How to Keep a Conservatory Cool?
There are several ways to keep your conservatory cool. In this article, we will discuss air conditioning, window blinds, and solar-assisted air conditioning units. Regardless of the particular climate you live in, these methods can help keep the room cooler. If you’d like to improve the overall cooling effect, you should also consider insulation. In addition, installing a water feature can be relaxing and add to the cooling effect.
Conservatories can be prone to overheating if constructed in areas in direct sunlight. There are multiple options to help keep the conservatory cool including, Air conditioners, ventilation ducts, blinds, roof coverings, fans, window films and specialized glazing. These cooling options range in price and effectiveness.
The advantage and the problem with a conservatory is that the best time to be in it is often those long summer evenings, and all that glass can make what is supposed to be a welcome reprieve from the weather turn into a greenhouse more suited for plants than for people. We have a few ideas below to help you turn your conservatory back from a green house, and into a room where those pleasant evenings are delight once again.
Conservatory Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is an excellent way to keep a conservatory cool. Unlike an ordinary room, a conservatory doesn’t have to have a large unit to keep the temperature low. A low-wall air conditioner is an ideal solution. It sits below the glass and replaces the need for a radiator. The low-wall air conditioning units are ideal for conservatories, and if you get one that has a heating function, although more expensive, gives your the option to use the conservatory in a whole other season as well.
Because conservatories trap sunlight, they can get unbearably hot during summer. Air conditioning for a conservatory will keep you cool in the summer and warm, if you buy one with that ability, in the winter. It is also energy-efficient, as air conditioning systems supplied by top manufacturers are designed with cost effectiveness in mind.
In addition to regulating temperature, air conditioning units can also be helpful for the health of people. some have filters that can clear the air of allergens and pollen, which although not foolproof can reduce discomfort.
They are the most expensive option on the list, but also the most effective. It is possible, though less attractive to get stand alone units that require no special mounting or power hook ups. These are often cheaper, and though less pleasing on the eye also mean they can be moved to other rooms if you need.
Conservatory Blinds
If you’re planning to install blinds in your conservatory, consider choosing an accent colour. If the space is predominantly white, a bold accent colour will add a splash of colour and prevent it from looking bland and lifeless.
Make sure you use this colour throughout the rest of the decor, however. Then, pair the dominant colour with two less dramatic shades. Blinds can also be fitted with a remote control, making it easy to control the amount of light that enters and exits the room as well as being pretty cool to show off to guests.
Blinds can help control the temperature, as well as looking great. A made to measure blind can help to keep glare to a minimum, keep the conservatory bright and cool during the summer, and shield plants from excessive sunlight.
Blinds can also provide a stylish finish to the room’s decor. A reputable supplier, like Appeal Home Shading, can provide you with the perfect blinds for your conservatory.
Conservatory Roof Coverings
Another way to control the temperature is to use roof coverings. These can reduce glare and keep the conservatory cooler. They can also act as insulators during winter. If you’d like to use more natural means to reduce heat in your conservatory, consider planting trees that provide shade. Trees that shed their leaves during the winter can be planted strategically to shade the space inside the conservatory during the summer.
Aside from blinds, you can also use cooling film, which is an adhesive layer that you can fit to the glass of your conservatory. This film has a number of benefits and is relatively inexpensive. Although fitting it may be a challenge and to avoid ripples and streaks it may be worth asking a professional to do so for you.
Conservatory Cooling films
A conservatory is a lovely addition to a property, but if the temperature is too high, the space can become uncomfortable and unusable. In order to beat the heat and keep the temperature in a comfortable range, a specialist film can be installed on the windows of a conservatory. The type of cooling film needed will depend on the material of the roof, which can range from glass to polycarbonate.
A high quality conservatory window film rejects up to 79% of unwanted solar energy, reduces solar glare, and rejects 99% of harmful UV rays. With high-performance properties, it can reduce the temperature inside your conservatory by six to eight degrees.
While material blinds may be a conventional solution, they tend to be expensive and difficult to install. The main disadvantage of material blinds is that they reduce the visible light inside the conservatory. Moreover, the blinds would block the views, which would be counterproductive.
This is where an economical alternative is to install solar control window film, which can be installed by yourself or by a professional. These films are available for both glass and polycarbonate windows.
Low-emissivity films are recommended for all-year-round use. They block harmful UV rays and keep the room cool in summer. Low-emissivity films allow light to pass through while blocking infrared and ultraviolet rays.
Conservatory Ventilation
When it comes to keeping your conservatory cool, one of the most important factors is proper ventilation. It will keep the room from becoming too warm or too cold as well as improving airflow and if you have a channel for the air to go a nice breeze!
While windows are fitted in conservatories, especially larger ones, it may actually be cooler to crack other the door to the house open and the door to the garden to create a through draft. ( caused by the difference in air pressure) as a cheap, natural and effective way to keep your conservatory cool
Other Ways To Cool A Conservatory
If you want to enjoy your new conservatory year-round, there are many ways to keep it cool.
- Solar-assisted air conditioning units are a great option for conserving energy, because they can help keep your space cool and avoid some of the high running costs if your conservatory is somewhat of a sun trap. The best part of a solar-assisted air conditioning unit is that it doesn’t need any wiring. You can install the unit right over the roof of the conservatory and connect it to the mains electricity supply.
- This way, you’ll be able to save money on electricity bills. This type of unit is ideal for conservatories. In addition, it’s kinder to the environment, making it a better option for your home. Just make sure you live in a place with sun!!, and that you don’t need it to be heated in the winter.
- The Good Old Fan: Besides solar panels, you can also install free-standing or overhead fans to create a breeze in the room.
- Specialised Conservatory Glazing: There are several different glazing types available for conservatories that balance thermal efficiency, light transmittance, and heat reflection. A good example of one of these types of glazing is solar-control glass, which allows some natural sunlight through but reflects some of the suns heat.
- Window Films: If you’re worried about summer heat, you can always invest in window films, which filter UV light and reduce glare and reflect the sun’s energy away from the room. Adding air conditioning to a conservatory is a great idea, but it’s not cheap to install. Modern air conditioning units are usually multi-functional, so you don’t have to pay for separate heating and cooling systems.
Insulating the Conservatory.
To maintain a comfortable temperature in your conservatory, you can improve the structure by adding Insulation. By using insulation, you will be able to create a summer-time space that you can use throughout the year. One that keeps cool and traps heat as needed.
There are many ways you can increase the insulation of your conservatory. Listed below are a few options to consider.
Conservatory insulation comes in two main types: inserted into the conservatory and sealed to the outside. In-built insulation is more effective at insulating your conservatory because it requires fewer materials and is less bulky than external insulation.
Despite the weight savings, internal insulating materials are more expensive than external insulation. However, they can be a great option to ensure a cool and comfortable conservatory for years to come.
Changing the roof of your conservatory is another option for insulation. This can cost you a lot of money, and it may also restrict the views of your garden. External insulation involves covering the conservatory with insulating materials. This will help reduce heat loss and condensation while remaining stable.
This is a long-term solution, and it is the most efficient method. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of local building regulations and personally we would choose another option.
Conclusion.
Keep a conservatory cool, or at the very least bearable, is probably the most important aspect of owning one. It is there to enjoy being outside, without being outside, spending a little extra time as well as money on a climate control solution will have you spending more time in your conservatory, and after all that was the idea wasn’t it! .
