Why conservatories are hard to heat
Glass loses heat much faster than an insulated wall, and many conservatories have a tiled or concrete floor that feels cold underfoot. That means a conservatory usually needs more heat than a room of the same size inside the house, and the heat source has to fit around low walls and glazing.
Sizing
Our BTU calculator does not have a conservatory setting, and the room allowances it uses are for rooms with ordinary walls. For a conservatory, allow a generous margin above any estimate, or ask a heating engineer for a heat loss figure. Where a product page lists a heat output, compare it with that figure. Outputs are only directly comparable when both products state the same ΔT.
Choosing a heat source
Central heating
If your heating pipework reaches the conservatory, low-height radiators, 400mm high or less, fit on a dwarf wall under the glass. Ranges include Myson Select Compact, Myson T6, Stelrad Compact and Zehnder Roda.
Electric
Where there is no pipework, electric radiators and Infrared Group infrared heating panels need only a power supply. Electrical connections must follow the manufacturer's instructions and the wiring rules; ask a registered electrician if you are unsure.
Perimeter and plinth heaters
Smith's Sureline perimeter fan convectors and the Ecovector LL low-level fan convectors run along the base of a wall, and Space Saver plinth heaters fit in the kickspace under units. See all heaters.
Related: underfloor heating
Underfloor heating systems are not part of this collection; they are listed in our separate underfloor heating collection, with availability shown on each product. Underfloor heating warms the floor itself and leaves the walls and glazing clear, and is usually planned before a floor is laid.
More help
Read our guide to choosing a radiator, or A Home for Every Radiator: Choosing Room by Room.