construct and design the conservatory of your dreams, but quite another to keep the ambient temperature cool enough in summer and warm enough in winter. Conservatory air conditioning London can walk you through the options to heat and cool your space. Conservatories can be very expensive in design and construction, but even if they are more modest, it is important that they can be used all year round.

A company like ours that covers conservatory air conditioning London is ideal for you to obtain the best advice from professional engineers in your area. A conservatory is used for many different purposes and we can advise on the best heating and cooling solution depending on your needs.

Without any kind of temperature control, your conservatory will have extremes of temperature meaning the space will not be a comfortable place to spend time. For example, on hot days, it will be too hot to use and on cold days it will be freezing. Having invested in your unique conservatory, you do not want the weather to dictate when it can be used.

You may have had your conservatory built to use as a home office, playroom, dining room, kitchen overflow area or simply as a place to relax and enjoy and possibly to grow to some beautiful house plants too. Conservatory air conditioning London is as important as your conservatory construction.

There are various options for heating and cooling your conservatory and some conservatory builders will even supply a small air conditioning unit with the deal but without proper heat calculations, you will never achieve the right type of temperate control. Air conditioning from an accredited company that covers conservatory air conditioning London is your port of call for the right product at the right price. Our own company has an extensive range of units to air condition your conservatory supplying just the right warmth in winter and perfect cooling in summer.

What Makes Air Conditioning the Best Option for Conservatory Heating and Cooling?

The largest amount of material used in a conservatory is glass and this is one reason that conservatories cool very quickly as almost eight times as quickly as a conventional room. This happens very quickly at sunset and of course, winter mornings will be extremely cold after the heat loss overnight. While there are many heating options available not all are suited to conservatory heating. One key factor for heating a conservatory is the amount of time it takes to bring the room to temperature. The other important factor is the amount of energy that is consumed to bring the temperature up to the required level.

In summer, sun penetrates the space raising internal temperatures to quite uncomfortable levels at times, which is not good for people or plants.

Often there are limitations on heating and cooling as some conservatories have floor to ceiling glass making them unsuitable for radiators and other wall mounted appliances. The versatility of air conditioning units means whatever you construction type; there is a unit to suit. For maximum efficiency and performance qualified engineers, calculate the unit size. They will come up with a recommendation depending on the construction of the building, size and other variables.

How Does Air Conditioning Heat a Conservatory?

Conservatory air conditioning London companies like Simply Air Conditioning use units with heat pump technology. These highly efficient air conditioning units make an excellent heating choice because they use heat pump technology to pull warm outside air in through the unit directing it into the conservatory, heating the air further to give instant warmth in your conservatory. The reverse process of drawing internal warm air from the conservatory to outside cools the air in the space. The heat pump technology works efficiently even on the coldest days to keep you cosy and your conservatory useable.

As A Conservatory Heating London Company, We Offer These Advantages

  • Easy installation
  • Free consultation
  • Professional heat calculations
  • Guaranteed work
  • Maintenance Plan
  • Affordability
  • Work is performed by qualified professionals

Air Conditioning Units for Conservatory Heating Advantages

  • Year round use of your conservatory
  • Warm in winter, cool in summer
  • Energy efficient
  • Unobtrusive
  • Quiet
  • Complete control at your fingertips

As a reputable conservatory air conditioning London company, we deal only with the top global manufacturers of air conditioning units with heat pump technology in order to provide you with the highest standards of quality, reliability, and affordability. Do not close the door on your conservatory this winter, or avoid your conservatory in summer, contact us today for a professional no obligation quotation and make the most of this unique addition to your home.

Quote from one of our happy air deflector free trial recipients:

“Our open plan office houses around 100 people. Air distribution and draft was an issue for some of them prior to fitting air deflectors. Since the fitting we’ve not had a single complaint!”

How we got here

Air conditioning is known to have been applied in Ancient Rome: aqueduct water was passed through walls of houses to cool them. In medieval Persia similar techniques involving the use of cisterns and wind towers were used in the hot season to cool buildings.

Modern air conditioning emerged after advances in 19th Century chemistry, and it was Willis Haviland Carrier who invented and first used a large-scale electrical air conditioning system in 1902.

Air Conditioner Definition

An appliance, unit, system, or machine designed to stabilise the temperature and humidity of air within an area (used for both heating as well as cooling). A refrigeration cycle is the most common method of achieving this although sometimes evaporative coolers are used for comfort cooling inside buildings and vehicles.

Main Pages

Conservatories at Kew

Kew Gardens conservatory, LondonIn Southwest London situated between Richmond and Kew are the Royal Botanic Gardens. “Kew Gardens” as it is more commonly known is home to the world’s largest collection of living plants and is the leading centre for research and education. Open to the public, this world heritage site it is one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in the London area.

The Nash Conservatory is the oldest of the nineteenth century glasshouses at Kew designed by John Nash originally for the gardens at Buckingham Palace but it was moved to Kew in 1836 by King William IV It is a Greek temple design in classic stone with twelve Iconic columns on the east and west façade. The interior is formed of elegant cast ironwork and glazing. Very different from efficient energy heating systems, the conservatory was heated by an old patent system of steam circulating through small-bore pipes, which has since been replaced. This conservatory is available as a wedding venue and would be perfect.

The Palm House is the largest and most important existing Victorian conservatory and glasshouse. A frame of wrought iron arches supports glass panels, which at one time were tinted green with copper oxide to reduce the significant heating effect. Nineteen metres high, there is a walkway at nine metres high to allow visitors to look down on the treetops on the palm tress and exotics cultivated inside. For its tropical plants, the Palm House needed heat. Originally, the boilers were in the basement, heating water pipes under iron gratings on which the plants stood in great teak tubs, or in clay pots on benches. The smoke from the boilers was led away through pipes in a tunnel under the Palm House Pond to the elegant Italianate Campanile smoke stack 150 m (490 ft) away. The tunnel also housed a small railway which, transported coal to the Palm House boilers. This magnificent building is also a sought after wedding venue.

The Princess of Wales Conservatory opened by Diana, Princess of Wales on 28 July 1987, is the most complex of Kew’s public glasshouses. It commemorates Princess Augusta who married Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1736 and who founded the Gardens. Ten different environments cover the whole range of conditions in the tropics, ranging from scorching arid desert to moist tropical rainforest, computer-controlled under one roof. The technology involved is highly advanced. Sensors on walls and in beds report exact environmental conditions to the computer, which commands heat to flow, ventilation to open, or mists to spray to increase humidity.

Kew is home to many conservatories and for inspiration; there would be no better place to visit. The legacy from the conservatories at Kew may be seen on many urban and suburban houses in miniature form!

Why this piece on Kew’s conservatories? Well, at Simply Air Conditioning we love fitting conservatory heating and air conditioning units, so why not write about some of the most famous conservatories in our area!

Quote from one of our happy air deflector free trial recipients:

“Our open plan office houses around 100 people. Air distribution and draft was an issue for some of them prior to fitting air deflectors. Since the fitting we’ve not had a single complaint!”

How we got here

Air conditioning is known to have been applied in Ancient Rome: aqueduct water was passed through walls of houses to cool them. In medieval Persia similar techniques involving the use of cisterns and wind towers were used in the hot season to cool buildings.

Modern air conditioning emerged after advances in 19th Century chemistry, and it was Willis Haviland Carrier who invented and first used a large-scale electrical air conditioning system in 1902.

Air Conditioner Definition

An appliance, unit, system, or machine designed to stabilise the temperature and humidity of air within an area (used for both heating as well as cooling). A refrigeration cycle is the most common method of achieving this although sometimes evaporative coolers are used for comfort cooling inside buildings and vehicles.

Main Pages