A winter garden is heated with underfloor heating, infrared heaters, air conditioning or radiators added to the home's central heating. Which suits you depends on how often you use it and its size — but before any of these come insulated glass and floor insulation, which cut heat loss.
First, reduce heat loss
The most efficient heating starts with losing less heat. In a winter garden, argon-filled insulated glass in the roof, insulated guillotine or sliding glass on the sides and a well-insulated floor cut heating costs directly. A single-glazed winter garden is always more expensive to heat.
Heating options
| Method | How it heats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Underfloor heating | Even heat from the floor | Winter gardens used every day, new builds (plan before the floor is laid) |
| Infrared heaters | Heat people and surfaces directly, not the air; fast effect | Occasionally used spaces, restaurant and café terraces |
| Air conditioning | Heats the air; cools in summer | Spaces used all year that also need cooling in summer |
| Radiators | Added to the home's existing central heating | Balcony and terrace winter gardens adjoining the house |
Which should you choose?
- Used every day like a living room: underfloor heating or radiators; air conditioning for summer cooling.
- Used in the evenings and at weekends: infrared heaters, which work the moment they are switched on.
- Worried about summer heat too: air conditioning plus a Sky Zip screen under the roof and opening walls.
If the roof is a bioclimatic pergola: heat with dehumidification
If the enclosed space has an aluminium-louvred bioclimatic pergola as its roof, heat it with a system that removes moisture: air conditioning, a fan coil or a dehumidifier. Otherwise condensation forms on the roof panels because of the warm-cold contact. Setting the louvres to about 5° in ventilation mode also prevents it. More in: condensation on bioclimatic pergolas.
Overheating in summer
Summer comfort matters as much as winter. Overhead shading, cross-ventilation and, if needed, an opening roof (bioclimatic pergola or retractable glass roof) strike that balance. More in: What to know before building a winter garden.
