Electric.ie Mar/Apr 19 Magazine

56 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • Rointe Electric heating solutions for your conservatory Š› Š‡ƒ– ›…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”›ǫ There are many reasons why you would want to heat your conservatory. Perhaps ‹– ‹• —•‡† ƒ• ›‘—” „”‡ƒˆƒ•– ”‘‘ǫ Š‹…Š means that it must be warm enough in the morning or maybe you use it as your sitting room all year round? If you intend to use your conservatory –Š”‘—‰Š‘—– –Š‡ ™‹–‡”ǡ ‹– ƒ‡• ‰”‡ƒ– •‡•‡ –‘ ‹•–ƒŽŽ ƒ ‡ƥ…‹‡– Š‡ƒ–‹‰ solution that can be managed easily. You might even use it as a sort of ‰”‡‡Š‘—•‡ ˆ‘” •‘‡ –”‘’‹…ƒŽ ‘” •—„Ǧ tropical plants, which cannot withstand typical freezing winter temperatures. In that case, you will need to ensure the temperature does not drop below a certain level. Ideally, when it is below 0ºC during the winter, your conservatory should be warmer. Your plants respire at night and because there is no sunlight, they change their natural activity from photosynthesis to cell respiration. They will grow —ƒ–—”ƒŽŽ› Ž‡‰‰› ƒ† Ž‘‰ ƒ• –Š‡› Ž‘‘ for sunshine that probably lasts only a couple of hours in some locations during winter. Your conservatory temperature at night should ideally be set around 21ºC. What are the options for Š‡ƒ–‹‰ ›…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”›ǫ Conservatories come with unique heating requirements. In particular, heating your conservatory during the winter can be challenging. For example, central heating may not be the best option as it may not meet the ”‡“—‹”‡‡–• ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒ”– „—‹Ž†‹‰ regulations in regards to heat loss. Because of their glass structure, high ceilings and a bigger number of exterior ™ƒŽŽ•ǡ Š‡ƒ– –‡†• –‘ ‡•…ƒ’‡ “—‹…Ž›Ǥ In fact, experts estimate that heat ‡•…ƒ’‡• ͤǦ–‹‡• ˆƒ•–‡” –Š”‘—‰Š ƒ conservatory’s double glazed windows than is lost through a standard cavity wall. This means that selecting an ‡‡”‰› ‡ƥ…‹‡– Š‡ƒ–‹‰ •‘Ž—–‹‘ ˆ‘” your conservatory is important. During winter, or even autumn and spring, many conservatories are left empty or unused for long periods. This means potentially useful space isn’t utilised because of the cold. For the general comfort of your conservatory, heating is a very critical consideration. The temperature can ƪ—…–—ƒ–‡ “—‹…Ž›ǡ ’”‹ƒ”‹Ž› †—‡ –‘ –Š‡ glass structure. On sunny days, your …‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”› ™‹ŽŽ “—‹…Ž› ™ƒ” —’ „—– when evening falls the temperature drops. Considering how much it cost you to build, ideally, you should be able –‘ ƒ‡ —•‡ ‘ˆ ›‘—”…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”› ƒŽŽ year round. So what are the options for heating your conservatory? • Central heating If your home already has a central Š‡ƒ–‹‰ •›•–‡ǡ ‹– ‹• ’‘••‹„Ž‡ –‘ Ž‹ it up your conservatory. All that will be required to get the most out of it, is to install a thermostatically controlled radiator. This will ensure that your conservatory is controlled independently from the rest of your home. In the United Kingdom, however, you will have to ensure the heating system for both the main house and the conservatory adhere to the local building regulations. The building regulations compliance is obviously an extra headache, which you will not have to face, were you to install electric radiators for your conservatory. In addition, if the main house and the conservatory heating are not separated, you will have no control ‘˜‡” –Š‡ ƪ—…–—ƒ–‹‰ –‡’‡”ƒ–—”‡• between the conservatory and the main home. For example, the living room may be situated on the north facing side of the property and the conservatory ‘ –Š‡ •‘—–ŠǤ Š‡ –Š‡ •—• ‘—– ›‘—” conservatory will get warmth from the sun and your central heating, pushing the temperature too high and increasing your energy consumption and costs. However, your living room will be colder in the absence of the sun, so you will want to increase the temperature of the heating, which in turn will increase in the conservatory where it is not needed. Ȉ †‡”ƪ‘‘” Š‡ƒ–‹‰ Generally associated with tiled or stone ƪ‘‘”•ǡ —†‡”ƪ‘‘” Š‡ƒ–‹‰…ƒ ƒŽ•‘ „‡ Ƥ––‡† ‹ ƒ…ƒ”’‡–‡†…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”›Ǥ – can run on a pumped water system or a dry electric system. The downside of Šƒ˜‹‰ ƒ —†‡”ƪ‘‘” Š‡ƒ–‹‰ •›•–‡ ‹• that compared to most other methods, it could turn out to be a little more expensive to install. It also means digging up and installing pipes below ›‘—”…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”› ƪ‘‘”Ǥ †‡”ƪ‘‘” heating would be a good option if you’re –Š‹‹‰ ‘ˆ Šƒ˜‹‰ ƒ…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‘”› „—‹Ž– and this solution would be included ƒ• ’ƒ”– ‘ˆ –Š‡ „—‹Ž†Ǥ ‡ Šƒ˜‡ ͟ ‡‡”‰› ‡ƥ…‹‡– —†‡”ƪ‘‘” Š‡ƒ–‹‰ •‘Ž—–‹‘• available for you to choose from. • Air conditioning This method comes with double „‡‡Ƥ–•ǣ †—”‹‰ –Š‡ •—‡”ǡ –Š‡ ƒ‹”Ǧ KYROS Conservatory Radiator