Choosing a heater for the balcony. Best heating options
Are you renovating your apartment or are you just tired of the cold air blowing in from the street? Then it’s time to think about installing a convector on the balcony or coming up with another strategy for generating heat.
In fact, it's simple. And we will tell you about several points on how to heat your balcony right now!
The content of the article
Electric radiator for the balcony – is it worth it?
You can immediately predict that installing a simple radiator system in a closed balcony is a very promising and inexpensive solution. But this format has rather technical and legal limitations. What are we talking about:
- Each apartment building has design documentation, which indicates the pipe laying system and their operating temperature. Traditionally, such drawings do not indicate balcony rooms, since they account for the greatest heat loss. That is, to install a heater on a loggia, your initiative is not enough - you should submit a permit to the executive authorities, who do not like any redevelopment and changes in the technical parameters of structures.It is possible, of course, to install illegally, but there are several counterarguments to this: firstly, you may run into an inspection; secondly, the neighbors will become indignant; thirdly, improper installation can endanger not only the heat supply system, but also the structure of the high-rise building as a whole.
- Since there is not much thermal insulation on the balcony, if any, the water in the pipes may simply freeze. This will clog the entire system and the pipe may burst. The result is your disappointment, new repairs and an administrative fine for illegal redevelopment.
Conclusion: this type of heating is very convenient and practical, but not for a loggia, as this entails many unpleasant consequences, described earlier.
Don't be sad, because there are still many heaters for the balcony.
Infrared heater for the balcony
The design of any infrared heater is strikingly different from its electric “colleagues”. These are small hanging panels that are mounted on a special tripod or on a wall.
Such a heater for a loggia has a number of undeniable advantages:
- The distribution of warm air is uniform, reaching all remote places in the room.
- The item does not require much space: even if there is too little space on your balcony, you can always install the device on the wall or on top of the doors.
- Very modern and stylish look.
- Efficiency cannot be compared with electrical devices. This means that the infrared machine will work perfectly as a heater for a balcony in winter (more than 90% of the electricity consumed is converted into heat; no modern heater can produce this).
But where would we be without the weaknesses of this type of equipment? This is especially true for those who like to arrange a bedroom in a loggia: the device emits too bright a glow, which can sometimes be irritating and conspicuous. Also, the device does not have a power setting, so working with it will be very difficult.
How to heat a balcony - think about heated floors
By installing a “warm floor” system, you can achieve very surprising temperature indicators on the balcony. After all, it is on the floors that the most cold is concentrated, and this way we eliminate the main problem.
What to consider when laying a warm coating:
- The ideal, time-tested solution is an electric heating system. A water heater definitely won’t work, don’t even try it. As an alternative, you can use infrared heaters under the floor to prevent the wood flooring from drying out.
- Installation of the entire scheme pays off only if you have glazed, insulated and sealed your loggia.
- Floors should be covered with a thermally conductive coating (eg tiles).
- Water floors will work well only in a single complex with the main covering of the house.
Such a system has a lot of irreplaceable advantages. Firstly, we do not occupy any external space of our premises. Secondly, the heat will be evenly distributed throughout the room. Thirdly, what is there, we can still talk and talk. Here are a few final ones:
- comfortable pastime;
- accessibility of installation, and no need to obtain permission;
- Installing a thermostat will allow you to regulate the temperature.
We’ll also tell you about the shortcomings, where would we be without them.
Among the installation problems, there were several of the most popular:
- cement screeds take a very long time to dry, especially in the cold;
- electric heating negatively affects the vascular system of the legs if you stay on it for a long time;
- Only wooden fittings can be installed on the floor;
- high energy costs.
As a conclusion, it’s worth saying: whatever you choose, this option is exclusively additional. Before this, you will have a long and painful period of thermal insulation and sealing of all holes, especially in the balcony of the Khrushchev building.
We would be grateful if you share your experience in the comments!